Canadian · Professional Licensing
PEO licence lookup.
Every engineer entitled to use the P.Eng designation and practise professional engineering in Ontario is licensed by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). Here's what a PEO licence number looks like, why you'd check one, and a direct link to PEO's own live Directory — the only place a licence is ever actually verified.
Important, up front: PEO has never published a check-digit algorithm for its licence numbers. It's an assigned identifier, not a self-checking one. This page explains the format and links straight to PEO's own Directory — it does not and cannot confirm anyone's status on its own.
What a PEO licence number is
A PEO licence (or file) number is a numeric registration ID assigned when someone is first licensed, registered, or admitted as an Engineering Intern (EIT) in Ontario. PEO's own Directory search shows 966010 as its example format — a plain numeric ID with no letters, no fixed length, and no published check digit. You'll usually find it on:
- Stamped and signed engineering drawings, reports, or letters
- A firm's Certificate of Authorization (C of A) paperwork
- An engineer's business card, email signature, or LinkedIn profile
PEO's Directory covers more than one category: full P.Eng licence holders, Engineering Interns (EITs), Certificate of Authorization holders (engineering firms), and consulting engineer designees — each searchable from the same page.
Verify an engineer's licence
Search by first/preferred name, last name, or licence/file number, for either an individual or a company (for C of A holders). Results show licence status, and for individuals, whether they hold a full P.Eng licence or EIT status.
Why you'd check a PEO licence
The most common reasons someone looks up a PEO licence: confirming a contractor or consultant advertising "P.Eng" services is actually licensed before signing a contract, a client or employer verifying an engineer's credentials before hiring, checking that a firm stamping drawings holds a current Certificate of Authorization, and confirming there's no active discipline or suspension before relying on someone's engineering work.
P.Eng vs. EIT — what the Directory distinguishes
A full P.Eng licence entitles someone to practise professional engineering and stamp drawings independently. An Engineering Intern (EIT) is a supervised, pre-licensure status — an EIT cannot independently take responsibility for engineering work the way a licensed P.Eng can. PEO's Directory shows which status applies to a given licence/file number, which matters if you're relying on someone's stamp or sign-off.
Frequently asked questions
What does a PEO licence number look like?
A plain number with no letters and no published check digit — PEO's own search form uses 966010 as its example. Digits alone can't tell you whether it's genuine.
Can I validate a PEO licence number without visiting the Directory?
No. PEO has never published a checksum formula for its licence numbers, so there's no way to mathematically confirm one offline. The Directory is the only authoritative source.
What if an engineer or firm doesn't show up in the Directory?
They may not be licensed to practise in Ontario, may be registered under a different name, or their licence may have lapsed or been revoked. Try PEO's Advanced Search, or contact PEO directly if you still can't find them.
Format explainer only — not a verification tool
This page describes what a PEO licence number is and looks like. It does not check anyone's licence status, and nothing you might type here is transmitted anywhere. Use the official PEO Directory linked above to confirm an engineer or firm is currently licensed.