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What is BPEQ Registration?
In June 2008 The AusIMM was granted approval by the
Queensland Government to undertake the role of an assessing authority for the
Registered Professional Engineer Queensland (RPEQ) program. The approval allows
The AusIMM, using its CP accreditation process, to recommend Engineers to the
Board of Professional Engineers Queensland for inclusion on the
register.
Under the Queensland ‘Professional Engineers Act 2002’ it is a
requirement for Engineers practicing in Queensland to be registered with the
Board of Professional Engineers Queensland. This requirement applies to
contractors and all persons who provide engineering services to employers. The
one exception is for persons practicing under the direct supervision of a RPEQ.
Companies must ensure that all their engineering staff are either registered or
are working directly under the supervision of a registered engineer.
What are the benefits of BPEQ Registration?
- Entitlement to use the title ‘Registered Professional
Engineer of Queensland’ or the abbreviation ‘RPEQ’
- Registration provides protection for professional engineers
by ensuring that unqualified people do not practice as engineers in Queensland
- Publication on the Roll of Registered Professional Engineers
of Queensland
- Engineers will be accredited, if applicable-
- To practice as a consulting engineer;
- To provide certificates under the Building Code of
Australia as mechanical and structural engineers;
- As an engineer under the Queensland Building Services
Authority Act 1991;
- Under the Subcontractors Charges Act 1974; and
- As a professional engineer on the Register of Fire Systems
Certifiers.
How do I apply for BPEQ Registration?
The AusIMM’s assessment program utilises the existing peer
recognition and assessment of competence process of The AusIMM Chartered
Professional (CP) Program. The AusIMM has been approved to assess in the
following areas of Engineering:
- Mining
- Environmental
- Geotechnical/Geological
- Metallurgical
Applicants wishing to be assessed to be a RPEQ need to meet
the following criteria under The AusIMM system:
- A minimum four year degree in an Engineering
discipline. Where a degree less than four years is held the CP Board may
consider additional education and training as equivalence to a four year
degree
- A minimum five years of relevant professional
experience in the discipline for which accreditation is being sought
- The Applicant must meet and fulfil the relevant criteria as
set out in The AusIMM CP By-Laws, Guidelines and regulations relating
to The Institute’s CP Scheme
Applicants wishing to be assessed under this scheme must
complete an application form, which requires the following information:
- Details of all qualifications held relevant to the
discipline for which accreditation is sought. If the applicant is not a
member they will need to provide certified copies of all relevant degrees.
Members of The AusIMM will need only provide copies if requested as these
will be contained in their original membership file;
- An updated detailed curriculum vitae;
- The names and contact details of three sponsors who are
professionals and are in a position to independently assess the applicant’s
work. These Sponsors can be an AusIMM Chartered Professional or other
Professionals who the AusIMM CP Board deem to have the equivalent of
Chartered Professional status.
An Application Assessment fee is payable at time of
application. See the Schedule of Fees for
Chartered Professional Accreditation for more information
The CP Board has established the following guidelines for
sponsors:
- Each sponsor should have worked with the applicant for
more than 12 months.
- One sponsor should be from the applicant’s current
workplace.
- Two sponsors should be from other organisations, clients
or previous employers, such that a spread of the applicant’s work experience
is covered.
- If two sponsors from the same organisation are nominated
they should be able to cover off different periods of the applicant’s
employment.
Upon receipt of the application, The AusIMM will contact
each of the sponsors directly and ask them to complete a referee’s statement,
which addresses the following three areas:
- Sponsor’s personal knowledge of the applicant.
- Sponsor’s personal knowledge of the applicants
experience and application of knowledge.
- A summary section allowing the sponsor to provide
additional commentary on the suitability of the applicant for
registration.
In many cases a copy of the application will also be
provided to an independent competent person who will conduct a preliminary
assessment of the application.
Once all referee statements and the competent persons
assessment, if required, have been received this information is provided to The
AusIMM Chartered Professional Board for consideration as to whether the
applicant meets the requirements of a Professional Engineer.
The assessment process usually takes between four to eight
weeks depending on the response time of referees.
Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their
application and where successful be provided with a CPD logbook and guidelines
on maintaining ongoing Continuing Professional Development.
Applicants are advised that a successful assessment by The
AusIMM does not automatically register them as a Registered Professional
Engineer. For the requirements and process to register with the Board of Professional Engineers Queensland can be found
here.
Information for Referees
Information for Referees to an application for Engineering
Qualification Assessment
Upon receipt of the application, The AusIMM will contact
each of the sponsors nominated by the applicant directly and ask them to
complete a referee’s statement, which addresses the following three areas:
- Sponsor’s personal knowledge of the applicant.
- Sponsor’s personal knowledge of the applicants
experience and application of knowledge.
- A summary section allowing the sponsor to provide
additional commentary on the suitability of the applicant for registration.
Sponsors should have known the applicant in a
professional/work capacity for a minimum of 12 months and be able to
comprehensively answer the questions above.
Sponsors are asked to provide
their candid responses to the questions above.
The answers should be to the best of the sponsor’s
knowledge and not suppress any information that may impact the Assessors
decision. If you cannot provide an answer to one of the questions please
indicate this in your response.
Sponsors may be contacted by The AusIMM Chartered
Professional Board separately to their completed statements to provide
additional information or clarify their responses to the questions asked.
If you are not comfortable providing a referee statement,
please advise The AusIMM stating the reason as to why this is the case. In such
cases the applicant will be contacted and asked to provide another referee in
support of their application.
Audits and Continuing Professional Development
All applicants approved as an RPEQ and/or Chartered
Professional by The AusIMM will be subject to a random audit of their CPD
activities at least once every three years. At this time applicants will
be required to show that they have undertaken a minimum average of 50 hours of
CPD per year calculated over a three year rolling period. Detailed
information on this process can be found on the Chartered
Professional page.
To assist prospective and existing RPEQ applicants
understand the CPD expectations of The AusIMM we have produced and make
available a CPD logbook [link to logbook] and CPD guidelines [link to
guidelines.pdf]. All applicants should ensure that they are familiar with
these requirements before lodging an application for RPEQ and/or Chartered
Professional status.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. I am not an Engineer, do I have to
apply?
A. The legislation states that any person undertaking a
professional Engineering Service must be an RPEQ or working under the direct
supervision of an RPEQ. Professional Engineering service is defined in the
legislation as
"an engineering service that requires, or is based on, the
application of engineering principles and data to a design, or to a
construction or production activity, relating to engineering, and does not
include an engineering service that is provided only in accordance with a
prescriptive standard."
For more information please visit the Board of Professional Engineers Queensland Government
website
Q. What happens if I fail an audit?
A. All persons assessed for RPEQ status by The AusIMM will
be subject to a random audit of their CPD activities at least once every three
years. Where an RPEQ fails and audit The AusIMM is obligated to advise the
Board of Professional Engineers Queensland of the failure and the reasons for
it. The BPEQ will then be responsible for determining the person’s
suitablilty to retain RPEQ.
More information on the audit process can be
found here
Q. What does direct supervision mean?
A. Direct supervision means that a Registered Professional
Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ) is physically observing your actions and
activities. As such you cannot have an RPEQ based in a capital city
location sign off on work undertaken remotely; they must be able to view the
work directly.
Q. What if I am not approved?
A. Where an applicant is not approved by The AusIMM they
will be provided with detailed reasons for the failure. These will also
include recommendations on how the applicant can seek to address these issues
ahead of reapplying. This will also include, where relevant, links to
resources that may assist the applicant.
Q. What are the impacts of undertaking professional
engineering activities in Queensland and not being registered?
A. The Professional Engineers Act 2002 makes it a
requirement for Engineers practicing in Queensland to be registered or to be
working under the direct supervision of an RPEQ. Undertaking activities
while not an RPEQ may result in prosecution by the BPEQ in line with the
Professional Engineers Act 2002. More information on the penalties for
breaching the act can be found on the BPEQ website – www.bpeq.qld.gov.au
Q. What is Continuing Professional
Development?
A. The purpose of participating in CPD activities is to:
- maintain or increase levels of technical and professional
competence;
- extend the range of professional skills;
- develop new areas of expertise;
- promote confidence and pride in their work;
- establish links with fellow professionals;
- increase and broaden career options.
For more information please visit the Continuing
Professional Development page
Q. Does approval by The AusIMM for RPEQ status
entitle me to membership of The AusIMM?
A. The assessment process for RPEQ status is separate to
that of AusIMM membership and of The AusIMM Chartered Professional Status.
Existing AusIMM members can apply for both RPEQ and CP status at the same time
while non-members can only apply for RPEQ status. Information on joining
The AusIMM can be found in the Membership section of this website
What is The AusIMM Chartered Professional Program?
As the requirements for BPEQ assessment are similar
to those for Chartered Professional status, applicants can apply for both
at the same time, using the same referee form.
Just complete the one
application form and submit along with your three completed referee statements,
verified qualification and current CV. Please note that Chartered Professional
accreditation is only available to AusIMM members.
More information on The AusIMM Chartered
Professional Program can be found here and the Continuing Professional Development Guidelines can be found
here.
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