Professional engineers registered under the Professional Engineers Act 2023 must:

  • Comply with any conditions of their registration
  • Comply with the Professional Engineers Act 2023
  • Comply with the Code of Practice
  • Undertake continuing professional development
  • Comply with applicable laws
  • When carrying out a professional engineering service:
    • meet the standard reasonably expected of a professional engineer; and
    • demonstrate a level of competence reasonably expected of a professional engineer; and
    • not engage in improper or unethical conduct.

Code of Practice

Professional engineers working in the ACT must comply with the Professional Engineers (Professional Engineers) Code of Practice. If you are a fire safety engineer, you must also comply with the Professional Engineers (Fire Safety Engineering) Code of Practice.

The Codes cover standards and expectations, and requirements relating to conflicts of interest and keeping records. Failure to comply with a code is both a ground for disciplinary action and an offence.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements

CPD ensures that engineers keep up to date with modern skills and practices. An engineer must undertake and record CPD over a three-year period to get their registration renewed

The CPD rules are set out in the Professional Engineers (Continuing Professional Development) Determination. This covers the required hours, areas and types of activities, any limitations on the number of hours that can be claimed against a specific type of activity and record keeping.

Guidance on Continuing Professional Development for Professional Engineers [PDF 223.2 KB] provides more information and examples to assist you to comply with the CPD rules.

Complaints about a professional engineer

A person may complain to the Professional Engineers Registrar about a professional engineer if the person believes on reasonable grounds that the professional engineer has:

  1. contravened the Professional Engineers Act 2023, or
  2. when carrying out a professional engineering service, the engineer has:
    1. failed to meet the standard reasonably expected of a professional engineer; or
    2. not demonstrated a level of competence reasonably expected of a professional engineer; or
    3. engaged in improper or unethical conduct.

    3. A complaint must:

    1. be in writing to cwpl@act.gov.au;
    2. include the names and details of the complainant [if being made on behalf of another person, the details of that person and your authority to make the complaint];
    3. the name of professional engineer the complaint is about; and
    4. particulars of the complaint.