TORONTO, Sept. 11, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In light of a recent CBC Marketplace report on professionals with phony credentials, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is reminding the public of the resources available to confirm if an individual or company is licensed to practise engineering in Ontario, and the processes in place to protect the public.

“Our licensure process ensures that licence holders’ engineering practices are technically competent, based on sound professional ethics and adhere to standards of practice that are the hallmark of professional engineering,” says PEO Registrar, Gerard McDonald, P.Eng. “And through our online directories, the public can verify if an individual holds a valid licence to practise engineering in the province, and if a company or individual has been granted permission to offer engineering services to the public.”

In Ontario, individuals may only call themselves an engineer, or a P.Eng., or use a similar title if they possess a P.Eng. licence from PEO. Professional engineers or firms who provide engineering services directly to the public must have a Certificate of Authorization (C of A) from PEO.

As part of the P.Eng. licensing process, applicants from Canadian or US institutions must ensure that original transcripts, diplomas, degrees and/or certificates related to their academic studies are sent directly to PEO by the institutions from which they have been received in an institution-sealed envelope. Applicants who received their academic experience from other countries must have copies of the originals of such documents signed and certified as a true copy of the original by a Canadian professional engineer or a notary public of Ontario. In addition, any non-English documents must be translated by a P.Eng. fluent in both languages or be certified translations from the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario. For cases in which an applicant’s academic qualifications are deemed deficient or whose credentials are questionable, PEO may assign a technical examination program or an assessment panel interview to confirm their qualifications.

If you have concerns about either the work of an engineer, or suspect that a person or a company is practising engineering and may not be licensed, contact PEO's Enforcement hotline at: 416-224-9528 ext.1444 or 1-800-339-3716 ext. 1444, or via email at enforcement@peo.on.ca. To check if an individual is licensed or a firm holds a C of A, search the directories of practitioners at www.peo.on.ca.

About Professional Engineers Ontario
Under the authority of the Professional Engineers Act, PEO’s mission is to regulate and advance the practice of engineering to protect the public interest. Its vision is to be the trusted leader in professional self-regulation. Professional engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare and the environment. Professional engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their names. Holders of limited licences can be identified by LEL or LET after their names.

For additional information, please contact:
Duff McCutcheon, Manager, Communications
Tel: 416-840-1068; 800-339-3716, ext.1068; Cell: 416-797-8175
Email: dmccutcheon@peo.on.ca