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APER vs ACT Professional Engineer Registration Scheme

What is the ACT Professional Engineer Registration Scheme?

The ACT’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme opened for applications on 6 March 2024, and will be released in a phased manner:

• Phase 1 opened on 6 March 2024 for those providing professional engineering services in the civil and structural areas of engineering.
• Phase 2 is planned to open in July 2024 for those providing professional engineering services in the mechanical area of engineering.
• Phase 3 is planned to open in late 2024 for those providing professional engineering services in the electrical and fire safety areas of engineering.

If you are providing professional engineering services across multiple areas of engineering, you can apply for registration across each area at the same time as soon as the first area you require registration in opens.

Registration on the ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme is a formal recognition of the qualification and competency of an engineer in the Australian Capital Territory.

The Professional Engineers Act 2023 establishes the ACT’s Professional Engineers Registration Scheme (the Scheme).

The Scheme has been introduced to protect the public by ensuring professional engineering services are provided by suitably qualified persons and maintain confidence in the standard of professional engineering services in the ACT through accountability measures and standards of practice.

How do I get an ACT assessment?

The Professional Engineers Registration Scheme is a regulatory model where assessment is undertaken by a professional engineering body prior to the engineer registering with the ACT Government.

AIRAH is an approved assessment entity for the ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme to undertake assessments for mechanical engineers seeking to become registered.

More information on the Professional Engineers Registration Scheme can be found here.

What is the difference between the ACT Professional Engineer Registration Scheme and APER?

The ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme and the AIRAH Professional Engineer Register (APER) are different.

The ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme is a legislated scheme, awarded by the ACT Government. To achieve registration, you need to have your qualification and competency assessed by an approved assessment entity such as AIRAH.

APER is the professional accreditation for engineers operating in the HVAC&R building services industry. It is administered by AIRAH and has been designed to meet the requirements of the ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme and other state-based schemes as they are released.

The APER is open to both AIRAH members and non-members.

AIRAH members on the register may carry the post-nominal of AIRAH Registered Professional Engineer (ARPEng).

The assessment eligibility requirements are the same for APER and ACT Professional Engineers Registration Scheme.

Please read the APER guidelines for more information on the accreditation program.