2023-04-27 PEO update

B.Tech. Students,

Since our March update, representatives from McMaster have participated in several meetings with both PEO elected officials as well as PEO staff, including the CEO/Registrar and PEO legal council.  As a result of these meetings, we believe the PEO’s understanding of the B.Tech. situation has improved.

Thanks in part to the efforts of the Ontario Engineering Deans (including McMaster’s Heather Sheardown), the PEO has decided to conduct a review of the B.Tech. programs as well as other programs in Ontario to determine if they can be accepted (with confirmatory exams) as equivalent to accredited engineering programs.  Unfortunately, we cannot provide a timeline for the review, but we can at least confirm that it is on the PEO’s agenda.

Prior to May 15th, 2023, the PEO website is supposed to be updated with information clarifying the eligibility criteria for international applicants and applicants from accredited programs.  While you should not expect any clarity specifically for B.Tech. students, you will hopefully see some wording that acknowledges the potential for the expansion of eligibility in the future.

It is important to note that under the new PEO application rules and procedures, even CEAB Accredited B.Eng. graduates will NOT be able to apply to the PEO after they graduate.  There will be no more E.I.T. program for anyone, and the PEO will require all applicants to complete 4-years of work experience before they are eligible to apply.  For B.Tech. students, there is still uncertainty regarding how/when/if confirmatory exams will be assigned, and exactly when the 4-yrs of work experience can officially start.  During this period of uncertainty, we are encouraging students to start the process of becoming a P.Eng. in another province.  We are currently testing the procedures in British Columbia and Alberta.  Early indications are positive and we will continue to provide details and advice as we learn more.

We will continue to provide monthly updates.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Sincerely,

Brian Baetz

Kostas Apostolou

Eu-Gene Ng

Michael Justason