Attaining the CPEng status in New Zealand will take your engineering career to the next level. To achieve it, you have to show your engineering skills, work experience, and knowledge to a high level. Here, the word ‘high level’ means a level that is a mark of expertise in this field.
So, your journey to becoming a Chartered Professional Engineer starts with knowing its requirements, application fees, and the like. Therefore, we have written this blog so that you can have all the necessary information related to this position. The better you know about it, the easier it will be for you to attain this credential. However, the first thing for you to do is to know clearly what CPEng means in New Zealand.
CPEng status in New Zealand:
The full form of CPEng is Chartered Professional Engineer. A person with a CPEng qualification is an experienced engineer with registration through Engineering New Zealand, as the registration body. Like Engineering New Zealand’s Chartered Member class, you have to complete an assessment. You need to complete it to show that you can cope with complex engineering problems requiring expertise.
The difference lies in the fact that CPEng has to show New Zealand-specific technical experience. Besides that, they need to be reassessed at least every 6 years. The CPEng assessment is proof that you fulfill an international standard. Therefore, traveling overseas to work is not an issue.
Membership and registration are two separate things. You can become both a Chartered member of Engineering New Zealand and a Chartered Professional Engineer through the same assessment.
Being a member of Engineering New Zealand demonstrates your credibility and professionalism. It proves that you are a part of a wider professional community. This community advances technical knowledge, maintains standards, and raises the bar. Most CPEng status holders choose to be members of Engineering New Zealand. They do so to have access to member resources and support throughout their career.
Over the last few years, the Government has been working on probable changes to the engineering regulation. At some point, it may mean a new licensing regime for those engineers who do safety-critical work. CPEng seems to remain, so it’s wise to have the assessment now. You should do it even if you think you may need to be licensed in the future.
CPEng eligibility criteria:
For registration as a Chartered Professional Engineer, you need to:
- Possess a Washington Accord-accredited qualification (Bachelor of Engineering, Honours) or be able to show comparable knowledge.
- Go through an assessment to show that you fulfill the competency criteria.
- Have a commitment to the CPEng Code of Ethical Conduct.
- Have reassessment at a minimum of every 6 years so you keep maintaining your CPEng registration.
It’s not mandatory that you have to be a member of Engineering New Zealand to apply.
Annual charges and fees (excluding GST):
From 15th of June 2022 to 27 July 2022, Engineering New Zealand is consulting on a proposed increase to CPEng fees from 1 January 2023. Ask a CPEng New Zealand expert to know more about it.
2022 fees:
First-time assessment $1,565.00 ($1,215.00 with mutual recognition)
Comparable knowledge assessment $1,175,00 in case of not having a Washington Accord qualification.
The annual fee is $460.00.
How to apply for CPEng status:
You can apply for this status using the Engineering New Zealand member area online. Members of Engineering New Zealand will already have access. If you are not an Engineering New Zealand member, just sign up to access the online area. After that, set your goal. The authority will then recommend the next step you should take to reach your Chartership goal.
CPEng assessment:
Before submitting your application formally, you will be told to submit your draft application. It will be for a member of the Engineering New Zealand assessment team to check. This step is very important, as it will provide you with feedback to improve your application. So, pay heed to this, as it may help you achieve a positive assessment.
When you submit the application online, a panel will:
- Evaluate your application against international competency standards
- Fix a meeting with you
- Potentially ask you for further information
- Receive feedback from your referees
- Write a report with recommendations to the Chartered Professional Engineers Council, which is also known as CPEC.
Registration Authority:
Engineering New Zealand is the Registration Authority as per the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002. It means it maintains the Register of Chartered Professional Engineers and handles applications and assessments.
CPEC, Chartered Professional Engineers Council:
The Chartered Professional Engineers Council is a statutory organization, established on 1 July 2002 under the Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002. The Council has to consist of a minimum of 6, but no more than 8 members including:
- 3 people chosen by Engineering New Zealand
- 1 person chosen by the Association of Consulting Engineers of New Zealand
- A Council Chairman and a Deputy Chairman
- 2 to 4 people who are nominated by the Minister
The Council does the following things:
- Reviewing and approving any changes to the CPEng Rules related to minimum criteria for assessment and ethical conduct
- Hearing appeals from a decision of the Registration Authority on disciplinary issues. These issues include decisions not to renew the registration of a CPEng, Chartered Professional Engineer.
- Reviewing and reporting to the Minister on the performance of the Registration Authority and CPEC. Due to this, the Minister can know how well they exercise their respective functions and powers under the Act.