1. IPWEAQ State Conference 10 October 2016
Protecting the public and setting the standard of engineering: the RPEQ system
IPWEAQ State Conference
10 October 2016
Thank you MC. The theme for this year’s conference is collaborative engineering. I can think of no better description of BPEQs relationship with IPWEAQ, which is a valuable and supportive partner.
BPEQ appreciates the chance to attend the 2016 IPWEAQ State Conference and speak with delegates about Queensland’s unique and comprehensive system of registration for engineers which sets the standard of engineering in Australia and has helped safeguard the Queensland public for more than 80 years.

2. BPEQ
The Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland (BPEQ) established in 1930 to administer the Professional Engineers Act which provides for the registration of engineers in Queensland.
Board members include engineers, a building and construction industry representative, a community representative and a lawyer.
Professor Roger Hawken, registration advocate, inaugural BPEQ chair and RPEQ #1.

3. What the PE Act says Key objectives of the PE Act:
to protect the public by ensuring professional engineering services are provided by a registered professional engineer in a professional and competent way;
to maintain public confidence in the standard of services provided by registered professional engineers;
to uphold the standards of practice of registered professional engineers.
It is a requirement of the PE Act that anyone providing a professional engineering service in Queensland or for Queensland, must be a RPEQ, or carrying out the service under the direct supervision of a RPEQ who takes responsibility for this service

4. What is a professional engineering service
A 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.
A RPEQ must not carry out professional engineering services in an area of engineering for which they are not registered and competent in.

5. What is direct supervision
A person who is not a practising professional engineer may carry out professional engineering services only under the direct supervision of a practising professional engineer who is responsible for the services.
A person carries out professional engineering services under the direct supervision of a practising professional engineer only if the engineer directs the person in the carrying out of the services and oversees and evaluates the carrying out of the services by the person.

6. Five elements of direct supervision
Direct contact and actual knowledge
Direction
Oversight
Evaluation
Full professional responsibility

7. Direct supervision best practice
Certifying completed design work is not sufficient to constitute direct supervision.
Record keeping is imperative for both the RPEQ and non-PREQ being supervised - the onus to prove direct supervision will be on the person claiming they were under direct supervision.
Direct supervision does not require 1:1 supervision or even for the supervisor and supervisee to be in the same location – use of technology is encouraged by BPEQ.

8. The exception…a prescriptive standard
An exception exists for for engineering services carried out in accordance with a prescriptive standard.
A prescriptive standard is a document that states procedures or criteria for carrying out the service, the application of which does not require advanced scientifically based calculations.
AS1684—Timber framing code, published by Standards Australia, is an example of a prescriptive standard.

9. Interstate/overseas design and supply
Professional engineering services carried out outside of Queensland for any building, plant, machinery or product for use in Queensland must be undertaken by a RPEQ.
Alternatively, a RPEQ in Queensland must be in a position to take responsibility for the service provided, and have in place documented mechanisms and quality assurance systems to ensure the standard and appropriateness of the services.

10. Sign off/certification is not required by PE Act
The PE Act does not stipulate the need for RPEQs to sign off/certify professional engineering services or work.
As a means of quality assurance, some employers or companies may require engineers to sign off/certify services or work.
BPEQ is focused on whether a RPEQ provided the professional engineering service, or provided direct supervision.

11. Areas of engineering recognised by BPEQ
There are 14 general areas of engineering and 11 specialist areas of engineering recognised by BPEQ.
When becoming registered, an engineering must be assessed for registration in a general area of engineering for which they are competent and qualified.
An engineer can subsequently apply for assessment and registration in one of the specialist areas of engineering*.

12. Current areas of engineering
Aeronautical
Information, Telecommunications, and Electronics/Information, Technology and Telecommunications
Aerospace
In-service Inspection of Amusement Rides and Devices
Biomedical
Building Services
Management
Chemical
Mechanical
Civil
Metallurgical
Mining
Civil— Public Works
Naval Architecture
Electrical
Oil and Gas Pipeline
Environmental
Petroleum
Fire Safety
Geotechnical (mining)
Pressure Equipment Design Verification
Heritage and Conservation
Structural
Sub-divisional Geotechnics

13. Step one – education
The first step toward registration is graduating from a recognised tertiary institute with a four year undergraduate degree in engineering, applicable to one of the disciplines recognised by BPEQ.
An appropriate level of equivalent education may be recognised by BPEQ if the applicant can also demonstrate competency in their chosen area of engineering; e.g. a Bachelor of Science (Applied Geology) combined with a Master of Engineering Science (Mining).

14. Step two – work experience
A minimum period of professional work experience to develop engineering skills and practical competency is required before an engineer becomes eligible for registration.
BPEQ recommends an engineer complete between three and five years of work experience before applying for registration.

15. Assessment schemes
Professional organisations are engaged to act on BPEQ’s behalf to assess engineers for registration.
As at 1 July 2016, the approved assessment schemes are operated by:

16. Step three – assessment
An applicant can apply for assessment through one of the approved entities.
The assessment process may involve formal interviews, a written career summary or sponsorship from a peer or supervisor.
The assessment entity an engineer applies through will depend on their area of engineering.
If an applicant already holds a form of professional accreditation, they can use this to demonstrate their suitability for registration.

17. Step four – registration
If the applicant satisfies the assessment process they will receive a letter of recommendation from their assessment entity.
The letter of recommendation should be provided to BPEQ, along with a registration application and a declaration of any fitness to practise issues (bankruptcy or financial concerns; prior offences related to engineering).

18. Annual renewal
RPEQs are required to renew their registration annually; between 1 April and 31 May.
The current annual registration fee is set at $
RPEQs who allow their registration to lapse must go through the full assessment process again, or apply to have their registration restored.
Applications for restoration must be received within two months of the registration expiring (31 August).

19. Continuing professional development
CPD is a core requirement of ongoing eligibility for registration.
RPEQs are required to complete 150 hours of CPD over three years and are subject to CPD audits by BPEQ.
CPD is expected to be a combination of activities such as reading journals, preparing technical papers, attending conferences and seminars.
NB: 150 hours of reading journals will not be accepted as CPD.

20. RPEQ non-practising
The RPEQ non-practising category was created for engineers on career breaks, such as maternity leave.
As a RPEQ non-practising, engineers avoid having to complete the full registration assessment process once they are ready to return to the workforce and have less onerous CPD requirements (150 hours over five years).
Engineers registered in this category cannot carry out professional engineering services.

21. Risks and penalties for not being registered
Greater financial penalties – the maximum penalty in a prosecution of an unregistered person is 1000 penalty units, whereas the maximum penalty for a RPEQ is 200 penalty units.
Refusal to pay and limited legal recourse to recoup monies owing – see BCIPA case involving QEE and Agripower.
Unregistered engineers are limited in the scope of work they can perform and risk contravening the PE Act even if there is nothing deficient with the product or service.

22. Benefits of registration
Being a RPEQ demonstrates you have undertaken high level study and worked professionally and competently for a number of years.
RPEQ status counts toward your professional reputation and career progression.
Engineers who are RPEQs have an advantage in the job market. Many Queensland and interstate engineering employers specify the need for applicants to be registered.
RPEQs do not require direct supervision and can work for themselves or provide private consultancy services.
The term RPEQ is wholly limited to engineers with high level qualification, practical experience and demonstrated competency.

23. Protecting the public and setting the standard of engineering
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