The Competence Development Programme

If you’ve recently started working as an engineer (within the last three years) and are looking at competence-based IPENZ Membership or current-competence registration in the future, IPENZ recommends taking advantage of the Competence Development Programme and online recordkeeping.

(Not keen on the web? Do it the old-fashioned way here.)

Membership or register? Or both?

The IPENZ Competence Development Programme provides Graduate Members with support to develop and document evidence of the competencies required for recognition through an IPENZ competence-based membership class and/or current-competence register.

Your Qualification (or equivalent)	IPENZ Competence-based Membership	IPENZ-administrated Current-Competence Register*	IPENZ-administered International Register*
4-year Bachelor of Engineering (BE)	Professional Member (MIPENZ)	Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng)	International Professional Engineers (IntPE)
3-year Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech)	Engineering Technologist (TIPENZ)	Engineering Technology Practitioner (ETPract)	International Engineering Technologist (IntET)
2-year Diploma of Engineering (DipEng or NZCE)	Engineering Associate (AIPENZ)	Certified Engineering Technician (CertETn)

* Current-competency registrants must be reassessed at intervals not exceeding five years to maintain registration

When you apply, you will only require a single assessment – and if you have demonstrated competence to the required standard, you will then be eligible for the appropriate membership class and current competence register (although the international registers have some additional non-competence requirements that must also be met). So -- for example – you could apply for Professional Membership of IPENZ (MIPENZ) and Chartered Professional Engineer registration (CPEng) with the one competence assessment!

What do I do?

Before applying for competence-based membership, a Graduate Member needs to have developed and demonstrated the necessary competence standards through work experience (for new graduates this usually takes about four-five years) and verified continued professional development (CPD).

Proof of the above will form the basis of an application for competence-based membership or registration. IPENZ recommends using its online recordkeeping tools as you concurrently develop and demonstrate the necessary competencies over your early career.

IPENZ also strongly recommends that you identify a mentor to assist you in your initial development. IPENZ National Office can aid you in identifying a mentor if you are unable to do so through your employer or local IPENZ branch. We also provide training seminars for mentors and have an online mentoring guide and a mentoring log to keep your mentoring on track.

How do I do it?

IPENZ encourages you to use its online record-keeping tools as soon as you start working to record your:

• Work History and Summary of Responsibility (Competence Development Records)

• Continuing Professional Development (CPD activities)

• Mentoring Log

These are entered as training reports in the Members Area of the IPENZ webpage when you log in at www.ipenz.org.nz

Remember that these records will eventually be assessed against the competence standard. Use your records to prove that you meet the standard! (See the Competence Assessment Reference Guide (CARG) for more details.)

How do I get some guidance?

To view an interactive tutorial that further explains the online recordkeeping process click here

If you’re thinking about CPEng, check out the CPEng Frequently Asked Questions

Still stumped? Contact the Competence Development Administrator at IPENZ National Office:

Phone : 04 473 9444
Email : assessment@ipenz.org.nz

Where do I start?

1. Familiarise yourself with the online recordkeeping tools and work through the interactive tutorial.

2. Find a mentor, arrange a signed agreement and begin your mentoring log.

3. Start to record your work history and CPD activities (we recommend getting into the habit of filling them in every three-to-six months).

4. Print off any completed work history records, get them signed by your mentor/supervisor and post them into IPENZ National Office for feedback (we recommend doing this at least yearly).

OK, I think I’m ready to be assessed!

As a Graduate Member, this will be your first IPENZ competence assessment and you will have to undergo an interactive assessment, which involves a face-to-face meeting with your assessors, where you be able to highlight the evidence you have presented that shows you meet the competence standard.. For this reason, you will need to time you application with the interactive assessment dates in your area. Check http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/join for these dates.

Your application will need to contain the following:

·         a signed AFA: Assessment for Admission (Form CA01), including the names of two referees

·         Competence Self-Review (Form CA03)

·         Work History Summary (Form CA04)

·         Continuing Professional Development Activities (Form CA05)

·         Referee Declaration and Evaluation (Form CA06) submitted by two referees

·         certified copies of your qualifications

·         work samples

·         other information you wish to be considered

·         application fee

These forms are downloadable at http://www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/join/

 

The Assessment Process

Evaluation of application: A panel made up of at least two Assessors is appointed to assess your application. As you have not previously undertaken a competence assessment, you should expect to attend an interactive assessment with your Assessment Panel. The panel may also request a controlled written assignment and/or knowledge assessment but it can waive requirement for these if it is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of competence already presented.

Registration decision: Recommendations from the Assessment Panel are considered by the Competence Assessment Board (CAB). The CAB meets monthly and is the body authorised to make the final decision on your application

Processing time varies depending on the quality of the application. Typically the turnaround time is three months, but any need for assessors to obtain further information from the applicant will add to this. Good luck!