Changes to RPEQ CPD requirements

Updated CPD requirements for RPEQs: What you need to know

The Board has updated its Continuing Registration Requirements Policy (CRR Policy). The CRR policy sets out continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for RPEQs. The updated CRR took effect on 1 July 2026.  

While the core expectations, including the 150-hour requirement, remain unchanged, the updated CRR policy provides clearer guidance for RPEQs and keeps Queensland’s approach broadly consistent with other Australian engineering regulators and our approved assessment entities.  

Which CPD requirements apply to you?

Annually when you renew your registration through the RPEQ portal, you will be asked to declare whether you hold registration through an approved assessment entity for CPD.

• If you hold registration through an approved assessment entity, you must meet the assessment entity’s CPD requirements and may be audited by the assessment entity. The Board’s CRR Policy does not apply to you.
  
  (Example: if you hold registration through Engineers Australia, you will follow EA’s CPD policy. If you are through AusIMM you would follow their policy and so on.)
  
  There may be small variations in CPD requirements between assessment entities. Please check on your assessment entity’s website for more details on their specific CPD requirements.

• If you do not hold registration through an approved assessment entity, you must comply with the Board’s CPD requirements as outlined in the CRR Policy and you may be audited by the Board.

Why was the policy reviewed?  

The Board is required to set to continuing registration requirements for RPEQs. The Board recently conducted a review of these requirements.  

As part of the review, the Board considered the CPD policies of its approved assessment entities and other Australian state and territory engineering regulators.  

What has stayed the same?

The fundamental CPD requirements for RPEQs remain the same.

RPEQs are still required to undertake a minimum of 150 hours of CPD activities over a three-year period leading to the end of the most recent registration year.  

Audits are conducted post renewal, for the previous three financial years. For example, the Board’s 2025 audit focused on 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Those 150 hours must include:

• a minimum 75% (112.5 hours) of the 150 hours as technical CPD;

• a maximum of 25% (37.5 hours) of the 150 hours as non-technical CPD (e.g. project management, law, communication) including;
  -a minimum, 1 hour of non-technical CPD covering ethics; and
  -a minimum, 1 hour of non-technical CPD covering risk management.

Do you have registration in multiple areas of engineering?

If you are registered for more than one area of engineering, you must record as a minimum at least 50 hours of technical CPD for each area of engineering. You must also continue to meet the minimum requirement of 112.5 hours overall of technical CPD.

For example, if you are registered for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, you must undertake a minimum of 50 hours of technical CPD related to both mechanical and electrical. Some technical CPD activities may overlap and in this case, you can label the activities as both mechanical-related and electrical-related CPD.

 What Board CPD requirements have changed?

The CRR Policy includes several small amendments to better align the Board’s requirements with our assessment entities and national practice.  

• Tertiary course CPD – New language: Any tertiary course taken either as an individual course or for a formal post-graduate award.

  • Previously, the requirement stated, “formal post-graduate study or tertiary course units not undertaken for award purposes.”

  • This amendment ensures consistency with all other Australian states and territories and consistency with Engineers Australia’s policy

• Guidance for non-practising engineers – the policy contains a new section dealing with non-practising RPEQs (a small cohort of RPEQs, less than 5%)

  • The policy now includes information on CPD requirements for RPEQs seeking to transition back to practising from non-practising; and an

  • explanation of how CPD hours are counted pro-rata.

• New CPD exemption – RPEQs whose primary registration is with another Australian state or territory, or New Zealand are exempt for completing additional CPD for Queensland if:

  • you are currently registered as a professional engineer in another Australian state or territory, or New Zealand;

  • that jurisdiction requires you to complete an equivalent amount of CPD to Queensland; and

  • you declare that you have complied with that jurisdiction’s requirements.

• Clearer information about CPD audits

  • RPEQs who declare on their application that they comply with the Board’s CPD requirements may be audited by the Board.

  • BPEQ’s standard CPD audit review cycle is five years.

  • Practising RPEQs can expect to be audited at least once every five years and may be subject to additional audits.

  • Failure to comply with CPD requirements and not having a valid reason may result in the RPEQ being refused registration or a condition being placed on their registration.

• Expanded guidance on CPD activities 

  • The policy includes additional notes explaining CPD activity type, making it easier for RPEQs to understand what is considered CPD.

What RPEQs should remember:

The updates to the CRR policy do not introduce major changes to Board expectations regarding CPD. The minor changes introduced should make it easier for RPEQs to understand their obligations, comply with requirements and improve CPD consistency with engineering regulators across Australia and approved assessment entities.

RPEQs should review and understand which CPD requirements apply to you. If you maintain registration through an approved assessment entity (most RPEQs are registered this way) you will continue to comply with the CPD requirements of that assessment entity. If you do not, you must comply with the Board’s CPD requirements as outlined in the updated policy.

Regardless of which way you maintain your registration, the Board encourages RPEQs to review and understand their CPD obligations. If you have any questions, please contact us by using the BPEQ website.