New Zealand is a developed country with countless growth opportunities for engineers. Therefore, engineers all over the world dream of working in the country as registered engineers. Working in this country is a guarantee that they will have a bright future in their engineering career. Besides that, becoming a CPEng (Chartered Professional Engineer in New Zealand) is itself a guarantee of global recognition. Therefore, engineers all over the world try to attain Chartership issued by Engineering New Zealand, the assessment authority.
So, if you are one of those willing to work in New Zealand as a Chartered Engineer, reading this blog is a must for you. It will familiarize you with the CPEng eligibility criteria and the assessment process in New Zealand. Therefore, reading it thoroughly will be the best time investment for you.
Every engineer in this world can become a CPEng NZ, and it’s easy with the same assessment for all. The following are different categories for professional, technician, technologist or geologist.
Professional Engineer:
Complicated engineering problems and activities
- Washington Accord (four-year BE) or equivalent
- Chartered Member
- IntPE(NZ)/APEC Engineer
- CPEng
Engineering Technologist
Widely-defined engineering activities and issues
- Sydney Accord (three-year BEngTech or equivalent
- Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist)
- IntET(NZ)
Engineering Technician
Well-defined engineering activities and issues:
- Dublin Accord (two-year NZDE) or equivalent
- Chartered Member (Engineering Technician)
- IntETn(NZ)
Engineering Technologist
Complicated engineering geological activities and issues
- Postgraduate qualification with recognition in Engineering Geology
- Chartered Member (PEngGeol)
The assessment process of a CPEng in New Zealand:
1. Join the community:
If you are not an Engineering New Zealand Member, then join the community. It will allow you to have access to its online member area to record all your work and CPD records. It will help build your portfolio of proof for your Chartership application.
If not wanting to become a member, you have to add your proof when completing your Chartership assessment. After this, you will become a CPEng.
2. Creation of your work and CPD records:
Start adding work and CPD records on joining so that you don’t forget the details. Add records, as it will be quicker and easier for you to complete your Chartership application. Your work records offer proof of your work history and create a picture of the type of engineering activities you do.
Your CPE records may consist of formal education, workshops, courses, conferences, Engineering New Zealand branch or group activities, volunteering or mentoring.
All these things offer proof of your ongoing professional development and count towards Engineering New Zealand members’ requirements. That will help you to complete 40 hours of CPD each year.
3.Start the application:
When having enough experience for Chartership, you can start your application. You have to:
- Complete some details about you and the practice fields you are willing to be assessed for and upload the latest resume.
- Provide two referees who can recommend you for Chartership
- Show how you fulfill the areas of competency
- Link related work and CPD records as your competence proof.
4. Submit your Chartership application:
After completing all sections of the application, you can submit it to Engineering New Zealand. The assessment team will check whether you have everything in it or not. After that, it will go to the assessors.
As part of the assessment, there will be an in-person session. Here, your evaluators may give you a task to know your work experience and knowledge. These assessors will recommend whether you should get a Chartership or not, then a Board will decide it finally.
Benefits of Chartership:
The following are the top 5 benefits of becoming a CPEng:
1. Global recognition:
As told at the beginning, your qualification will have global recognition. It means getting a job in any country will not be a problem for you.
2. More growth opportunities:
Attaining this status means you are an experienced and qualified engineer. It will help you get promotions much more easily.
3. More respect and attention:
Everybody in the workplace will come to you for advice and suggestions. Apart from that, your seniors will put you ahead to deal with a complicated situations.
4. Access to new experts in your field:
As a CPEng, you will have the opportunity to spend time with your field experts. You can learn a lot from them, which will help you grow as a professional engineer.
5. More salary:
To everybody, you are an expert engineer.
Your Chartership differentiates you from ordinary engineers. It means the company will pay you more for your expertise in engineering.