The engineering registration framework is significant in Australia, as it ensures that engineering professionals meet benchmarked education, training, competency, and professional conduct standards. It instills confidence in consumers in the technical knowledge and expertise of the engineers they hire and the products they use. The states and territories are responsible for registering engineers in Australia. Some states have mandated registration, while others do not require engineers to be registered to practice. In Australia, the peak professional association, Engineers Australia, has created the National Engineering Register (NER).
The NER framework, alongside statutory state registration, gives a mechanism for engineers to get their qualifications and experience recognised nationwide. Such a mechanism ensures that those who are ineligible to work as engineers are excluded.
For NER and state registration, engineers need to provide specific assessment documents, which puts many candidates in trouble. We, the leading professionals, assist candidates in crafting authentic and impressive reports for Engineers Australia. We offer a complete and personalised solution to help candidates succeed in their registration pathways. We have a pool of qualified, seasoned writers who can offer tailored solutions for specific engineering disciplines and assessment pathways. Avail of our premium NER competencies writing services at a low cost, and keep a step forward towards success.
National Engineering Register (NER)
As a publicly searchable database, NER provides individuals and businesses with access to a proficient and prominent pool of engineers, endorsed by Engineers Australia. Since its introduction in 2015, this comprehensive directory has been a way to recognise engineers who meet the highest standards of qualification, skills, professionalism, experience, and ethics expected in the industry. It provides a national framework for the registration of professional engineers, engineering technologists, and engineering associates across the public and private sectors. As an engineering professional, holding and showcasing the NER credential demonstrates one’s skill, talent, experience, and professionalism to prospective employers and clients.
Engineers are not required to be members of Engineers Australia to apply for an NER credential. To apply for an NER credential, they must meet the following criteria:
- They must have an Engineers Australia recognised engineering qualification, or a positive Engineers Australia migration skills assessment or membership competency assessment.
- Hold five or more years of relevant full-time equivalent engineering work experience in the appropriate areas of engineering, with at least four of those being post-graduate, acquired within the last 10 years.
- Meet and possess all five NER competencies.
How To Apply For NER
Applicants are required to follow a five-step process to apply for the NER credential:
- They need to create an account in the member portal.
- Then, log in and complete the online self-assessment form to rate themselves against the NER competencies and apply for NER.
- They need to find two relevant referees who can verify their recent work experience.
- Have an NER interview with a qualified Engineers Australia assessor.
- At the last step, they will receive an outcome notification. If successful, they’ll be automatically added to the NER.
Note: Individuals who are members of Engineers Australia can also join the NER when they apply for a chartered credential.
Australian State And Territory Registration
In Australia, every state and territory is responsible for registering engineers. Such registration is critical as it ensures engineers meet benchmarked education, professional conduct, and competency standards. Such standards help consumers feel confident in the potential of the engineers they engage.
To obtain state or territory registration in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia, professional engineers and engineering practitioners must be assessed to ensure they meet the benchmarked qualifications and competency standards for practising. The respective state or territory government sets these standards. Read the following information under the non-member for the relevant location.
Australian Capital Territory Registration
In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), the assessment pathway for professional engineers varies depending on the assessments they have completed to qualify for membership, credentials, or migration. If they provide professional engineering services in the building and construction industry, they also need a Building Industry Assessment (BIA). If they are a non-member and have completed a migration skills assessment, apply for assessment, creating an account in the member portal to complete their territory registration application.
If Candidates meet the assessment standards, they can access their ACT Assessment Report via the member portal. They can then apply for registration as a professional engineer on the ACT government website. If they have already had their qualifications evaluated by Engineers Australia or hold an accredited qualification, they can apply for a state registration eligibility assessment via the member portal.
New South Wales (NSW) State Registration
Many engineering aspirants in NSW do not need to be registered. They need to be registered if they are a professional engineer who works on Class 2, 3, or 9b buildings, or a building that involves a Class 2, 3, or 9c part. To be registered, they must meet NSW Fair Trading’s eligibility criteria. If they do not meet the eligibility criteria, their competency must be independently assessed. Engineers Australia conducts three specific assessments on behalf of NSW Fair Trading.
- PE1 – pre-1989 engineering qualification
- PE2 – less than two years of Australian experience
- Knowledge and skills assessment DP (VT)
Queensland State Registration
In Queensland, the assessment pathway for professional engineers depends on the assessments they have completed to qualify for membership, credentials, or migration. If they are a non-member and have completed a migration skills assessment, they must create an account on the member portal and apply through the state registration eligibility page. Engineers Australia is authorised to conduct competency assessments for eligibility for state registration in Queensland.
If they have already had their qualifications assessed by Engineers Australia or have an accredited qualification, they can apply for a state registration eligibility assessment via the member portal.
Victoria State Registration
In Victoria, the assessment pathway for professional engineers depends on the assessments they have previously completed to qualify for membership, credentials, or migration.
If they provide professional engineering services in the building industry, they need a building industry endorsement (BIE).
If they are a non-member who has completed a migration skills assessment, they must create an account on the member portal and apply through the state registration eligibility page.
If applicants meet the assessment standards, they need to log in to the member portal to download their VIC Outcome Report. They can then apply for registration as a professional engineer on the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) website.
Western Australia (WA) State Registration
In Western Australia, individuals who engage in professional or technical engineering work in one or more of the prescribed areas of engineering (in the building industry must be registered as a building engineering practitioner. For civil, structural, and mechanical engineers, there are three levels of registration: professional, technologist, or associate. For Fire Safety, they can only register at the professional engineer level. For Fire Systems, they can only register as a Department of Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety (LGIRS) defined engineering technologist or associate.
To apply for assessment, aspirants need to make an account in the member portal to complete their state registration application. If they fulfil the assessment standards, the assessor, Engineers Australia, will email them a WA Outcome Letter. They can then apply for registration as a building engineering practitioner on the LGIRS website.