Reminder of mandatory engineer registration in Victoria

Engineers Australia (EA) has published a reminder of the upcoming Victorian requirement that electrical and electronics engineers must be registered in order to work in the state. From 1 June 2023, electrical and electronics professional engineers practising in Victoria will need to be registered, including engineers living in other states and territories but working on projects based in Victoria.

As there is a backlog of applications with assessing authorities like Engineers Australia and the Business Licensing Authority (BLA), it’s recommended that engineers commence the process as soon as possible. EA suggests engineers complete the first step of applying for a competency assessment by March 2023 at the latest.

To support electrical and electronics engineers to get a better understanding of who needs to be registered and what they need to do, Engineers Australia is running free information sessions specifically on Victorian registration on 1 February and 1 March. These sessions are being run in addition to the existing program of registration info sessions.

The sessions will provide information about registration requirements and competency assessments. Attendees will also be able to ask Engineers Australia’s team of experts any questions about the assessment and registration process.

Speaking about the importance of mandatory registration of engineers in Victoria, Jane MacMaster FIEAust CPEng, Chief Engineer with Engineers Australia, said the compulsory registration of professional engineers will enable significant enhancement of public safety and consumer confidence.

“Registration helps to ensure that only those with suitable qualifications, enough relevant experience and a proven commitment to ongoing training and professional development can provide engineering services,” she said.

The registration process

Registration of engineers in Victoria is carried out by the Business Licensing Authority (BLA); however, an applicant must first be assessed by an approved entity, of which Engineers Australia is one.

The assessment process has two components:

• An ‘Entry to Practice’ assessment to determine the adequacy or otherwise of the applicant’s qualifications.
• An ‘Independent Practice’ assessment to determine the acceptability or otherwise of the applicant’s experience and competency.
   

Engineers Australia recommends engineers start the registration process at least three months prior to the date by which they are required to be registered. This will help to ensure engineers can continue to provide professional engineering services in Victoria. It will allow six to eight weeks to gain an assessment from Engineers Australia and 28 days for the Business Licensing Authority (BLA) to process the application (as recommended by BLA).

Why is registration so important?

Registration raises the bar on public safety, lifts consumer confidence and increases the integrity of the engineering industry. It helps to ensure that only those with suitable qualifications, enough relevant experience and a proven commitment to ongoing training and professional development can provide engineering services.

Engineers Australia had been advocating for the statutory registration of engineers for the past two decades. Indeed, Engineers Australia was instrumental in the introduction of mandatory registration for professional engineers in New South Wales and Victoria almost two years ago.

Victoria’s scheme underscores growing momentum for mandatory registration of professional engineers around Australia.

In Queensland, registration has been necessary for all engineers for the past 90 years. New South Wales introduced a scheme for mandatory registration of some engineers in 2021.

Legislation is also progressing in parliament in Western Australia and the ACT.

It is an offence under sections 67 and 68 of the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 to provide professional engineering services without registration or to hold out to be registered or endorsed without registration; with those breaching the rules risking fines of up to $90,870 per offence.

For further information on getting assessed for Victorian registration, click here.

Image: ©iStockPhoto.com/Martinan