Updated for 2010 Changes to the Professional Engineers Act
These web pages have been updated to include both
enacted and pending changes due to the Open for Business Act, 2010. Note
that some changes will not be in force until proclaimed by the Lieutenant
Governor; for example, the putting into force the end of the industrial
exemption has been delayed numerous times.
Disclaimer
All information on this website is provided without any warranty to its correctness.
The material on these pages reflects Douglas Wilhelm Harder's best judgment in
light of the information available to him at the time of its preparation. Any
use which a third party makes of these pages, on any reliance on or decision to
be made based on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. Douglas W. Harder
accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by any third party as a result
of decisions made or actions based on these pages.
Overview
The Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) Professional
Practice Exam is divided into two parts:
- Part A: Professional Practice and Ethics
- Part B: Engineering Law and Professional Liability
Each part is divided into four equally-weighted primary questions worth 25 marks per question and
100 marks per part. An applicant has three hours to write both parts and the applicant
must score 50 to pass each part of the examination.
The four primary questions of Part A: Professional Practice and Ethics may be classified as:
- The first primary question is broken into three to five secondary questions which tests knowledge of PEO and specific aspects of the Professional Engineers Act
and Ontario Regulation 941 including the types of licences, Certificates of Authorization, the seal, the
various committees, the Code of Ethics, the definition of misconduct, discipline, enforcement, etc.
- The remaining three primary questions test the knowledge and understanding of and the application
the Code of Ethics and misconduct by presenting three case studies.
The four primary questions of Part B: Engineering Law and Professional Liability may be classified as:
- The first primary question tests eight definitions (you must answer answer five) from engineering law and liabilities with respect to contracts (legally enforceable agreements) and
tort (civil wrongs).
- The remaining three primary questions test the knowledge and understand of and the application of
engineering law by presenting three case studies.
Failing The Exam
If an applicant fails one part of the examination, that applicant is (apparently) allowed
to write the failed part at a future sitting of the PPE; however, they will have only one-and-a-half hours
to write that part of the examination. If an applicant fails both parts, that applicant must write
the entire examination again at a future sitting.
Sourses of Information
Textual sources include:
- D.L. Marston, Law for Professional Engineers: Canadian and Global Insights, 4th ed., McGraw-Hill Ryerson, Toronto, 2008.
- Judgements of the Supreme Court of Canada from LexUM.
- S.M. Waddams et al., Cases and Materials on Contracts, 3rd Ed., Emod Montgomery Publications, Ltd., 2005.
- A.M. Dugdale and K.M. Stanton, Professional Negligence, Butterworths, London, 1982.
Also of note is Hugh Jack's forum Egnineer-on-a-Disk.