Obtaining your engineering licence is a major milestone in one’s career as an engineer. Yet, many students and recent graduates have questions about where to start and what the process involves. To help answer these questions, Engineers Canada recently hosted Licensure 101: What Every Engineering Student Needs to Know.
As part of the Pathway to Engineering Exchanges webinar series, the session explored how licensure can give engineering graduates an edge in the job market, what key steps students can take now to make the process smoother after graduation, and where to find support, resources, and guidance throughout the licensure journey.
Presented by Engineers Canada’s Laura Paul, P.Eng. and Associate, Outreach and Belonging Eileen Sowunmi with introductory remarks by Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Jeanette Southwood, P.Eng. and closing remarks by CEO Philip Rizcallah, P.Eng., the webinar explored why engineering is a self-regulated profession and how the "P" in P.Eng. represents more than technical knowledge. Professional engineers are expected to demonstrate competence, follow a code of ethics, act in the public interest, and take responsibility for their decisions. The webinar highlighted how licensure distinguishes engineering graduates from professional engineers by recognizing an individual's readiness to independently practise engineering and assume professional responsibility.
Attendees also heard how licensure can support career growth. Several engineers shared their experiences of licensure, discussing how licensure can help build professional credibility, create opportunities for career advancement, increase mobility between jurisdictions, and keep future career options open.
Turning to the path to licensure, the session outlined the requirements of licensure, including completing competency-based assessment requirements, character and language requirements, and writing the National Professional Practice Examination (NPPE). Students were encouraged to begin preparing early by connecting with their regulator, exploring student and EIT/MIT programs, learning about the NPPE, and building their professional network.
The webinar also introduced attendees to Pathway to Engineering, a free initiative that provides licensure resources, mentorship opportunities, career insights, and educational events to help future engineers stay on track toward earning their P.Eng.
Participants submitted a wide range of questions during the live Q&A, including questions about interprovincial mobility, competency-based assessment, work experience requirements, the NPPE, and next steps for engineers-in-training.
Join us in November for our next webinar, Make 2027 the Year You Get Licensed. This session is for engineering graduates already working in the field but who have not yet finished taking the steps toward licensure.