Is my qualification recognized

At this moment in time there is a shortage of qualified Engineering professionals within New Zealand market and as such there are large number of openings for the right candidates.

Both Structural & Civil Engineers are in high demand with an emphasis being placed on Chartered Engineer (CPEng) status or people currently working towards it. It is important to note that it is not only structural and civil engineers who are required, Engineers of all disciplines are being snapped up at a rate of knots.  Below is a list of professionals who I am keen to speak with right now.

Structural & Civil Engineers          Transport Engineers                       Project Managers 

Mechanical Engineers                    Planning Engineers                         Program Directors

Fire Engineers                                  HSEE professionals                          Infrastructure & BC advisors

Electrical Engineers                        RMA Planners                                  Geotechnical Engineers 

Water Engineers                              Technicians                      

What is CPEng?

Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) is the most important quality mark attesting to the current competence of a professional engineer in New Zealand. It is a statutory title under the Chartered Professional Engineers Act of New Zealand 2002, (CPEng Act) which established a register of professional engineers whose competence is up-to-date.

In New Zealand the title CPEng can be used only by engineers on the CPEng register administered by ENGINEERING NEW ZEALAND as the Registration Authority under the Act. The CPEng Rules govern the way the Registration Authority carries out these functions. 

Chartered Professional Engineers are assessed for competence in the practice area they have chosen; practice areas are particular to each CPEng and may include unique mixes of competencies. The Chartered Professional Engineers’ code of ethical conduct requires that CPEngs work only within their competence – they must refuse to undertake any proposed work that lies outside their area of expertise.

Some regulatory authorities specify that certain kinds of work must be carried out or supervised by Chartered Professional Engineers – for example, inspections of moving machinery through the Occupational Safety and Health Service, and certification of the integrity of structures under the Building Act.

While the majority, if not all engineers will have to complete some form of exam to prove their competence there are agreements also in place to enable the engineer to advance to CPEng quicker.

Is your qualification recognized?

With the ever increasing demand for Chartered Engineers within the New Zealand Engineering market place it is important to understand the recognition of overseas engineering qualifications within country:

Here in New Zealand there are three international education accords that provide direct recognition of overseas engineering qualifications.

Professional Engineering              Washington Accord

Engineering Technology                Sydney Accord

Engineering Technician                 Dublin Accord

Should your overseas engineering qualification be accredited by another signatory under any of the above agreements this qualifies you for Graduate membership of ENGINEERING NEW ZEALAND. More importantly your qualification is also recognized as meeting the academic requirement for competence based membership / registration in the appropriate role.

WASHINGTON ACCORD:

The Washington Accord is and international agreement amongst bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programmes. It recognizes the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by those bodies and recommend that graduates of these programs by any of the signatory bodies, listed below, be recognized by other bodies as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering.

THE SYDNEY ACCORD:

Following on from the Washington Accord, a similar agreement was put into place for Engineering Technologists or Incorporated Engineers.

THE DUBLIN ACCORD:

The Dublin Accord is an agreement for the international recognition of Engineering Technician qualifications.