[zensamurai]

Hi,

I am mechnaical engineer (BE) and already selected from the pool. Now I am wondering, if I can get a job as an engineer without having approval by IPENZ.
Since I am not from the UK I do not know about chartered professional engineers, FIPENZ, MIPENZ or something like that. If I have to apply, can I do that from Europe or do I have to applicate in NZ ?
If anybody could give me some advise about the meanning of a chartered professional engineer I would be very happy.

Cheers

zensamurai

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Zensamurai,

There are treaties between UK,NZ,AU,CA,USA and others, which allow your qualifications to be recognised. The IPENZ ask that if you qualify in the UK you register as a chartered engineer. The expectation is that you will approach the professional body in the country of qualification (you said BE so that’s not the UK, where did you qualify?).

Let me give you an example of how to qualify as a Chartered engineer the UK. 1st you need a recognised qualification, pre 1999 this was a BEng (Hons) post 1999 was an MEng (I think so many Uni’s changed the qualification route to course work rather than exams that they up’ed the qualification, slipping standards and all that).

Anyway once you have your qualification (should be from an approved UK university or affiliate) you have to complete an approved 2 year training course, or have appropriate work experience. Then I think it’s a further three years work experience, which must show an appropriate level of responsibility. Then you can register as a chartered engineer.

To be quite honest, despite fulfilling all of the above criteria I’ve never registering because it’s expensive and is a tool that tends to be used by engineering managers rather than people who design/develop things. Sadly NZIS has recently (so thankfully I’m excluded) started using this as a measuring stick for UK engineers. I say sadly because they are now depriving themselves of technical engineers (who actually design things) and are aiming at people with lower levels of technical knowledge and more of a managerial background.

In my experience, if you’re applying for a design/development role in the UK or NZ chartered status means little (sadly)

Hope that helps Bob.

[zensamurai]

Hi Bob,

yes, but just a little bit, since I am an graduate engineer from Germany and I got my qualification assessed as a BEng by the NZQA (Level 7). Thus I do not know well about the UK/NZ/US/CA/AU - System very well. I worked as a project and sales manager for 16 years mostly in plant building and automotive.
Do you know, if I have to assess my qualifications with IPENZ ? The differences within the education systems are sometimes confusing (vice versa the same of course).

Cheers zensamurai

[bob_the_engineer]

Hi Zensamurai,

Sorry, I didn’t read your question properly (it was late at night is my only excuse :uhoh ).

I’ll try again, I know that you must be registered with your professional body before you are allowed to practice as an engineer in some countries, I know that this is true for Canada (and I think it is also true for Germany).

You do not have to be registered to work as an engineer in the UK or New Zealand, and I’m reasonably sure that this is also true for AU and the USA.

I think that there are exceptions to this, for Civil Engineers.

Hope that’s a little more helpful, Bob

[zensamurai]

Hi Bob,

thanks for your answer. Since I am from Germany it´s sometimes not so easy to get some specific information. But in a german NZ forum they do not answers to this question. By the way you do not need to be registered in Germany as an engineer.

Cheers

zensamurai