Student and graduate engineers

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    Eligibility

    Studying and graduating with an engineering degree is the first step toward being recognised as a qualified and competent professional engineer.

    Engineers carry out highly complex work, so it is important that only qualified, competent and experienced professionals design, build, maintain and develop the products, infrastructure and services we use every day. It is also important for young engineers to get the right guidance and direction from experienced mentors. The RPEQ system ensures that they do.

    To be eligible to become a RPEQ you must first graduate with a four-year degree in engineering from a recognised tertiary institute that meets the standards of the Washington Accord. The Washington Accord is an International Agreement between bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs.

    The next step in the RPEQ process is developing competency in engineering – four to five years post-graduation is the requirement.

    All students and graduates must work under direct supervision of a RPEQ if carrying out professional engineering services in or for Queensland until they have met the qualification and competency requirements and been assessed. The only other exception is if they are carrying out an engineering service in accordance with a prescriptive standard.

    Registration process for graduates

    Recent graduates follow the same 4 step RPEQ registration process. Before you will be able to apply for assessment and register, you'll need to gain a minimum of four years post-graduate work experience.

    Before you become a RPEQ, any professional engineering services you provide must be provided under direct supervision of a RPEQ.

    Direct supervision is an exception in the PE Act that allows unregistered persons (like students and recent graduates) to carry out professional engineering services legally. Under direct supervision, a RPEQ will monitor and direct your work, and will take full responsibility for the services.

    ***These images below are test images only ↓

    Five elements of direct supervision

    Examples of appropriate and inappropriate supervision

    When you are under direct supervision, it is your responsibility to provide the above

    Prescriptive standards

    An engineering service carried out only in accordance with a prescriptive standard is not considered to be a professional engineering service. Therefore a student or graduate engineer is legally able to carry out engineering services that are prescriptive. A prescriptive standard is defined in the PE Act as follows:

    a prescriptive standard means a document that states procedures or criteria:

    There are five elements to engineering services carried out only in accordance with a prescriptive standard:

    1. the standard is a document;

    2. the document states procedures or criteria for the carrying out of the design, or construction, production, operation or maintenance activity, to which the document relates;

    3. the application of the procedures or criteria must require little to no choice or judgement;

    4. the application of the procedures or criteria must not require advanced scientifically based calculations;

    5. the services must be carried out only in accordance with a prescriptive standard.