What comes next?
Graduate ready to certify as a Professional Geoscientist.
Learn more about how your degree prepares you to qualify as a Professional Geoscientist with Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO).
Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO)
Professional Geoscientists Ontario (PGO) is the self-regulatory body responsible for ensuring that geoscientists have the qualifications and ethical background necessary to practice their profession. A geoscientist in Ontario must be licensed as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.), as defined in the Ontario Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000. This professional designation can be transferred to other provinces across Canada.
How to certify as a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) in Ontario
1. Complete the required academic courses as part of your degree.
Use our PGO academic requirement guide to view Waterloo course equivalents in your program.
2. Check your courses with PGO.
Visit the PGO website for detailed information about P.Geo. requirements. Note that PGO determines if a co-op student participating in geoscience work may use some of their work terms to satisfy professional experience requirements.
3. Write the professional practice and ethics exam.
Write the professional practice and ethics exam immediately following graduation to become part of the PGO mentorship program and qualify as a Geoscientist-in-training.
4. Obtain work experience and references.
To register as a P.Geo., you need four years (or 48 cumulative months) of qualifying work experience as well as three references that can verify this experience. Read more about who can be a reference on the PGO reference website.
More information
The Earth and Environmental Sciences department usually holds at least one information session on professional accreditation during the regular academic year. Although we can assist with designing a program to meet PGO requirements, we can not guarantee that you will qualify. You must do your own due diligence using the tools and resources provided by the PGO. For more information, please visit the PGO website.
The Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists (CCPG), the national council that regulates the geosciences profession in each of the jurisdictions in Canada, can help you transfer your license to another province or territory should you move outside of Ontario.