APEC ENGINEERS AGREEMENT (APECEA)

1.1                 The APEC Engineers Agreement establishes an international benchmark of competence for independent practice as a professional engineer, and a framework for the recognition of substantial equivalence of standards and quality assurance systems.

1.2                 Assurance of substantial equivalence will be established and maintained through continuing periodic review of each other’s standards and systems.

1.3                 Assurance of substantial equivalence through this Agreement may also enhance mutual exemption between jurisdictions by leading to opportunities to streamline processes and procedures for the recognition of competent individuals in other jurisdictions.

1.4                 This Agreement provides a framework within which appropriate Rules, Procedures and Guidelines can be developed to give effect to the overarching agreement. In recognition of the origins of the APEC Engineers Agreement, the jurisdiction of each Authorized Member is an APEC economy, and each Authorized Member shall be constituted in a manner satisfactory to the government of the economy. The term Authorized Member is taken to be synonymous with the previous term Monitoring Committee, and the Authorized Members acting collectively under this agreement are synonymous with the previous APEC Engineer Coordinating Committee.

2.1                 The international register is made up of jurisdictional sections operated by Authorized Members.

2.2                 Authorized Members maintain a benchmark of competence as described in Schedule 1.

2.3                 Each Authorized Member will maintain a jurisdictional section of the international register, that lists individuals who:

o      Meet the benchmark of competence through assessment within their own jurisdiction; and

o      Have agreed to be bound by a code of ethics that is consistent with the requirements set out in the Rules; and

o      Are willing to be identified in this manner and meet any costs involved, and

o      Have met any additional requirement to comply with any jurisdictional legislation or regulatory constraints.

2.4                 Those listed on the APEC Engineers Register are entitled to use the title (APEC Engineer).

2.5                 The Authorized Members will undertake periodic review of each other’s standards, policies and quality assurance systems. The purpose of the review is to ensure the substantial equivalence of the requirements for the continued operation of the jurisdictional section of the APEC Engineers Register as specified in the Rules and Procedures.

2.6                 Authorized Members will promote this Agreement as a benchmark of competence for professional practice.

2.7                 Authorized Members will recognize individuals listed on all jurisdictional sections of the APEC Engineers Register as meeting the benchmark of competence for independent practice as a professional engineer

2.8                 The Authorized Members undertake to the extent that is reasonably possible to promote the APEC Engineers Register as a benchmark standard of competence for independent practice in professional engineering.

2.9                 Authorized Members will recognize individuals listed on all jurisdictional sections of the APEC Engineers Register as meeting the benchmark of competence for independent practice as a professional engineer.

2.10              Each Authorized Member will actively participate and share relevant practices and information for the benefit of all.

2.11              Admission of new Authorized Members to this Agreement will require the approval of two-thirds of Authorized Members and would normally be preceded by a period of Provisional Membership. Applicants for Provisional Member must be nominated by two Authorized Members.

2.12              Authorized Members will be downgraded to non-voting Conditional Membership if they are found to be in non-conformance with Agreement requirements.  Downgrading to Conditional Membership requires the approval of two-thirds of the other Authorized Members.

2.13              This agreement, of itself, is not recognized by the Authorized Members as a mutual recognition agreement in order to facilitate the registration, licensure or other equivalent recognition of professional engineers between specific jurisdictions.

2.14              Any Member may withdraw from this Agreement by giving at least twelve months’ notice to the Secretariat.

2.15              Removal of any Member will require the approval of two-thirds of Authorized Members. No such removal will, of itself, affect any benefit granted prior to that cessation by other Members, to any person, on the basis of this Agreement.

2.16              Authorized members will establish appropriate rules, procedures and guidelines to give effect to this Agreement. The adoption of, or amendment to, such Rules and Procedures will require the approval of two-thirds of the Authorized Members.

2.17              There will be annual Meetings of the Authorized Members to:

o      update this Agreement and related documents,

o      consider matters related to Memberships,

o      consider any other matters relating to this Agreement,

2.18              Special Meetings may be held if two-thirds of Authorized Members agree.

2.19              The Authorized Members will appoint a Chair and a Deputy Chair who will be assisted by a Secretariat.

2.20              All Members will contribute to the shared costs of maintaining this Agreement and Secretariat, and each will be responsible for meeting its own costs of participation.

2.21              The Agreement will remain in effect for so long as it is acceptable and desirable to the Authorized Members. 

3.1                 The APEC Engineers Agreement has been in effect since 01 January 2013.

3.2                 The current version is 2020.1 and is in use since 01 November 2020.

4.1                 Three classes of Membership are recognized: 

o      Authorized Members, who have full rights under this Agreement; and

o      Conditional Members, who have their rights temporarily reduced or suspended; and

o      Provisional Members, who have rights reflecting they are progressing towards making an application for Authorized Membership.

4.2                 A list of current members and their status can be found in Schedule 2.

5.1                 Changes to this Agreement will require the approval of two-thirds of the Authorized Members. Changes to Schedule 1 will require the approval of two-thirds of the Authorized Members.

5.2                 Changes to this Agreement become effective immediately following the meeting and will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

5.3                 Proposals for change may be made by one or more Authorized Members. The complete proposal must be submitted to the Secretariat at least 120 days in advance of a meeting. The Secretariat must circulate the proposals to all Members at least 90 days prior to a meeting.

5.4                 If revisions to the proposal are suggested during a meeting, the Authorized Members may agree to defer a decision on the proposal for a defined period.

5.5                 Any Authorized Member unable to be present may provide to the Chair of the Agreement a written proxy either approving or not approving the revised proposal.  In the event that further changes to the written proposal are suggested a written proxy will be declared as a vote against the revised proposal.

5.6                 In the event of not more than one Authorized Member being unable to be present or unable to vote in person or by proxy the meeting may proceed as if all Members are present and any unanimous vote at that meeting will be considered as a unanimous vote of all Authorized Members.

6.1                 These transitional arrangements are not part of the enduring Agreement but shall apply for as long as are required.

6.2                 Every Member of the APEC Engineer Agreement at the date of implementation of this Agreement shall automatically become an Authorized Member of the APEC Engineers Recognition Framework.

6.3                 Each Authorized Member transferred under clause 6.2 shall be granted reasonable time to establish its jurisdictional section of the APEC Engineers register under the terms of the APEC EA. Unless the other Authorized Members otherwise decide in a particular case, the transitional time shall be two years.

6.4                 The schedule for review of Authorized Members under the APEC Engineer Agreement shall transfer to the APEC EA and be applied on a continuing basis. Reviews initiated within four years from the commencement date of this agreement may be according to the APEC EA and the Rules established under the Agreement or according to the APEC Engineer Manual.

1. BENCHMARK COMPETENCE STANDARD

To meet the APEC EA standard a candidate shall demonstrate

·       An overall level of academic achievement as a requirement of registration, licensure or other equivalent recognition as defined  in Clause 2 below; and

·       The professional engineering competence for independent practice as exemplified  by the International Engineering Alliance competency profile; and

·       A minimum period of seven years practical experience since graduation; and

·       Including a minimum period  of two years in responsible charge of significant engineering work

·       Further guidelines to assist interpretation of this standard may be provided in the Rules and Procedures to this Agreement.

2. EQUIVALENCE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

For the purposes of this Agreement, this requirement will be deemed to have been met if the practitioners have engineering qualifications, which are covered by the following:

a)    An engineering degree programme at the appropriate level –

i.       Delivered and accredited in accordance with the best practice guidelines developed by the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific, or its predecessor, the Federation of Engineering Organisations of South East Asia and the Pacific; or

ii.     An engineering degree accredited by an organisation holding full membership of, and operating in accordance with the terms of, the Washington Accord; or

b)    An appropriate engineering degree programme validated by –

i.       The Engineer-in-Training examination set by the Institution of Professional Engineers Japan (formerly: the Japan Consulting Engineers Association); or

ii.     The combined Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practices of Engineering examinations set by the United States National Council of Examiners in Engineering and Surveying; or

iii.    A structured programme of engineering education accredited by an agency independent of the education provider, and/or one or more written examinations set by an authorized body within a jurisdiction, provided that the accreditation procedures and criteria and/or the examination standards have been endorsed by all Authorized Members.

Authorised Members as at 1 August 2025

•           Australia - Represented by Engineers Australia (EA) (2000)

•           Canada - Represented by Engineers Canada (EC) (2000)

•           Chinese Taipei - Represented by Chinese Institute of Engineers (CIE) (2005)

•           Hong Kong China - Represented by The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) (2000)

•           Indonesia - Represented by Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia (PII) (2001)

•           Japan - Represented by Institution of Professional Engineers Japan (IPEJ) (2000)

•           Korea - Represented by Korean Professional Engineers Association (KPEA) (2000)

•           Malaysia - Represented by Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) (2000)

•           New Zealand - Represented by Engineering New Zealand (EngNZ) (2000)

•           Philippines - Represented by Philippine Technological Council (PTC) (2003)

•           Russia - Represented by Association for Engineering Education of Russia (AEER) (2010)

•           Singapore - Represented by Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES) (2005)

•           United States - Represented by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) (2001)

•           Peru - Represented by Peruvian Engineers Association/Colegio de Ingenieros del Perù (PEA/CIP) (2018)

Conditional Members as at 1 November 2020

•           Thailand - Represented by Council of Engineers Thailand (COET)