ESSCO uses a variety of acronyms and terms to convey information in a shorthand fashion. The following is a compiled list of commonly used acronyms by the members of the association, as well as external associations.
| ACES | Atlantic Council of Engineering Students |
| AEC | Atlantic Engineering Competition |
| AGM | Annual General Meeting |
| BEST | Board of Engineering Students of Technology (ESSCO equivalent for Europe, minus Germany) |
| CCPE | Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (now operating as Engineers Canada) |
| CE | Complimentary Electives (term used for CFES summer programs) |
| CEAB | Canadian Engineering Accrediation Board |
| CEC | Canadian Engineering Competition |
| CFES | Canadian Federation of Engineering Students |
| CLC | Chapter Leaders’ Conference (PEO initiative) |
| CODE | Council of Ontario Deans of Engineering |
| CUTC | Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference |
| E4TW | Engineers For The World (“friendlier” version of the old “ERTW” saying) |
| ERTW | Engineers Rule the World |
| ESSCO | Engineering Student Societies’ Council of Ontario |
| ESTW | Engineers Serve The World (even friendlier version of “ERTW”) |
| EWB | Engineers Without Borders |
| FRC | Financial Review Committee |
| FYIC | First Year Integration Conference |
| GERM | Great Engineering Resource Manual |
| GLP | Government Liason Program (PEO initiative) |
| LIAC | Lobbying Issues and Action Committee |
| NAESC | National Association of Engineering Student Councils (USA) |
| NCDEAS | National Council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Science |
| NCWIE | National Conference for Women in Engineering |
| NEM | National Engineering Month |
| NEW | National Engineering Week |
| NEWOSC | National Engineering Week – Ontario Steering Committee |
| OEC | Ontario Engineering Competition |
| OEC-AB | Ontario Engineering Competition – Advisory Board |
| OESP | Ontario Engineering Society President’s Summit (old name for ESSCO PM) |
| OSPE | Ontario Society of Professional Engineers |
| PEO | Professional Engineers Ontario |
| PEO-SC | Professional Engineers Ontario Student Conference |
| PM | President’s Meeting |
| PMRC | Policy Manual Review Committee |
| QCESO | Quebec Confederation for Engineering Student Outreach (French acronym is “CREIQ”) |
| ROC | Regional Outreach Committees (defunct ESSCO initiative) |
| RRG | Regional Resource Groups (defunct ESSCO initiative) |
| SENZ | Student Engineers of New Zealand |
| SMP | Student Membership Program |
| VPFA | Vice President Finance and Administration |
| VPSD | Vice President Services and Development (currently split to VPS and VPD) |
| WEC | Western Engineering Competition |
| WESST | Western Engineering Student Societies’ Team |
| WIE | Women In Engineering |
| WISE | Women in Science and Engineering |