Descriptions of Membership Classes

Admission to a competence-graded class of membership requires demonstration of the requisite level of competence, but the award is a lifetime one. Thus, there is no requirement to demonstrate current competence at regular intervals to remain a member of a particular class. Each Member is ethically bound to perform engineering activities only in areas within which they are currently competent. As engineers change careers or their knowledge becomes outdated they must cease practice in areas in which they are no longer up to date, but They are entitled to retain their membership as a sign of peer recognition from their profession.

(a) Professional Member (uses post-nominal MIPENZ)
A Professional Member is a person assessed as competent to practice professional engineering as an independent professional capable of designing innovative solutions to complex engineering problems. They will have developed a high level of engineering judgement by taking significant responsibility for engineering outcomes across a range of situations. They provide technical and/or managerial leadership to projects or activities. Professional Members have typically done a four-year engineering degree which provides the graduate with a broad base of engineering principles and practices. They have then developed their skills in mentored employment for 4 to 5 years after which they will have undergone an IPENZ competence assessment to reach the class of Professional Member (MIPENZ). Professional Members are entitled to use the prenominal title “Ir” (Ingenieur) if they so wish, but must notify IPENZ of their intention to do so.

(b) Fellow (uses post-nominal FIPENZ) or Distinguished Fellow (Dist FIPENZ)
Fellows are Members who have made a substantial contribution to the development of the engineering profession, its practices or IPENZ itself. Fellows therefore represent the most experienced part of the Membership, and thus users of engineering services can expect the same fully professional service that they obtain from Professional Members, but with the knowledge that a Fellow is sometimes more experienced and/or knowledgeable than a Professional Member. Fellows as well as Professional Members may use the prenominal title ‘Ir”, subject to notifying IPENZ first.

(c) Honorary Fellow (Hon FIPENZ)
Honorary Fellows often have backgrounds outside engineering, but IPENZ has identified Them as having made worthwhile contributions that impact on professional engineering, or IPENZ itself. Honorary Fellows do not achive recognition by passing an assessment, but rather are usually respected people in the community whose activities impact on professional engineering. Generally they are not engineering practitioners.

(d) Technical Member (previously Engineering Technologist) (TIPENZ)
A Technical Member has been assessed as meeting a standard of engineering practice that is sufficient for them to work independently in a range of engineering situations. They are competent to innovatively apply and modify engineering practices and often provide managerial input into projects or activities. They are thus experienced engineering practitioners, who are very competent in the application of engineering. They normally hold a three-year degree (or assessed equivalent) with a strong "application" focus, usually in one engineering discipline. They have then developed their skills in mentored employment, after which they have undergone an IPENZ engineering practice assessment to reach the class of Technical Member (TIPENZ).

(e) Associate Member (previously Engineering Associate) (AIPENZ)
An Associate Member has been assessed as a competent engineering practitioner, based on strongly developed technical knowledge and practical experience. Associate Members are able to perform many standard engineering functions themselves. However, they often work in teams where they take responsibility for technical input. Associate Members are not normally in practice on their own account; they are often employees, and are not normally allowed to sign regulatory documents. They normally hold an engineering qualification equivalent to two years of study at a tertiary education institution. They have then developed their skills in mentored employment, after which they have undergone an IPENZ engineering practice assessment to reach the class of Associate Member (AIPENZ). Associate Members must act ethically within their own area of competence, and must retain their skills through continuing professional development. Users of engineering services can expect many basic engineering activities to be undertaken reliably by Associate Members.

(f) Graduate Members (GIPENZ)
Graduate Members are holders of tertiary qualifications in engineering which have been accredited by IPENZ as being of good internationally-benchmarked quality. Graduates hold either a four-year degree (BE), a three-year degree (BEngTech) or a two-year Diploma. Graduate Members have yet to develop the skills necessary to progress through competence assessment to reach Professional, Technical or Associate Member. Their work will Therefore often be carried out under supervision by other engineers, or they will have mentors who advise them when they are working independently. Graduates are required to observe the IPENZ Code of Ethics and can be expected to act professionally at all times.

(g) Companions (Comp IPENZ)
Companions are persons whose qualifications are not in engineering, but who have obtained a position of responsibility in which they have interacted or are interacting with the engineering profession in a significant way. Thus they are not skilled engineering practitioners.

(h) Affiliate and Student Members
These classes of membership are not based on demonstration of competency in any way. Rather they include Those who seek involvement in a discussion forum with engineers. Students are in study towards a tertiary qualification in engineering.