Technical Examinations on the Path to Obtaining a Professional Engineering License in Canada (P.Eng)
Technical engineering exams are a crucial step in the journey to obtain a Professional Engineering License (P.Eng) in Canada, particularly in Ontario and British Columbia. Applicants who earned their academic credentials outside of Canada are required to pass these technical exams. Students must choose three out of four exams, with two from Group A, one from Group B, and one from Group CS. The passing mark for all PEO exams is 50%.
PEO’s technical exams are offered twice a year, in May and December.
Mechanical Engineering Technical Exams
Group A
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Thermodynamics: Review of the fundamental laws of thermodynamics, introductory psychrometry and analysis of the ideal gas compressor cycle, Rankine cycle, Otto cycle, Diesel cycle, Brayton cycle and the vapour compression refrigeration cycle.
Heat Transfer: Application of the principles of steady and transient conduction heat transfer, natural and forced convection heat transfer and radiation heat transfer. Thermal analysis of heat exchangers.Kinematic and Dynamic Analysis: Graphical and analytical methods for kinematic analysis of planar and spatial mechanisms and elementary body motion in space, static and dynamic force analyses of mechanisms, gyroscopic forces, dynamics of rotating machinery, cam and gear mechanisms and specifications. Vibration Analysis: Free and forced vibration of undamped and damped lumped single and multi degrees of freedom systems with, analytical and numerical techniques of solution, viscous damping, vibrational isolation, vibration measurement and control.
Review of basic concepts; elementary· two-dimensional potential flow, vorticity and circulation, onedimensional compressible flow of an inviscid perfect gas, isentropic flow through nozzles, shock waves, frictional compressible flow in conduits, equations of viscous flow, laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Bernoulli’s equation and Navier-Stokes equations. Dimensional analysis and similitude.
Stress-Strain Analysis: Stress and strain, transformations, principal stresses, graphical representation by Mohr’s circles of biaxial and triaxial cases, generalized Hooke’s law including thermal strains, equations of equilibrium and compatibility, plane strain and plane stress problems. Failure theories and limit analysis. Euler critical loads for columns, curved beams, thick-walled cylinders and rotating disks, contact stresses, strain gauges and their application, stress concentrations, introductory fracture mechanics. Energy Methods: Strain energy principles, virtual work, Castigliano’s theorem. Applications to cases of axial, bending, and torsional loadings. Applications to statically indeterminate problems.
Group B
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Working properties of steel, aluminum, magnesium, and titanium light alloys, superalloys and metal matrix composites. High temperature materials, metallic foams and other cellular materials, precursor-derived ceramics, corrosion of materials, intermetallics, multicomponent alloys, biomedical materials, polymeric composites as structural materials, ultrafine and nano structured materials. Microscale and nanoscale mechanisms responsible for their unique properties, such as molecular mobility and phase transitions. Working properties of polymers, shape memory alloys, piezoelectric materials, electro-rheological fluids, magnetostrictive materials, and fibre-reinforced composites. Selection of materials. Testing of engineering materials. Emphasis on those used in aircraft, high-speed ground transportation vehicles, underwater, and space applications.
Civil Engineering Technical Exams
Group A
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Computation of reactions, shearing forces, normal forces, bending moments, and deformations in determinate structures. Influence lines for moving loads. Moment distribution, slope deflection, and energy methods for indeterminate structures without sidesway.
Dimensional analysis and hydraulic models. Application of continuity, momentum and energy principles. Steady, closed conduit flow in single pipes and pipe networks. Steady, open-channel flow under uniform and gradually varied conditions, control sections, hydraulic jumps, and energy dissipaters. Hydraulic transients; surges and water hammer in closed conduits, surface waves in open channels. Concepts and principles of turbo machinery, especially centrifugal pumps; similarity relations and cavitation; operation of pump-and-pipe systems. Introductory concepts of hydraulic structures, including environmental aspects of hydraulic works and water quality management.
Route surveying. Geometric design, including horizontal and vertical alignment and intersections. Properties of road-making materials. Asphalt mix design. Structural design for flexible and concrete pavements. Earthworks and drainage. Pavement management, including condition evaluation, maintenance, and rehabilitation.
Group B
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Introductory concepts in fundamentals of uncertainty, risk, risk analysis, safety and decision-making in civil engineering. Risk and safety issues related to planning, design, construction/implementation and operations in the context of environmental, transportation, structures, geotechnical, natural hazards or other civil engineering disciplines.
The academic prerequisite for obtaining a professional engineering license in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia (P.Eng) is to hold a Bachelor of Engineering degree (a 4-year program) from an accredited program at one of the Canadian universities or recognized international universities.
The Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB), representing provincial engineering associations and bodies in Canada, including PEO, approves engineering bachelor’s programs.
Applicants who have not obtained their Bachelor of Engineering degree from a CEAB-accredited program (universities outside of North America) may be required to take one of two examination programs offered by PEO to demonstrate their equivalent scientific knowledge for licensure:
- Confirmatory Exam Program (CEP)
- Specific Exam Program (SEP)
Confirmatory Exam Program (CEP)
- Candidates referred to PEO’s Work Experience Assessment section must submit their experience documents and records in the required formats within the specified deadline. Failure to do so within the deadline results in the forfeiture of the experience assessment opportunity, and candidates must commence their examination program within the set timeframe.
- Candidates who fail to initiate their examination program within the specified timeframe will have their current P.Eng application canceled.
- Two Group A exams from any engineering discipline,
- One Group B exam from any engineering discipline, and
- One Complimentary Studies (CS) exam.
- The pass mark for all PEO exams is 50%.
Time Constraints for Participating in PEO Technical Examinations
- PEO Technical Examinations are held twice annually (in the months of May and December).
- Candidates must participate in at least one Technical Examination within two academic years after receiving their examination program.
- After commencing the examination program, candidates are required to participate in at least one examination every academic year; otherwise, their file will be closed.
- All examination programs must be successfully completed within 8 academic years from the time the examination program is declared to the candidate.
- Compliance with these time constraints is mandatory for candidates.
Timing and Location of PEO Examinations
- If candidates have not received their examination packages by the specified times, they should contact the examination center
Exam Fees
Start date (Fanavaran classes): February and March 2024
Exam date: May and June 2024
