From 1 December 2023 mechanical 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.
Engineers Australia recommends engineers begin the registration process as soon as possible. We suggest you complete the first step of applying for a competency assessment by September 2023 at the latest.
Engineers Australia is running free information sessions specifically on Victorian mechanical engineering registration, the first one will be on 17 August. You’ll learn who needs to be registered and what you need to do to get there. Attendees will also be able to ask Engineers Australia’s team of experts any questions about the assessment and registration process.
Keep an eye out in Engineering News or visit our Victorian assessment page for two further sessions in late August and September.
The registration process
Registration of engineers in Victoria is carried out by the Business Licensing Authority (BLA), however first an applicant must 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 you 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 BLA to process the application (as recommended by BLA).
Engineers Australia Victoria General Manager Alesha Printz says Engineers Australia is the only one stop shop, able to provide outcome reports for all five Areas of Engineering, and statements of eligibility for building industry endorsement in all five Areas of Engineering.
“Engineers Australia is also able to undertake assessments for engineers who do not hold a Washington Accord degree and is the only Australian assessment entity who can do so.”
Importantly, you do not have to be a member of Engineers Australia to be assessed.
“If you are a Chartered member of Engineers Australia or have membership with Engineers Australia and are registered on the National Engineering Register you are eligible to apply for state registration without further assessment of qualifications, experience and competency. These members can download a Victorian Registration Outcome report from MyPortal – accessed via the Engineers Australia website,” she said.
“That is, of course, unless you need to be registered in an area of engineering for which you are not Chartered or registered on the NER.”
What are the implications of not being registered?
From 1 December 2023 there will be serious implications for anyone attempting to provide professional mechanical engineering services in Victoria without registration.
If you are not registered, you will either need to work under the direct supervision of a registered engineer or only work in accordance with a prescriptive standard to not commit an offence under the legislation.
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.
Engineers Australia has further information on getting assessed for Victorian registration.