INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER’S AGREEMENT

1.1                 The International Professional Engineer 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.

2.1                 The International Register is made up of jurisdictional sections operated by Authorized Members.

2.2                 The Authorized Members shall establish and maintain a benchmark competence standard to further the purpose of this agreement and this standard shall be attached as a schedule to the agreement (Schedule 1). The benchmark competence standard shall include elements covering the following areas: 

o      An overall level of academic achievement as a requirement of registration, licensure or other equivalent recognition which is not less than substantially equivalent to that of a graduate holding an engineering degree accredited by an organisation holding full signatory status of, and acting in accordance with the terms of, the Washington Accord; and

o      The professional engineering competence for independent practice ; and

o      A prescribed minimum period of practical experience since graduation; and

o      A prescribed minimum period  in responsible charge of significant engineering work; and

o      Sufficient continuing professional development to maintain the currency of knowledge and skills; and

o      Ethical responsibility in practice; and

o      Accountability for personal actions and decisions as a professional engineer.

2.3                 Each Authorized Members 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 those 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 International Professional Engineers Register are entitled to use the title International Professional 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 International Professional Engineers Register as specified in the Rules and Procedures.

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

2.7                 Authorized Members will promote registration on the International Professional Engineers Register to engineering professionals in their jurisdiction

2.8                 Authorized Members undertake that in dealing with applications for registration in their own jurisdiction, the extent of further assessment of those persons appearing on any section of the International Professional Engineers Register should be limited to the minimum reasonably necessary to establish confidence that the specific jurisdictional registration, licensure or other recognition scheme requirements are met, which may include:

o      Establishing the applicant is conversant with and able to practise proficiently in the context of jurisdictional legislation, regulation, codes of practices standards,

o      Establishing that the applicant is currently competent in professional engineering practice to the extent required to meet local jurisdictional needs,

o      Establishing that the applicant can communicate effectively in working within the jurisdiction.

2.9                 Over a period of time, each Authorized Member undertakes to develop and implement suitable means within their jurisdiction to give effect to this obligation., Taking into account differences between registration, licensure or other recognition schemes, it is acknowledged that the means may vary between jurisdictions particularly those in which the Authorized Member is a federation of professional regulatory authorities.

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              If any obligation on an Authorized Member under this Agreement is not consistent with any specific legislative obligation on that Member in its own jurisdiction the Authorized Member shall notify the other Authorized Members in order to be exempted from the relevant obligation under this Agreement.

2.14              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.

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

2.16              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.

2.17              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.

2.18              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,

o      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 International Professional 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                 Schedule 2 will be automatically updated to reflect Membership class as changes occur. A list of members and their class of membership is maintained in Schedule 2 [and on the website].

5.1                 Changes to this Agreement (excluding the schedules) shall require the unanimous approval of all Authorized Members.  Changes to Schedule 1 shall require two thirds majority approval of all Authorized Members.  Changes to this Agreement become effective immediately following the meeting and will be recorded in the meeting minutes.

5.2                 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.

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

5.4                 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.

5.5                 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 Full Member of the Engineers Mobility Forum at the date of implementation of this Agreement shall automatically become an Authorized Member of the International Professional Engineers Agreement.

6.3                 Any Member who, at the date of transfer, held only interim authorization to run a register shall retain full voting rights for four years.  If the Member has not gained full authorization to run a register during this period the Member shall revert to the status of a Conditional Member unless two thirds of the other Authorized Members otherwise decide in a particular case,

6.4                 The schedule for review of Authorized Members under the Engineers Mobility Forum shall transfer to the IPEA and be applied on a continuing basis. Reviews initiated within four years from the commencement date of this agreement may be conducted according to the IPEA and the Rules established under the Agreement, or by the procedures previously agreed by the Engineers Mobility Forum prior to the commencement of this Agreement.

6.5                 Members of the Engineers Mobility Forum transferred to Conditional Membership shall be evaluated for transfer to Authorized Member under the Rules of the IPEA as soon as reasonably possible on application of that member.

6.6                 Every Provisional Member of the Engineers Mobility Forum at the date of implementation of this Agreement shall automatically become a Provisional Member of the International Professional Engineers Agreement, and shall be entitled to proceed to Authorized Member by satisfying the criteria set by the Engineers Mobility Forum at the date of its admission as a Provisional Member.

6.7                 The admission of any Provisional Member transferred from the Engineers Mobility Forum after the date of this Agreement shall be according to the terms of the IPEA, and the Rules established under the Agreement.

1. BENCHMARK COMPETENCE STANDARD

To meet the IPEA standard a candidate shall demonstrate

·       An overall level of academic achievement as a requirement of registration, licensure or other equivalent recognition as defined in the agreement; 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 Authorized Membership of the Agreement, if the organization accrediting engineering degrees in a jurisdiction holds signatory status of the Washington Accord, the above-mentioned requirement for the academic achievement will be deemed to have been met in full.

For Provisional Membership only of the Agreement, if the organization accrediting engineering degrees does not hold signatory status of the Washington Accord, 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

ii.     Listed in the Index compiled by the Federation Européenne d'Associations Nationales d’Ingénieurs (FEANI); 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 an 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