PEO CPD Peak Program – Now Mandatory in 2023

The Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) is the governing body that regulates the engineering profession in Ontario, Canada.  Up until 2023, their professional development program, called the Practice Evaluation And Knowledge (PEAK) program, was optional.  In fact, it was the only province or territory in Canada not to have a mandatory program.

Now, ongoing learning is mandatory for P.Eng. and limited licence holders.  Let's look at 6 questions that you might be wondering about the new mandatory PEO CPD program.

What changes is PEO making to its CPD program?

PEO has recently changed its Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program to better align it with the changing needs of the engineering profession. Some key changes include:

• enforcement & verification starting in 2024 (year 2 of the program)
• yearly PEAK cycle follows the calendar year
• a new system for reporting hours through the PEO portal
• Yearly CPD hours will be personalized based on a questionnaire you need to complete by January 31 of each year.  The result will show you your CPD target hours.  The range is between 0 to 30 hours per year, with a past average of 14.

When will PEO be auditing for CPD compliance?

PEO will be auditing license holders for CPD compliance starting in 2024.  Other provinces audit approximately 5% of license holders each year, so it is conceivable PEO might do the same.

If a license holder is non-compliant, they will not be permitted to practice.  This message will be communicated in PEOs directory.

PEO is still determining what additional penalties might be levied.  Other provinces can use: sanctions, a formal warning, a requirement to complete additional CPD hours, suspension of the license, or require the member to appear before a discipline committee.

Are there any PEO CPD program exemptions?

Yes. There are some exemptions from the PEO CPD program requirements. Let's look at who is exempt and who might have their hours reduced.

Full Exemption (nothing to worry about!):

• Provisional Licence Holders
• Temporary licence holders
• EITs
• Those in the application process but unlicensed

No Exemption (must submit all CPD hours):

• P.Eng.
• Limited Licence

Partial Exemption:

Reduced CPD requirements may be given temporarily under the following circumstance:

• Leave of absence (e.g. maternity/paternity leave)
• Retired
• Not practicing engineering in Ontario (reduced requirements compared practicing members)
• License holders who have experienced significant life events
• New licence holders or those reinstated will not have to report CPD for the remainder of their first calendar year of licence or reinstatement.

License holders granted an exemption must still report their status to PEO.

What types of CPD activities can a member achieve hours towards?

A member can participate in many different types of CPD activities to earn hours towards their annual requirement. Some examples include attending conferences, workshops, and seminars; completing online courses; reading technical articles and books; participating in professional association activities; and completing mentoring or coaching programs. Structured learning activities, such as courses and webinars, must be relevant to the member's area of practice and be delivered by a qualified instructor.

Day-to-day professional practice hours cannot be counted as CPD hours.

What CPD PEAK learning formats are permitted?

PEO is quite flexible here.  You don't have to worry about the cost of the learning—free or paid activities are both fine.  It can be self-paced or led by an instructor.  Similarly, learning can be done in-person or virtual.  PEO is more concerned with the quality of the content than the cost or delivery mechanism.  For specific questions about the CPD PEAK program, you can visit their PEO Peak webpage, email PEO or call them at (416) 224-1100 x1117.

Where should I go to collect free and paid CPD hours?

Members can use many different sources of free and paid CPD hours to fulfill their annual requirements. PEO offers a range of online courses, webinars, and seminars available to members for a fee. Members can also attend events and conferences offered by professional associations or participate in mentoring programs. Members can also earn hours by reading technical articles or books, or by participating in volunteer activities related to the engineering profession. Members need to ensure that the activities they participate in are relevant to their area of practice and meet the requirements of the PEO CPD program.  For a comprehensive list of free and paid courses, please use our free CPD guide.

Here are 10 more FAQs that PEO addresses in its YouTube video: