Licensing There are no ifs, ands or buts. It is against the law in Canada for anyone to practise engineering unless he or she is licensed as a P.Eng. by one or more of the profession's 12 licensing bodies. Engineers can only undertake engineering work in the provinces or territories where they hold a P.Eng. licence. Why? Because engineers have a tremendous impact on public safety, the environment and the quality of life in the communities and countries where they work. Engineers design bridges, write software that controls air navigation systems, develop plastics for use in safety equipment—all of which can have an impact far beyond the place and time that they work. One of the very things that makes engineering such a great career—the opportunity to really make a difference—also means the public has a right to expect that only those qualified to do the work, will do it. First and foremost, the P.Eng. is a licence to practise engineering in the province or territory in which it was granted. The licence lets Canadians and employers know that its holder has the credentials, experience and ethics to meet the highest professional expectations.