LET’S GET YOU

CHARTERED
GUIDE TO ASSESSMENTS
November 2019
CONTENTS
WHY YOU SHOULD BE CHARTERED 1

THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS 5

STARTING YOUR ASSESSMENT 7

CREATING WORK AND LEARNING RECORDS 8

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS 10

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR CHARTERED MEMBER (PENGGEOL) 13

REASSESSMENT FOR CONTINUED CPENG REGISTRATION 16

HOW WE DEFINE COMPLEXITY 17

GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS 20

WHY YOU SHOULD BE CHARTERED
If you’re working as an engineer and you’re a member of Engineering New Zealand, chances are you
already have the knowledge and skills to show you’re competent and ethical in your engineering practice
area. Our competence-based membership and registration are great ways to prove your competence to
your peers, your employer and your community. They mark you out as a trusted professional and an expert
in your practice area.

If you want to become a Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand, we’ll assess your engineering
knowledge against internationally-benchmarked educational, competence and ethical standards. If you
meet the standard, you’ll join a select group of engineering professionals.

You can select one of four types of competence-assessed Membership:

• Chartered Member – CMEngNZ

• Chartered Member – CMEngNZ (Engineering Technologist)
• Chartered Member – CMEngNZ (Engineering Technician)
• Chartered Member – CMEngNZ (PEngGeol)

What’s the difference?

You also have the option to join the Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) national register.

Once you’re a Chartered Professional Engineer and/or a Chartered Member, you can apply for equivalent
international Registers – International Registered Professional Engineer (IntPE(NZ)) and International
Engineering Technologist (IntET(NZ)) – which are assessed against the same standards. And, if you’re
a Chartered Professional Engineer, you also have the option to apply to become a Design Verifier (for
pressure equipment, cranes and passenger ropeways).

The assessment process is the same for first-time competence-based membership and CPEng
You’ll need to demonstrate your competence for independent practice against the appropriate standard.
If you don’t have a relevant accredited qualification, you’ll take a Knowledge Assessment first.

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Reassessment requirements are different
For Chartered Membership, you’ll do a one-time competence assessment then keep your knowledge
and skills up to date by doing professional development activities throughout the year.

To keep your CPEng registration, you’ll be reassessed at least once every six years. Reassessment is your
opportunity to provide evidence of your continued competence and to demonstrate New Zealand-specific
good practice.

CHARTERED MEMBERSHIP AND CPENG REGISTRATION CAN HELP YOU

ADVANCE YOUR CAREER
Taking that next step to getting professional recognition for your knowledge, skills and competence will
improve your professional standing. Chartered Membership gives you all the benefits of Engineering
New Zealand membership and a general quality mark of competence. To get it, you’ll complete an
assessment and make an annual commitment to ongoing professional development and ethics.

We know it can be a daunting process on top of an already-busy professional life, but the benefits
are worth it.

• Use your title and post nominal – CPEng, CMEngNZ – to establish your professional credibility.
• Give your peers and the public confidence through official recognition of your technical competence
and professional skills.
• Show you’re committed to continuous improvement and excellence in your industry.
• Speed up your career advancement and increase your earning potential.
• Improve your marketability and job prospects in New Zealand and overseas.
• CPEng registration opens doors to work restricted by regulation.

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FIND THE RIGHT CLASS OF RECOGNITION FOR YOU
Each class of recognition is benchmarked to an internationally-recognised qualification standard –
Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accord – and defined by different levels of complexity.

CPEng and Chartered Member

If you want to be assessed for CPEng and/or Chartered Member or IntPE(NZ), you’ll need a Washington
Accord-accredited qualification (four year BE (Hons) in New Zealand) or be able to show you’ve gained the
equivalent level of knowledge.

You’ll need to show you can deal with complex engineering problems and carry out complex engineering
activities.

Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist)

If you want to be assessed for Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist) or IntET, you’ll need a Sydney
Accord-accredited qualification (three-year BEngTech degree in New Zealand) or be able to show you’ve
gained the equivalent level of knowledge.

You’ll need to show you can deal with broadly-defined engineering problems and carry out broadly-defined
engineering activities.

Chartered Member (Engineering Technician)

If you want to be assessed for Chartered Member (Engineering Technician), you’ll need a Dublin Accord-
accredited qualification (two-year NZDE in New Zealand) or be able to show you’ve gained the equivalent
level of knowledge.

You’ll need to show you can deal with well-defined engineering problems and carry out well-defined
engineering activities.

Chartered Member (Engineering Geologist)

If you want to be assessed for Chartered Member (Engineering Geologist), you’ll need to show you can
reliably predict the nature of the ground and often work closely with geotechnical engineers. You’ll need a
geology degree at honours level, a postgraduate qualification in engineering geology or be able to
demonstrate equivalent knowledge.

You’ll need to show you can deal with complex engineering geological problems and activities requiring
specialist and in-depth geological engineering knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERS HAVE THEIR OWN REQUIREMENTS

International Professional Engineer
As well as meeting the standard for Chartered Membership, you’ll need:

• a Washington Accord-accredited qualification

• two years in charge of engineering work
• seven years’ professional engineering experience after graduation.

International Engineering Technologist

As well as meeting the standard for Chartered Member (Eng. Technologist), you’ll need:

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• a Sydney Accord-accredited qualification
• two years in charge of engineering work
• seven years’ engineering experience after graduation.

ONLINE REGISTERS
Once you become a Chartered Member or a Chartered Professional Engineer, you’ll be included in our
searchable public lists on our website.

ENGINEERING NEW ZEALAND OFFERS DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASSESSMENT

First-time Assessment
If you haven’t applied for assessment before, you’ll need to complete a First-time Assessment for the
CPEng register or Chartered Membership. There’s a single assessment process for competence-based
membership and registration applications, so you can choose to be assessed for CPEng and Chartered
Membership at the same time.

If you already have overseas registration and/or memberships with one of our recognised international
partners, your overseas recognition may be taken into account as part of the Engineering New Zealand
assessment process.

Find out more about working in New Zealand

Knowledge Assessment
You can become registered even if you don’t hold a recognised qualification by completing a Knowledge
Assessment.

You’ll need to show you have a level of technical knowledge and understanding gained through your work
and learning that is equivalent to an Accord-accredited engineering qualification.

If your Knowledge Assessment is successful, you can complete a First-time Assessment.

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THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS
If you’re taking a first time assessment, or being reassessed for CPEng, you’ll complete all five stages
of the process.

STAGE 1 – PREPARATION
Go to My Membership on the Engineering New Zealand website to document your work and learning
experiences and prepare your assessment application. Make sure you provide evidence that demonstrates
you have the minimum standard of competence in your Practice Area.

Your evidence should include:

• an engineering qualification or equivalent knowledge

• four to six Work Records
• Learning Records (approximately 40 hours CPD per year from the last six years)
• two referees
• a description of your Practice Area and which field of engineering your practice area aligns with
• a self-review demonstrating your competence against the competence standard

STAGE 2 – VALIDATION
When your application is ready, submit it for validation. We’ll allocate you a Competence Assessment
Advisor who’ll look after your application from start to finish.

Your advisor will check the information you’ve provided and will aim to give you feedback within 10
working days. They’ll let you know if you need to make any changes before submitting your application.

If you do need to make changes, try to get them done as soon as possible and then resubmit for validation.

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Once we’ve validated it, you’ll be able to submit your application. When you submit your application, you’ll
make an ethical declaration and pay your First-time Assessment fee.

STAGE 3 – EVALUATION
Your advisor will organise your assessment panel, which will usually include a Lead Assessor and a Practice
Area Assessor.

Your Lead Assessor will be your main point of contact. They’re responsible for scheduling an interactive
assessment. For first time assessments, your interactive assessment will be held face-to-face. Think of it
as a professional conversation. If you’re being reassessed, you’ll normally have your interactive assessment
via video chat or over the phone.

Your Practice Area Assessor will be the technical expert on your panel. They’ll have knowledge in an area
of engineering relevant to your practice area.

The panel will use the evidence you submit and the information from your interactive assessment to
evaluate your submission. They might set a written assignment or ask you for additional information.

STAGE 4 – RECOMMENDATION
Once they’ve got all the information they need, the panel will make a recommendation to the Competency
Assessment Board (CAB) about whether to approve your application. Your Lead Assessor will let you know
their recommendation.

The CAB will consider the panel’s recommendation and make a decision on your application at their
monthly meeting. Occasionally the CAB asks for additional information. Your advisor will let you know
if that happens.

STAGE 5 – DECISION
Your advisor will let you know the outcome of your application. If successful, your name will appear on
the online register or membership search.

If your application is unsuccessful or the CAB made an alternative decision, you can respond. Your advisor
will talk you through your options.

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STARTING YOUR ASSESSMENT
GETTING STARTED
There are two stages to building your application: creating your Work and Learning Records and completing
an assessment application in My Membership on our website.

If you’re an Engineering New Zealand member, you already have access. If you’re not a member, you can
ask for temporary access for six months. Or why not join us as a member?

There are two sections you’ll need to use in My Membership. My Experience is where you record your
qualifications, build a record of your work history (Work Records) and keep track of your learning activities
(Learning Records). Assessments is where you create and submit your application for Chartered
Membership and/or CPEng Registration.

HINTS AND TIPS

• Write in the first person, eg ‘I’ or ‘me’.
• Keep your Work Records and Learning Records up to date to make it quicker and easier to complete
your application.
• Spend some time getting to know the Assessment Criteria before you start completing your application.
Take a look at page 10 if you’re doing your first time assessment or page 19 for Continued Registration.
• Talk to people who have been through the process.
• Get in touch with us and ask for a Competence Assessment Advisor, who can help you create your
Work and Learning Records.

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CREATING WORK AND LEARNING RECORDS
Developing your engineering knowledge and skills throughout your career is a key part of gaining and
keeping professional recognition. Track your progress through the Work and Learning Records on our
website. Getting into the habit of recording your work and learning activities as you go will make it easier
to assess your competence.

QUALIFICATIONS
Add your qualification details into the My Experience section before starting your application for
assessment. If your qualification isn’t recognised under the relevant international Accord, provide copies
of your academic transcript with information on each qualification at a course level. Make sure you have
copies of your verified qualifications validated by the membership team before you submit your
application.

Once your qualifications have been validated, the Membership team will set your Accord status. If it’s not
recognised, get in touch with the Competence Assessment team, who’ll confirm if you need to take a
Knowledge Assessment before starting an assessment.

WORK RECORDS
Use your Work Records to capture information about your engineering work. We use these records as
evidence of your practical application of engineering knowledge and skills for your First-time Assessment or
your reassessment. You can’t complete your assessment without these records, as they’ll be your evidence
to show you meet a particular competency.

Include details about specific projects or activities you’ve worked on, including your personal role
or responsibilities. Attach a couple of files as sample evidence to support your Work Record.

Set aside some time on a regular basis to create and update your Work and Learning Records

Your Work Records should include:

• the project or activity name

• a “big picture” overview, including:
o who the work was for
o scope and purpose
o expected outcomes
o other stakeholders
o specific requirements, eg regulatory constraints
o any other information that will help the assessors understand the nature of this work
• your role
• details about your role and contribution to the work, such as:
o personal responsibilities
o tasks you performed
o the contribution you made or pieces of work you were involved with if this was part of a larger
project or activity

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• start date and end date
• the organisation you were working for
• sample evidence that provides evidence of your personal involvement.
Your sample evidence could include:

• designs, schematics and drawings

• calculations
• tendering documents, project plans or reports
• communications – letters/emails, notes, reviews, records of meetings or site visits, photos, more
detailed project/activity write up etc.
Aim to write two to three paragraphs for each Work Record. This should be enough to outline the work
and explain your involvement.

LEARNING RECORDS
Your up-to-date Learning Records will show your commitment to professional development. Create
Learning Records that outline the new knowledge and skills you developed and the learning outcomes
you gained. Aim for a range of learning activities that show the breadth and depth of your professional
development.

Your Learning Records should include:

• the record name

• activity type, eg private reading/research, short courses/workshops, formal education and on-the-job
training, technical meetings, etc
• when you completed the activity
• a brief description of what you did and what you learnt
• information about how you applied your new knowledge or how it changed the way you work
• how long you spent on the activity
• who ran the activity
• any documents that provide evidence of your learning activity, such as:
o slides from a presentation or pages from a workbook (with notes)
o extracts from a technical paper you read as part of research for a project.
One paragraph should be enough to provide a brief outline of each learning activity. The maximum file size
for supporting documents is 20MB per file. File types you can use are jpg, jpeg, png, gif, doc, docx, xls, xlsx,
ppt, pptx and pdf.

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERS
If you’re a structural engineer, this additional guidance will help you complete an application for first time
assessment. Use it alongside the information on page 10 – Competence standards for Chartered
Membership and CPEng.

You’ll need to provide evidence specific to your structural engineering activities for the four competence
groupings in your First-time Assessment application.

ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE
Show you understand and apply accepted principles underpinning widely-applied good practice for
complex engineering.

Learn more about how we define complexity

Summarise your specialised knowledge of the behaviour of structures.

Attach two Work Records and link two or three relevant evidence sample files to these records, such as
free body diagrams, engineering sketches (with appropriate annotation) and design features reports.

Make sure your evidence shows you can apply fundamental structural engineering principles and include
clear, logical, handwritten calculations another engineer can easily follow. If you’re supplying solutions
produced using software such as MathCAD, make sure they’re supported by evidence of your
understanding and application of the structural engineering models underpinning the software used.

In the Sample Evidence box, summarise how these Work Records show you can:

• assess structural actions in typical beam and column structures, bridge structures, wall structures or in
slabs, and when these are subjected to gravity and lateral loads, with and without using a computer.
This is an essential skill for structural checking and analytical modelling
• assess the structural strengths and deflections of members quickly without using a computer
• define load paths (both vertical and lateral) through the overall structure and through structural details
(such as in sample calculations)
• demonstrate knowledge of the properties of common structural materials
• define ductility levels and the basic failure hierarchy of a structure
• demonstrate understanding of relative stiffness and displacement compatibility.

NEW ZEALAND-SPECIFIC GOOD PRACTICE

Show you understand and apply accepted principles underpinning good practice for professional
engineering that is specific to the jurisdiction in which you practice. For CPEng, you need to supply New
Zealand-specific examples.

In the Statement box, explain how you take account of New Zealand’s seismicity and associated
geotechnical considerations.

Attach two Work Records and link two or three relevant sample evidence files to these records that show:

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• how you apply design guides, such as the New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering (NZSEE)
Engineering Assessment Guidelines
• how you comply with key legislation and standards, including:
o Engineering New Zealand practice notes and guidelines
o the Building Act and New Zealand Building Code, eg structural integrity during a fire.
o loading Standards, for example AS/NZS 1170, or the NZ Transport Agency Bridge Manual
o relevant structural materials standards, for example NZS 3101 for concrete structures,
NZS 3603 for timber structures and NZS 3404 for structural steel
o Resource Management Act, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and the Construction Contracts Act
where relevant
• your knowledge of materials’ technical specifications, such as steel, cement, epoxies etc.
• your knowledge of the skill base and capability of the New Zealand construction industry and its
practices.
• your knowledge of material durability and an accredited supply chain.
• how you maintain currency
• your knowledge and understanding of your practice field and where it connects with other fields.
In the Sample Evidence box, summarise why your Work Records are relevant for New Zealand-specific good
practice. Explain how your samples provide evidence of critical detailing for seismic actions and structural
earthquake engineering as practised in New Zealand.

INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS

Describe how you have defined, designed, investigated, analysed and developed solutions for complex
engineering problems in line with good practice for professional engineering.

In the Statement box, summarise how you investigate and assess options, and define and analyse complex
structural problems with only limited assistance from more senior engineers.

Attach two supporting samples from your Work Records and link two or three relevant sample files that
show how you:

• define constraints for the designer to work within, such as building architecture, available materials,
site constraints, operational requirements and budget
• identify missing or required information, for example
o site related problems, such as ground conditions – is the structure likely to be affected by
settlement?
o wind analysis – are wind tunnel tests required?
• develop briefs for external consultants to gather missing information
• define loads
• define acceptance criteria for key parameters
• research material properties, eg reinforced concrete – shrinkage, early age strength, etc.

Modelling and analysis

• Selecting an appropriate analytical process – static vs. dynamic.

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• Defining models including boundary conditions, eg soil structure interaction, staged construction
considerations, diaphragm flexibility etc.
• Conducting analysis and correctly interpreting results, eg choosing an appropriate building period,
correctly determining diaphragm design actions, etc.
• Verifying the authenticity and conducting sensitivity analysis of results.
If you’re a first-time applicant, the calculations you submit could include basic checks, eg to show you have
checked the sum of reactions and the deflected shapes.

Designing and developing solutions

• How the structural form evolved to meet the constraints, eg constructability considerations, resources,
etc.
• How load paths (vertical and lateral) are identified for gravity, seismic and wind loadings.
• How the materials used were suitable for the solution.
• How the subsystems were designed and how standardisation opportunities were considered.
• How size of members, reinforcing bars, length of welds, etc have been designed.
• How constructability has been considered.
• How an appropriate observation/monitoring schedule for critical parts of the construction process was
developed.
• Recognition of the need for expert assistance and a proactive approach to peer review.
In the Sample Evidence box, summarise why the Work Records are relevant and how the files prove you
analyse, define, investigate, design or develop solutions to complex engineering problems.

How we define low, medium and high-rise structural engineering

• Low rise construction: All buildings up to and including 3 stories

• Medium rise: All buildings from 4 to 20 stories
• High rise: All buildings 21 stories and over

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ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR CHARTERED
MEMBER (PENGGEOL)
When you’re applying for Chartered Membership, the information you supply in your Work and Learning
Records will be assessed against assessment criteria within four competence groupings.

You’ll need to demonstrate your competence at managing complex engineering geological problems
and activities that require in-depth engineering geological knowledge.

Learn more about how we define complexity

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
To become a Chartered Member (Engineering Geologist), you need to meet four assessment criteria
within an engineering geology context:

Engineering Geological Knowledge

All engineers need a solid foundation in engineering knowledge. Within your practice area,
demonstrate you:

• understand and apply your knowledge of accepted principles that support:

o widely-applied good practice for professional engineering geology
o good practice and local knowledge for professional engineering geology in the country
where you work
• continually update your professional engineering geology knowledge and skills to make sure they
remain relevant.
In your statement, briefly summarise how you apply your knowledge and skills in your practice area,
and how you develop them through ongoing professional development.

Make sure your summary includes:

• a general description of the engineering geology knowledge demands in your practice area
• an understanding of the knowledge demands that support good practice in the jurisdiction in which
you practice, eg principles, practices, standards, codes and regulations.

Managing engineering work

All engineering geological professionals will manage people and projects in their career. Within your
practice area, demonstrate how you:

• take responsibility for making decisions on one or more complex engineering geology activities
• manage one or more complex engineering geology activities in line with good engineering management
practice
• make sound professional engineering judgements
• identify, assess and manage uncertainty and geotechnical risk
• consider safety, sustainability and quality when managing engineering geology work.

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Many Chartered Members (Engineering Geologists) work in the overlapping area of the diagram. To be
successful when applying to become a Chartered Member (Engineering Geologist), you’ll need to provide
evidence that covers the full breadth of Engineering Geological activity.

In your statement describe your engineering management and decision making responsibilities.

Tell us about the complex engineering geology activities you come across and how you make sound
engineering judgements in these situations. How do you manage engineering risk? Focus on your approach
to safety, sustainability and quality management.

Professional acumen
Professionalism builds trust and instils confidence in the people you meet and work with during your
engineering activities. Within your practice area, demonstrate how you:

• carry out your professional engineering geology activities to an ethical standard, at least equivalent to
the Engineering New Zealand Code of Ethical Conduct
• recognise the likely social, cultural and environmental effects of professional engineering geology and
engineering activities
• communicate effectively with engineers and others.
In your statement, describe how your understanding of your ethical obligations influences how you carry
out your engineering geology activities.

Make sure you show you have a clear understanding of the limits of your competence and you practise
within these.

Summarise your understanding of the potential social, cultural and environmental impacts of your work.
Explain how your work improves the communities in which you work.

Developing technical solutions (general assessment)

Applying engineering principles to develop technical products or solutions that benefit society is a vital part
of being an engineer. Within your practice area, demonstrate how you:

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• recognise, define, investigate and analyse complex geological engineering problems in line with good
practice for professional engineering geologists
• analyse and communicate complex engineering geological problems in order to inform development of
engineering solutions in line with good practice for professional engineering geologists
In your statement, describe the engineering activities you take part in and the complex engineering geology
problems you come across. How do you analyse and resolve these problems?

Explain how you make sure the outcome is safe, sustainable and of the highest quality.

Developing a technical solution, product or outcome isn’t restricted to one task or activity. Engineering
geologists take part in tasks which include, but aren’t confined to, researching, planning, investigating and
supervising. The competence standard and assessment process are inclusive of all engineering geologists
working in all sorts of roles.

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REASSESSMENT FOR CONTINUED CPENG
REGISTRATION
When you’re applying for reassessment, the information you need to supply will be assessed against

specific work and learning outcomes for competence-based assessments.

As with first time assessment, you need to demonstrate your current competence to perform engineering
work at a complex level in your application for reassessment.

REASSESSMENT CRITERIA
We need to see two annotated Work Records that show your continued competence as a practicing
engineer.

In your statement:

• describe how you maintain your skills as a professional engineer

• explain what makes your engineering work complex
• identify any New Zealand-specific regulatory, technological and good practice changes in your field since
your last assessment. Explain how you address and apply these changes.

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HOW WE DEFINE COMPLEXITY
When you’re applying for competence-based membership or registration, you need to show you’re
competent to carry out engineering work at a particular level of complexity. The level will be different
depending on which type of membership or register you’re applying for.

Problem Activity

Chartered Member and CPEng1

Complex engineering problems Complex engineering activities

Problems that include some or all of the following: Activities or projects that include some or all of the
• Wide-ranging or conflicting technical, following:
engineering, and other related issues • Diverse resources, eg people, money, equipment,
• No obvious solution, which means an original materials and technologies
method of analysis is needed. • Resolving critical problems that occur when a
• Can’t be resolved without in-depth engineering variety of technical, engineering and other
knowledge related issues interact

• Issues not often experienced • New materials, techniques or processes, or the

innovative use of existing materials, techniques,
• Aren’t covered by the standards and codes of
or processes
practice for professional engineering
• Significant consequences in a range of contexts
• Diverse groups of stakeholders with a wide range
of needs
• Significant consequences in a range of contexts

Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist)2

Broadly-defined engineering problems Broadly-defined engineering activities

Problems that include some or all of the following: Activities or projects that include some or all of the
• A variety of factors that may create conflicting following:
constraints • A variety of resources, eg people, money,
• Can be solved by applying proven analysis equipment, materials, information and
techniques technologies

• Knowledge of principles and applied procedures • Resolving occasional interactions between

or methods limited technical, engineering and other related
issues where only a few conflict
• Belong to groups of familiar problems that are
solved in well-accepted ways • Using new materials, techniques or processes in
innovative ways

1The wording of these definitions has been slightly simplified from the original Definitions for purpose of minimum standard f or registration in the
Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Rules (No 2) 2002. Read them in their original form
2These definitions are a simplified version of those found in Schedule 1 of the Regulations for Election or Transfer to Engine ering New Zealand
Membership Classes. Read them in their original form

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 • May be partly outside problems covered by • Consequences that are very important locally,
standards or codes of practice but may have wider implications
• Several groups of stakeholders with differing • Knowledge of normal operating procedures and
needs that occasionally conflict processes
• Consequences that are important locally but may
have wider implications
• Are parts of, or systems within, complex
engineering problems

Chartered Member (Engineering Technician)2

Well-defined engineering problems Well-defined engineering activities

Problems that include some or all of the following: Activities or projects that include some or all of the
• Several issues, but only a few that result in following:
conflicting constraints • Limited range of resources, eg people, money,
• Can be solved using a systematic approach equipment, materials, information and
technologies
• Resolved with limited theory but extensive
practical knowledge • Resolving interactions between limited technical
and engineering issues where wider issues have
• Frequently experienced and so familiar to most
little or no impact
practitioners in the practice area
• Using existing materials, techniques or processes
• Covered by standards and/or documented codes
in new ways
of practice
• Consequences that are important locally but
• Limited range of stakeholders with differing
aren’t far-reaching
needs
• Knowledge of practical procedures and practices
• Consequences that are important locally but
for widely-applied operations and processes
aren’t far-reaching
• Discrete components of engineering systems

Chartered Member (PEngGeol)2

Complex engineering geological problems Complex engineering geological activities

Problems that include some or all of the following: Activities or projects that include some or all of the
• Wide-ranging or conflicting engineering, following:
engineering geological and other related issues • Diverse resources, eg people, money, equipment,
• Not easily recognised, understood or solved, materials and technologies
which means an original method of analysis is • Recognising, understanding and resolving
needed significant problems when wide-ranging or
• A wide range of issues that might be in an conflicting engineering, engineering geology
unfamiliar setting and/or other related issues interact

• Aren’t covered by guidelines, standards and • New techniques or processes, or the innovative
codes of practice for professional engineering use of existing techniques or processes
geology

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 • Diverse groups of stakeholders with a wide range
of needs
• Significant consequences in a range of contexts

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GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS
Assessment criteria: the standard we use to assess engineers on their competence.

First time assessment: a competence-based evaluation process for engineers applying for a national
or international Register or for Chartered Membership for the first time.

Reassessment: a competence-based evaluation process for engineers who wish to maintain registration
on a national or international Register.

Assessment panel: usually made up of a Lead Assessor and a Practice Area Assessor, the panel evaluates
your submission by reviewing your assessment application and the information you give during your
interactive assessment, before providing recommendations to the Competency Assessment Board.

Chartered Membership: the Engineering New Zealand class of membership for engineering professionals
who have demonstrated their engineering competence to an internationally-recognised benchmark.

Chartered Member CMEngNZ: solves complex engineering problems and activities by applying specialist
engineering knowledge and first principles to their work.

Chartered Member CMEngNZ (PEngGeol): solves complex engineering geological problems and activities
by applying in-depth engineering geology knowledge.

Chartered Member CMEngNZ (Engineering Technologist): solves broadly-defined engineering problems

and activities by applying knowledge of engineering principles.

Chartered Member CMEngNZ (Engineering Technician): solves well-defined engineering problems

and activities through knowledge and use of established analytical techniques and procedures.

Chartered Professional Engineer CPEng: solves complex engineering problems and activities, which
requires applying specialist engineering knowledge and first principles to their work.

Competence Assessment Advisor: a member of the Engineering New Zealand Professional Standards
team assigned to your application and your main point of contact once you submit your application
for validation.

Competence Assessment team: members of the Engineering New Zealand Professional Standards team
responsible for the assessment process. The team is made up of advisers and assessors.

Competency Assessment Board: the group of senior engineers that accepts or rejects recommendations
made by the assessment panel.

Complexity: one of the key ways we differentiate between the competence registers. Learn more about
how we define complexity

Dublin Accord: the agreement for the international recognition of Engineering Technician qualifications.

Educational accord: an agreement that benchmarks educational standards. If you hold an Accord-
accredited qualification, you’ll benefit from mutual recognition of your qualification between
signatory countries.

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Engineering Geologist: deals with complex engineering geological problems and activities requiring
specialist and in-depth geological engineering knowledge.

Engineering Professional: deals with complex engineering problems and activities requiring the application
of specialist engineering knowledge and work from first principles.

Engineering Technologist: deals with broadly-defined engineering problems and activities that require
knowledge and use of principles and applied procedures.

Engineering Technician: deals with well-defined engineering problems and activities requiring knowledge
and use of established analytical techniques and procedures.

Interactive Assessment: professional conversations held face-to-face for first time assessments, and
by video chat or over the phone for reassessment.

Knowledge Assessment: evaluates if you have gained an appropriate level of technical knowledge
and understanding through your work or study to practice at the level of a professional engineer.

Lead Assessor: Chartered Professional Engineer in charge of managing the assessment process.

Learning Record: details of the continuing professional development activities you’ve completed to provide
evidence of your commitment to professional development.

My Membership: a secure area of the Engineering New Zealand website where you create Work
and Learning Records and build your application for assessment.

Practice Area: a combination of the area in which you hold specialised engineering knowledge and
the nature of the activities you perform. These may change over the course of your career but your
competence will be assessed for your current area of engineering practice.

Practice Area Assessor: the technical expert on your assessment panel who has knowledge in an area
of engineering relevant to your own practice area/field.

Practice Field: indicates the nature of your engineering work.

Recognised external authorities: overseas engineering registration authorities that are signatories
of International Engineering Agreements.

Sydney Accord: the agreement for the international recognition of Engineering Technologist qualifications.

Washington Accord: the agreement for the international recognition of engineering qualifications.

Sample evidence: documents you include in your Work Record to provide evidence of your personal
involvement in a project or activity.

Work Record: information about the projects and/or activities you’ve carried out in your engineering work,
used in competence assessments to demonstrate the practical application of your engineering knowledge
and skills.

Online access: an option for non-members to gain access to the My Membership online area for six months
to complete an application for assessment.

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