Registration Roadmap
RPEQ
If you are applying for assessment of your qualifications and competencies for registration as a Registered Professional Engineer in Queensland (RPEQ) under the Professional Engineers Act 2002 (Qld) - click here .
NPER / NETR
If you are applying for registration on the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) or National Engineering Technologists Register (NETR), this page if for you.
Background - National Registration
The National Engineering Registration Board provides a registration system for the engineering and related professions as a service to the community, and potential users of engineering services.
The National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) and the National Engineering Technologists Register (NETR) are administered at no cost to government. Public safety is protected when only competent practitioners are registered to provide engineering services in critical areas.
The administration of the registers is carried out by Engineers Australia on behalf of professional associations.
Registration Criteria
Registered engineers are required to meet stringent criteria when applying for, and to maintain, their registration. These criteria include:
- Commitment to a Code of Ethics and its Disciplinary Regulations
- Practising only within the limits of their competence in their area(s) of practice.
- Undertaking substantial Continuing Professional Development to extend or update their knowledge, skill or judgement in their area(s) of practice. Their compliance with CPD standards is subject to audit on a regular basis.
- Certifying that they have spent a total of at least one year during the last three years engaged in independent practice or working as an employee under general direction or have been enrolled in a formal postgraduate course directly related to their registration area(s).
Community benefits
The benefits to the community of engaging registered engineering professionals accrue from their satisfactory assessment against stringent criteria and their commitment to practise ethically and only within their areas of competence. Registered engineering professionals are committed to the safety, health, welfare and economic and sustainable development interests of the community.
Locating a registered engineer
rpsearch is an online search facility that provides contact details of registered practitioners, or locates registered engineers, who can provide engineering services within up to two areas of practice in a particular location. rpsearch can be accessed at no cost.
Currently almost 9,000 engineering practitioners are registered by the NERB in 17 areas of engineering practice throughout Australia and internationally.
Migrant Engineers
Registration on NPER or NETR provides publicly available confirmation of registered engineering practitioners credentials through rpsearch and may assist with recognition under various statutory registers.
Advice to non-residents on Migration Skills Assessment, Chartered membership of Engineers Australia and careers advice can be accessed here.
Professional engineers who have qualified and practised in certain countries where their professional association has entered an agreement on mutual recognition with Engineers Australia may already qualify for registration.
Application for Registration
Registration is not restricted to members of Engineers Australia, though identical standards and procedures apply. Most people join Engineers Australia and achieve CPEng and NPER at the same time. For more information about applying for registration, see Applying.
Complaints handling process
A mechanism is in place for handling complaints relating to any registered practitioner's improper conduct. The mechanism is based on Engineers Australia's Disciplinary Regulations. Enquiries and complaints should be addressed in writing to the Associate Director Ethics and Discipline , Engineers Australia, 11 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600
