All degree qualified mechanical engineers now require registration in Victoria.
The Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019 (the Act) started on 1 July 2021. Implementation has been staggered, with mechanical engineers the last cohort to be mandated. Members who fall under the registration requirements mandated within the Act can follow the below steps to apply for registration.
Members who have not yet begun the registration process, and are eligible, must lodge an application for registration with the Business Licencing Authority (BLA) as soon as possible to ensure they meet their obligations under the Professional Engineers Registration Act 2019.
There are several Guidelines and Practice notes, which may help members, particularly if they don’t know if they need to register under the Act. Potential applicants should verify their eligibility for registration and endorsement before applying.
Members should also ensure any person they employ as a mechanical engineer knows about the new requirements under the Act and makes their own decision whether they require registration.
Professional engineers must meet the qualification and experience requirements for registration, and complete continuing professional development to keep registration.
- The qualifications are a Washington Accord qualification or equivalent qualification or competency.
- The experience is five years, of which at least four must be postgraduate.
- The continuing professional development requirement for renewal is 150 hours every three years.
Applicants for registration will also need to pass certain personal and financial probity tests, including:
- Not being found guilty or convicted of an indictable offence within the last 10 years.
- Not being insolvent or an officer of an externally administered company and not failing to comply with a court or tribunal order.
- Registration will be valid for three years, with a professional engineer’s personal and financial probity being reassessed at each renewal cycle.
The Business Licensing Authority (BLA) advises that registrations are a 2 step process.
Step 1 – Qualification and experience assessment
- Apply to an assessment entity to have qualifications and experiences assessed. See a public record of assessment entities.
- The assessment entity will assess qualifications and experience against their approved assessment scheme and issue a report on the outcome.
Step 2 – Apply for registration to BLA
- Applications for registration can only be made through the Consumer Affairs Victoria myCAV portal.
- Upload a copy of the report from the assessment entity.
- BLA will complete the personal and financial probity checks required under the Act.
Members should contact the Business Licensing Authority or call 1300 13 54 52 for any registration application queries.
The Act results from a 2014 election commitment by the Victorian Government that was re-confirmed during the lead-up to the 2018 Victorian election. VACC lobbied to have mechanical engineers omitted under the Act between 2017 and 2019. Unfortunately, while receiving support from many of Victoria’s crossbench, the government saw safe passage of the legislation through Parliament in August 2019.