Practical Experience Requirement

Every student must complete a minimum of 600 hours of practical work before graduation. The nature of the work should form an integral part of a student’s education and career development. It therefore must contain a good measure of responsibility (e.g., management of programs, systems, equipment, personnel, or finances), sound judgment and effective communication, and be supportive of the professional career of the student after graduation. Work in many facets of industry, government or public service would be acceptable for this requirement.

This experience may be obtained at any time during the program or through the Professional Experience Year (PEY) Program, but work done before entering the Faculty may also meet the requirement. Participation in the Professional Experience Year or the Engineering Summer Internship Program automatically satisfies the practical experience requirement, provided that students complete and submit the requisite reports.
Practical experience certificate forms may be obtained from the Registrar’s website and shall be signed by the employer or supervisor. Students should return completed forms to their departmental counsellor's office. The satisfaction or non-satisfaction of this requirement for graduation will be indicated on the student’s grade report in the fourth year winter session as a grade of CR (Credit) or NCR (No Credit).

The Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) may allow pre-graduation experience to count towards 12 months of the four year “engineering experience” required for eligibility for the P.Eng. designation. For further information visit the PEO web site. Please note that the records required by the PEO are separate and distinct from the 600 hours practical experience required for completion of a degree program in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.

As a condition of graduation, all engineering undergraduates must complete a minimum of 600 hours of practical experience through employment in industry. This experience is typically obtained during the summer or through the Professional Experience Year (PEY) program.

Please click here to download the Faculty Practical Experience Requirement Form. Please attach a business card from your employer to this form. Once you have the signed form, please submit it to WB216A for sign-off. The undergraduate counsellor will contact you if there is a problem with your submission of hours.