Demystifying Professional
Registration
Overview
Why do we have Professional Registration?
The regulatory framework Pathway to registration CPD – the intent
Direct Supervision Record keeping Obligations
3
Why do we have Professional Registration?
Protect the public Maintain public confidence Uphold the standards
• Professional Engineers Act 2002
– Provides for registration of individuals as professional engineers – Provides for monitoring and enforcement of compliance
– Imposes obligations on persons about the practice of engineering
– Establishes the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ)
• BPEQ’s Code of Practice for Registered Professional Engineers
– Provides guidance as to appropriate professional conduct and practice.
Regulatory Framework
Principle 1.2 – Registered professional engineers work within the limits of their professional expertise
‘only undertake direct supervision within their area of registration and competence’.
5
BPEQ Code of Practice
• An approved assessment entity since 2014
• We assess in the area of Civil Engineering
• Governed by RPEQ Assessment Board
• Supported by an assessment panel
• Reviews, then approves or declines RPEQ Assessment applications
• Oversees the audits of existing RPEQs
IPWEAQ as an assessment entity for BPEQ
Crime and Corruption Commission Queensland - September 2020
‘the carrying out of professional engineering services by unregistered persons or without the direct supervision of a Registered Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) is corrupt conduct under the Crime and
Corruption Act 2001’.
7
Sector put on Notice
Professional Engineering Services
‘an engineering service that requires, or is based on, the application of engineering
principles and data to a design, or to a construction, production, operation or
maintenance activity, relating to engineering’
Must ONLY be carried out by RPEQs or under the direct supervision of an RPEQ.
Prescriptive Standards
A document that states procedures or criteria:
• For carrying out a design, or a construction, production, operation or maintenance activity, relating to engineering: and
• The application of which, to the carrying out of the design, or a construction, production,
operation or maintenance activity, does not require advanced scientifically based
calculations’.
Can be carried out by non-RPEQ engineers
Professional Engineering Service under the PE Act
9
Becoming an RPEQ
Qualification Competency Assessment Registration
1. 4-year Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from an Australian university or equivalent
2. Minimum 5-years experience as a civil engineer post-graduation with direct supervision under an RPEQ
3. Minimum 150 hours of CPD undertaken over the previous three years
The application non-negotiables
CPD Guidelines
(from 18 October 2021)
11
A minimum of 75% (112.5 hours) must be
technical CPD relating to the area of engineering
A maximum of 25% (37.5 hours) can be non- technical CPD relating to engineering practice
A minimum of 1 hour of non-technical CPD covering ethics
A minimum of 1 hour of non-technical CPD covering risk management
CPD Activities
FORMAL POST- GRAD STUDY
SHORT COURSES, CONFERENCES ETC
STRUCTURES ON THE JOB LEARNING
PRIVATE STUDY SERVICE TO THE ENGINEERING
PROFESSION
PREPARATIONS OF PAPERS, ARTICLES
ACADEMICS
13
Tracking CPD
13
Direct Supervision
15
Record Keeping
15
Good practice To demonstrate direct supervision
Manage or mitigate risk
Historic information
Contractual requirements
Application documents required
Qualifications Curriculum Vitae CPD hours
Three written referee statements Statement of competency by you Work sample
100 – points of identification
• LGA’s
– Understand requirements of the PE Act
– Ensure non-RPEQ’s receive direct supervision
– Support pathway to registration
• RPEQ’s
– Provide direct supervision to non- RPEQ’s
– Maintain CPD
• Non-RPEQ’s
– Obtain 4-year Bachelor Degree – Work only within prescriptive
standards when un-supervised – Ensure direct supervision aligns
with BPEQ requirements
– Accrue and record CPD in relevant areas of competence
17
