Introduction Engineering Technologist

This section provides you with an introduction to the
assessment of qualifications in engineering for migration
purposes. You should read this carefully before
proceeding to the Application Forms.
Academic qualification is an Australian three year
engineering technology degree following twelve years of
schooling, or equivalent.
The Engineering Technologist:
• Focuses on interactions within the system

1. Assessment for Migration Purposes • Modifies and adapts established engineering practices

Engineers Australia is the designated assessing authority • Advances engineering technology.

for most engineering occupations.
Engineering Associate
Applicants seeking assessment for migration purposes
Academic qualification is an Australian two year
should first get a copy of the latest ‘General Skilled
advanced diploma of engineering following twelve years of
Migration Booklet (6)’ from the Department of Immigration
schooling, or equivalent.
and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA)
(www.immi.gov.au). This booklet will help applicants The Engineering Associate:
understand the requirements for General Skilled • Focuses on specific elements of the system
Migration to Australia.
• Works within codes and applies established practices
The booklet list occupations and contact details of the and procedures.
relevant assessing authorities.
Further details on the general role descriptions for each
You should first check this booklet to determine that your occupational category are presented in Section E.
skilled occupation is listed as being assessed by
Engineers Australia as there are some engineering
occupations which are assessed elsewhere.
3. Pathways to Recognition
There are two pathways to recognition of your
2. Occupational Categories in Engineering qualifications:

Engineers Australia recognises three occupational a) Through Accredited Engineering Qualifications

categories within the engineering team in Australia: b) Through a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).
• Professional Engineer The various successful pathways to recognition are shown
• Engineering Technologist schematically below:

• Engineering Associate
Read Information on Website
Shown below is a description of the engineering www.engineersaustralia.org.au
qualifications and the workplace role for each Download relevant Application Form
occupational category.

Professional Engineer
b) Non-Recognised
a) Accredited Qualifications
Academic qualification is an Australian four year Qualifications
professional engineering degree following twelve years of
schooling, or equivalent.
Washington Sydney
The Professional Engineer: Australian
Accord Accord Competency
Qualifications
• Focuses on overall systems For For Demonstration Report
all three
Professional Engineering (CDR)
• Develops and applies new engineering practices levels
Engineers Technologists
• Applies leadership & management skills
• Pursues engineering opportunities in an holistic way,
Accreditation Check Re-Submit
taking environmental, community & social issues into
account
• Solves diverse problems. Yes No Yes No

Outcome Outcome

SECTION A

1
a) Accredited Qualifications Washington Accord
These are accredited Australian engineering qualifications The Washington Accord (www.washingtonaccord.org) is an
and overseas engineering qualifications that are agreement between the engineering accreditation bodies,
recognised through formal agreements with engineering listed below, to recognise as equivalent the undergraduate
accreditation bodies in other countries. These professional engineering courses of study which are
qualifications are readily recognisable through database accredited and delivered in those countries.
listings of accredited programs.
The Washington Accord applies only to accreditations
For overseas qualifications there are two pathways conducted by the signatories within their respective
national or territorial boundaries.
• one deals with undergraduate Professional Engineering
programs. This is known as the Washington Accord. The following overseas countries are signatories to the
Washington Accord. While Australia is a signatory country
• and the other deals with Engineering Technologist
it is not listed here. If you have Australian engineering
programs. This is known as the Sydney Accord.
qualifications you must apply using the Australian
Please note that all references to ‘qualifications’ refer to Qualifications application form.
your undergraduate engineering qualifications.
Some other countries are currently seeking full
Application forms for these pathways are available membership of the Washington Accord. Please refer to
from the Engineers Australia website the website above.
(www.engineersaustralia.org.au).
Canada The Canadian Accreditation Board of the
Australian Qualifications Canadian Council of Professional
Engineers
If you have Australian undergraduate engineering
www.ccpe.ca
qualifications at the Professional Engineer, Engineering
Technologist or Engineering Associate level you should Hong Kong SAR The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
initially apply using the Australian Qualifications www.hkie.org.hk
Application Form. Ireland The Institution of Engineers of Ireland
Please note that if your Australian qualifications are at www.iei.ie
the post-graduate level (eg Postgraduate Diploma, Master New Zealand The Institution of Professional
of Engineering, PhD) but your undergraduate engineering Engineers,New Zealand
qualifications are from overseas you cannot apply using www.ipenz.org.nz
this pathway.
South Africa The Engineering Council of South Africa
Persons who hold Australian engineering qualifications at www.ecsa.co.za
the Trade or Technician level must not apply to Engineers
United Kingdom The Engineering Council of the UK
Australia for assessment. Details of the relevant assessing
www.engc.org.uk
authority for these occupations can be found in the
General Skilled Migration Booklet available from the United States The Engineering Accreditation
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and of America Commission of the Accreditation
Indigenous Affairs. Board for Engineering and Technology
www.abet.org

Please Note
The Accord only applies to professional engineering
degrees accredited and delivered in the signatory
countries.
The Accord does not apply to:
• Qualifications at lower academic levels or
• Postgraduate qualifications in engineering.

If you consider your qualifications fall under the

Washington Accord you should complete the Washington
Accord application form and provide the required
documentation and assessment fee.

SECTION A

2
Your qualifications will be checked with the relevant
Washington Accord accreditation body.
If your qualification is not listed as accredited under the
Washington Accord, you will be invited to submit a
Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).
If your application under the Washington Accord is
successful the occupational classification given to you
will be according to the engineering discipline specified in
the program title. If you wish to seek another engineering
occupational classification other than the one specified in
your qualifications you will need to submit a CDR.
Sydney Accord
The Sydney Accord is an agreement between the
engineering accreditation bodies, listed below, to
recognise as equivalent the Engineering Technologist
programs of study which are accredited and delivered in
those countries.
The Sydney Accord applies only to accreditations
conducted by the signatories within their respective
national or territorial boundaries.
The following countries are signatories to the Sydney
Accord. While Australia is a signatory country it is not
listed here. If you have Australian qualifications you must
apply using the Australian qualifications application form.
Canada The Canadian Council of Technicians
and Technologists
www.cctt.ca
Hong Kong SAR The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
www.hkie.org.hk
Ireland The Institution of Engineers of Ireland
www.iei.ie
New Zealand The Institution of Professions Engineers,
New Zealand
www.ipenz.org.nz
South Africa The Engineering Council of South Africa
www.ecsa.co.za
United Kingdom The Engineering Council of the UK
www.engc.org.uk
Please Note
The Accord only applies to engineering technologist
qualifications accredited and delivered in the
signatory countries.
The Accord does not apply to:
• Qualifications at lower academic levels or
• Postgraduate qualifications in engineering.
3
You should first check that your qualification is listed as
an accredited Engineering Technologist program with the
relevant body before applying.
If you consider your qualifications fall under the Sydney
Accord you should complete the Sydney Accord
application form and provide the required documentation
and assessment fee.
Your qualifications will be checked with the relevant
Sydney Accord accreditation body.
If your qualification is not listed as accredited under the
Sydney Accord, you will be invited to submit a
Competency Demonstration Report.
If your application under the Sydney Accord is successful
the occupational classification given to you will be
according to the engineering discipline specified in the
program title. If you wish to seek another engineering
occupational classification other than the one specified in
your qualifications you will need to submit a CDR.
b) Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)
If your engineering qualifications are not recognised
through the agreements listed above you may seek
recognition through a competency assessment process.
The Competency Demonstrations Report (CDR) provides
you with the opportunity to establish that your
engineering knowledge and competencies are equivalent
to those of the appropriate occupational category within
the engineering team in Australia. The Overseas
Qualifications Assessment Kit guides you in determining
your occupational category and preparing your CDR
submission.
Section E of the Overseas Qualifications Assessment Kit
provides you with Self-Assessment Charts for each
occupational category. You should refer to section 2.
above to initially determine in which occupational
category you might apply. You should then turn to the
relevant Self-Assessment Chart to see if you can
demonstrate the required competency elements.
If you are satisfied that you have demonstrated all of the
competency elements you may prepare your submission.
If this is not the case you should undertake further study
and/or workplace activity to develop the required
competency elements before making your application.
Section C of the Kit provides detailed instructions on how
to prepare your submission.
A CDR Application Form is also available from the
Engineers Australia website
(www.engineersaustralia.org.au).
SECTION A
4. English Language Requirements
All applicants applying to have their skills assessed by
Engineers Australia are required to provide evidence of
their English language competency. Applicants are
required to have achieved a minimum of Band 6 in each
of the four modules of speaking, listening, reading and
writing in either the general or academic modules of the
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
(www.ielts.org).
Please Note
You must arrange for an original IELTS Test Report
Form to be sent to Engineers Australia directly from
the Test Centre.
Details of locations where IELTS assessments are
conducted may be found on the IELTS website
(www.ielts.org).
The following applicants may be exempt from the
requirement to provide an IELTS assessment result:
• Applicants who are native English speakers;
• Applicants who have completed an Australian
undergraduate engineering qualification;
• Applicants who have lodged a migration application
prior to 1 July 1999 which is still current. Such
applicants must provide a certified copy of the letter of
authority from an Australian Diplomatic Post. These
applicants should also check the English language
requirements for their migration application with
DIMIA;
• Applicants who have successfully completed a Masters
degree or PhD program at an Australian university.
Please note that the above IELTS exemptions are
determined on a case by case basis and Engineers
Australia reserves the right to require an IELTS
assessment result if it is deemed necessary.
4
5. Certification of Copies of Documents
Many applications for a skills assessment are delayed
because documents are not properly certified. The assessors
will contact you by letter or email if there are any omissions
in regard to certification. Please make sure your email and
contact addresses are up to date.
Applicants should note the following points concerning
certification of documents:
1.Certified copies of previously certified copies will not
be accepted. You must provide a properly certified copy
of the ORIGINAL document.
2.Proper certification will appear on each page to be
certified, and should show:
(a) the signature of the person certifying the
document
(b) the name of the person certifying the document.
This should be clearly printed or evident in the
official stamp.
(c) the address of the person certifying the document
(d) the phone number and if possible the email
address of the person certifying the document.
(e) And where possible an official stamp indicating
the status of the person certifying the document,
ie. Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths,
Notary Public, or indicating the name of the law
firm.
3.The following classes of persons are authorised to
certify copies of documents:
• A current member of Engineers Australia other
than at the grade of student. The Membership
number must be shown.
• A staff member of Engineers Australia
• An officer of an Australian Diplomatic Post
• A Notary Public authorised in the country of
application
• A Commissioner for Oaths (Declarations)
authorised in the country of application
• A Solicitor, Barrister or Judge authorised in
Australia or in the country of application
• A Justice of the Peace authorised in Australia or
in the country of application
4.If you employ the services of a legal firm, the solicitor
must sign each page. It will not be satisfactory for the
name of the law firm to appear in lieu of the actual
name and signature of the solicitor certifying your
documents. Collective responsibility implied in the use
of “we”, accompanied by the name of the law firm, is
not acceptable.
SECTION A

Please Note
Assessment of your application will not proceed if you
submit copies of documents where the class of
person certifying the copy is not one of those listed
above or where the requirements stated above are
not complied with.
If you have appointed a person to act as your agent you
must complete the authorisation form. This form may be
found on the reverse of the application form or on the
website (www.engineersaustralia.org.au) under ‘Overseas
Qualifications’.
Steps in the CDR Assessment Process

Read Qualifications Assessment Kit

6. Steps in the CDR Assessment Process
The following sections in the Kit assist you to undertake the
self-assessment and prepare your Competency Demonstration Determine Occupational Category
Report.

Section B: Self-Assessment Undertake Preliminary Self-Assessment

This part of the Kit guides you through a self-assessment
process. By undertaking the self-assessment you can
determine whether you have the necessary competencies Decide whether to proceed with CDR
to justify proceeding with your application. If you feel you
have the necessary competencies you should proceed to
Section C of the Kit. Organise your workplace
practice, professional
You should note however that a positive self-assessment Decision No development and/or
is not a guarantee of success. Your application will be
undertake further study to
rigorously assessed on the basis of the information and acquire the competencies
evidence you provide.
Yes
Section C: Compilation of a Competency Demonstration
Report (CDR)
Prepare Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)
This part of the Kit provides you with guidelines for a
description of your personal engineering practice and an
identification of your engineering competencies.
Dispatch to Engineers Australia with lodgement fee
This is known as the Competency Demonstration Report
or CDR. It is the substantial component of your
application which provides the basis for Engineers If there are any deficiencies in your submission you will
Australia’s assessment of your competencies. be notified in writing. If the application is successful you
You should follow the guidelines in Section C carefully will receive a letter of recognition suitable for migration
when compiling your CDR. purposes.

Section D: Checklist of documentation and dispatch Please Note

This section provides you with a checklist of the required
material and dispatch address.
The assessment fee is specified on the CDR application
form.
The steps in the assessment process are shown below.
Only one original letter of recognition will be issued.
Provision of an additional letter will require a
Statutory Declaration explaining the reason for the
additional letter together with an administration fee
of AUD$75.00.

Section E: Self-Assessment Charts

These charts allow you to determine your level of
competency.

Section F: Application forms

You should complete the CDR application form provided.

SECTION A