Validator Guide

PEO CBA Validators: Who Qualifies and How Many You Need

Validators confirm the engineering experience you describe in your CBA. Choosing the right validators, and briefing them well, can speed up your assessment and strengthen your application. This guide explains who qualifies, how many you need, and how to approach them.

Who qualifies as a validatorHow many you needUpdated May 2026Built for PEO applicantsWho qualifies as a validatorHow many you needUpdated May 2026Built for PEO applicants

What is a CBA validator?

A validator is a person who confirms the engineering experience you describe in your competency-based assessment. They review the examples you submit for the experience they observed and attest that your account is accurate, helping the regulator trust your evidence.

How many validators do I need for a PEO CBA?

The number depends on your work history and how your experience is distributed across roles and employers. Generally you need enough validators to cover the experience and competencies you claim, with each validator confirming the periods and examples they directly observed. A common arrangement is one validator per significant role or employer.

Who can be a validator?

Validators are typically supervisors, managers, or senior colleagues, often licensed engineers, who directly observed your work. The best validators can speak credibly to your specific contributions, decisions, and outcomes for the experience you describe.

Validators at a glance

RoleConfirm the experience you report
Who qualifiesSupervisors/colleagues who observed your work
PreferredLicensed engineers where possible
How manyEnough to cover your claimed experience
What they confirmPeriods, roles, and example accuracy
Best practiceBrief them early and clearly

What this validator guide covers

Who qualifies

The kinds of people who can validate your experience.

How many you need

How to figure out the right number for your history.

How to approach them

How to ask validators and brief them effectively.

What they confirm

Exactly what validators attest to in your CBA.

Avoiding delays

How to keep validators responsive and on schedule.

Common pitfalls

Mistakes that weaken validator confirmation.

Manage validators inside CBA Pro

CBA Pro helps you write strong examples and coordinate validator collaboration so your experience is confirmed smoothly.

  • Guided competency writing
  • Situation, Action, Outcome structure
  • Work experience matching
  • Validator collaboration
  • Self-assessment support
  • Optional expert review

Always confirm current validator requirements directly with PEO.

Get expert help with your CBA

CBA Review

For applicants who already wrote their CBA and want feedback before submission.

Get My CBA Reviewed

Rejected CBA Support

For applicants who received comments, revisions, or rejection from PEO.

Fix My CBA

CBA Writing Consulting

For applicants who want guided 1-on-1 support, including validator strategy.

Book Consulting

Frequently asked questions

Enough validators to cover the experience and competencies you claim. Each validator confirms the periods and examples they directly observed, so applicants with multiple roles or employers usually need more than one.

Licensed engineers are preferred because their confirmation carries more weight, but the most important factor is that the validator directly observed the work you describe and can speak to it credibly.

Validators confirm that the experience, roles, time periods, and specific examples you reported are accurate based on what they observed.

Approach them early, explain what validation involves, share the specific experience and examples you will list, and give them enough time to respond. A clear, well-prepared request makes it easy for them to say yes.

If a preferred validator is unreachable, identify another person who directly observed the same work, such as another senior colleague, and document your situation for the regulator.

Unresponsive validators are a common cause of delay. Choosing available validators and briefing them early keeps your assessment moving.

Summary for quick reference

Validators confirm the engineering experience described in a PEO competency-based assessment. They are typically supervisors, managers, or senior colleagues, ideally licensed engineers, who directly observed your work and can attest to the roles, time periods, and specific examples you reported. The number of validators needed depends on your work history; applicants with multiple roles or employers usually need more than one, with each confirming the experience they observed. Choosing available validators and briefing them early prevents delays. CertNova's CBA Pro supports validator collaboration, and CBA Review and Rejection Support are available for applicants who need expert help.

Line up the right validators for your CBA

Strong examples plus the right validators make for a smooth assessment. Get the support you need.