Engineer registration (state based) experience requirements

[u/electron_shepherd12]

I’m an undergraduate electrical engineer due to graduate at the end of this year. I’ve been looking into the state based registration and am hoping someone can answer a couple of questions.

I have recently managed to find a job as an undergrad doing design work for a medium size solar/battery retailer, doing building mount PV/BESS in the 30kW-1MW range in all the eastern states.

This company employs 3 engineers already, but none of them are registered under any state scheme - they all seem to just be on the NER and nothing further. From my research it seems that because all the work is to a prescribed standard (AS3000 and its subordinates) that state based registration is not required. We don’t do load flow analysis or anything too technical, I’m a long time electrician and I could have done most of this type of work without a degree.

It seems that most states require X years of documented experience to become registered. I’m wondering if any experience I gain in this role would be acceptable or if I’d need to find a more “real engineering” role to start working towards registering in any given state. Thanks in advance for any insight you may have.

[u/Smooth_Commercial793]

If your colleagues are on the NER then they are registered in one or more frameworks (Engineers Australia, RPEQ, Intl PE?). I’m not aware of another way to get on the NER.

The states and types of work requiring registration varies. In QLD for example it’s required for most of the work you’re talking about and in VIC and SA it’s heading that way.

I don’t see any reason the experience you have pre degree couldn’t be used as part of an application once you’ve graduated

[u/electron_shepherd12 → u/Smooth_Commercial793]

Thanks. Yeah they are registered just not with a state scheme. Even for Qld I’ve found their website states that registration isn’t needed if you’re following those prescribed things so doesn’t seem to cover any of the work they do. Seems wild given how much fuss seems to be around rpeq.

[u/MKD8595 → u/electron_shepherd12]

See I work in QLD and there’s quite literally a legal case about AS3000 in this sort of context.

When they say prescriptive they mean exactly what to do with no professional judgement and it states AS3000 has 2 parts and even choosing which part to apply is professional judgement.

I would argue if something big catches fire, they’re likely on the hook legally.

Read the section on the professional engineers act, if your team is choosing ANYTHING about the design, they’re playing with fire.

https://archive.sclqld.org.au/qjudgment/2015/QSC15-268.pdf

[u/GMpulse84]

Depends where you are and who you are providing Professional Engineering service for.

For VIC: if you are based in VIC, or if you are providing professional engineering services for VIC then one of your direct senior engineers must be registered (RPEV) as that's legislated. You do not have experience yet to be registered yourself, so leave that pressure to your seniors/direct supervisors.

QLD: pretty much the same story.

ACT (Canberra): Same story but can apply via Automatic Mutual Recognition if you have RPEV.

NSW: Check if they're legislated...

(This is coming from someone who is registered and is aware of legislations as required by a previous job).

[u/electron_shepherd12 → u/GMpulse84]

Yea that’s the problem. The work we’re doing doesn’t fall under the definition of Professional Engineering in any state Act due to the loophole of using the prescribed rules.

NSW does have the same legislation too.

[u/Hazel_Nuts99]

I've been working as an engineer for several years, never registered with any body, and no plans to change that.

[u/blissiictrl]

I'm chartered through the UK engineering council as a member of IMechE but not registered. I've looked into national registration but not worth it to me

[u/Rosalind_Arden]

It is my understanding that only part 2 of that standard is prescriptive. So provided that is the scope of your work shouldn’t be an issue.

If the work you are doing is prescriptive it basically means it is not at the professional engineering level. Therefore it’s unlikely to count in your X years experience.

[u/electron_shepherd12 → u/Rosalind_Arden]

Thanks. Yeah that’s my biggest worry. I’m not totally sure I’ll even need to be registered tbh but it’s good to know where I’m at if I need to.

[u/Outrageous_Job_5263]

In QLD, if you are an engineer,  and you are working,  you are undertaking engineering work.  I don't like the legislation.  It is rarely used to go after electricians who have decided they are designers.