It is essential for those Professional Engineers looking for the opportunities to work and settle in New Zealand, get themselves register as Charter Professional Engineer (CPEng) by the registering authority “Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ)” and demonstrate their competency for independence practice in New Zealand.
The Chartered Professional Engineers Act 2002 appointed Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) as the professional body for engineers to register the competent person as CPEng. IPENZ runs the registration process and assess the competency of applicants and take the necessary actions. IPENZ follow three standards to assess the credibility of engineers – Standard of competency including knowledge and skills, code of ethical conduct and standard of demonstrating competency.
Accreditation of Washington Accord Engineering Qualification
Initial assessment involves the accreditation of four years engineering degree by IPENZ according to the standards of Washington Accord Agreement, but if the Engineering degree is not a Washington Accord i.e. qualification is from a country which is not acknowledged in the agreement then there are two alternative assessment procedures to get register as IPENZ.

First procedure involves assessment of the initial degree and post-graduation degree of engineer by the Dean of the Engineering institute that whether the two degrees are equal to IPENZ accredited engineering degree.

Second mechanism is the assessment of overseas qualification by New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA) which bench marked the four years engineering degree accredited by the IPENZ. In the next step, IPENZ conducted a competence based assessment for independent practice and confirmed that engineers satisfied all the requirements necessary for the registration as Professional Member (MIPENZ). This assessment involves a portfolio of written evidence, interactive assessment, and a written assessment.

Demonstration of Knowledge based Skills – A Portfolio of Evidence
Portfolio of evidence is prepared to demonstrate that you provide best solutions to complex engineering problems utilizing your engineering knowledge to meet the standards of Washington Accord Agreement. You need to prepare a knowledge profile based on twelve elements that include context statements and performance indicators. Under each element, you need to explain that how you developed engineering knowledge through on job learning, academic study, and professional development. While explaining professional engineering performance focus on your abilities and tasks that you performed by utilizing your engineering knowledge. All the statements must be in “First Person” so it will be easy to assess your contribution to the activities.

You are required to give evidence in support of your performance statements by explaining few projects that you undertake and your participation in different activities and how you technically handled complex engineering problems using your knowledge. It includes critical analysis of the complex issues, investigation of the matters involved, reporting and then developing a solution to the problem. You might discuss engineering models, designs and any calculations that you performed. For university graduates with the less practical experience, they can illustrate their projects undertaken during university and draw on industrial experience as a part of their university program.

Supplementary Source of Evidence
For supplementary evidence, you need to provide attested copies of your testimonials, workplace demonstration, in depth problem solving and a summary of your project history elaborating different activities you performed during a specific period. While writing CPD avoid explaining irrelevant activities and only mention those that aided in extending professional knowledge related to your field. After reviewing complete knowledge portfolio the assessor will idealize the gap between your engineering qualification and Washington Accord qualification. The assessment panel will further decide to take other tests if they are unable to conclude any result based on knowledge portfolio. That includes interactive assessment where the engineer will be assessed by professional conversation with the evaluators or it might include series of written or oral test, a case study and work simulation.
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