Intro To Migration Assessment

Introduction

Engineering Technologist

This section provides you with an introduction to the assessment of qualifications in engineering for migration purposes. You should read this carefully before proceeding to the Application Forms.

Academic qualification is an Australian three year engineering technology degree following twelve years of schooling, or equivalent. The Engineering Technologist: • Focuses on interactions within the system

1. Assessment for Migration Purposes

• Modifies and adapts established engineering practices

Engineers Australia is the designated assessing authority for most engineering occupations.

• Advances engineering technology. Engineering Associate

Applicants seeking assessment for migration purposes should first get a copy of the latest ‘General Skilled Migration Booklet (6)’ from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) (www.immi.gov.au). This booklet will help applicants understand the requirements for General Skilled Migration to Australia.

Academic qualification is an Australian two year advanced diploma of engineering following twelve years of schooling, or equivalent. The Engineering Associate: • Focuses on specific elements of the system • Works within codes and applies established practices and procedures.

The booklet list occupations and contact details of the relevant assessing authorities.

Further details on the general role descriptions for each occupational category are presented in Section E.

You should first check this booklet to determine that your skilled occupation is listed as being assessed by Engineers Australia as there are some engineering occupations which are assessed elsewhere.

3. Pathways to Recognition There are two pathways to recognition of your qualifications:

2. Occupational Categories in Engineering Engineers Australia recognises three occupational categories within the engineering team in Australia:

a) Through Accredited Engineering Qualifications

• Professional Engineer

The various successful pathways to recognition are shown schematically below:

b) Through a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).

• Engineering Technologist • Engineering Associate

Read Information on Website www.engineersaustralia.org.au Download relevant Application Form

Shown below is a description of the engineering qualifications and the workplace role for each occupational category. Professional Engineer

a) Accredited Qualifications

Academic qualification is an Australian four year professional engineering degree following twelve years of schooling, or equivalent.

Australian Qualifications all three levels

The Professional Engineer: • Focuses on overall systems • Develops and applies new engineering practices

Washington Accord For Professional Engineers

Sydney Accord For Engineering Technologists

b) Non-Recognised Qualifications

Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)

• Applies leadership & management skills • Pursues engineering opportunities in an holistic way, taking environmental, community & social issues into account

Accreditation Check

• Solves diverse problems.

Yes

Re-Submit

No

Outcome

Yes

No

Outcome

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a) Accredited Qualifications

Washington Accord

These are accredited Australian engineering qualifications and overseas engineering qualifications that are recognised through formal agreements with engineering accreditation bodies in other countries. These qualifications are readily recognisable through database listings of accredited programs.

The Washington Accord (www.washingtonaccord.org) is an agreement between the engineering accreditation bodies, listed below, to recognise as equivalent the undergraduate professional engineering courses of study which are accredited and delivered in those countries. The Washington Accord applies only to accreditations conducted by the signatories within their respective national or territorial boundaries.

For overseas qualifications there are two pathways • one deals with undergraduate Professional Engineering programs. This is known as the Washington Accord.

The following overseas countries are signatories to the Washington Accord. While Australia is a signatory country it is not listed here. If you have Australian engineering qualifications you must apply using the Australian Qualifications application form.

• and the other deals with Engineering Technologist programs. This is known as the Sydney Accord. Please note that all references to ‘qualifications’ refer to your undergraduate engineering qualifications.

Some other countries are currently seeking full membership of the Washington Accord. Please refer to the website above.

Application forms for these pathways are available from the Engineers Australia website (www.engineersaustralia.org.au).

Canada

Australian Qualifications If you have Australian undergraduate engineering qualifications at the Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist or Engineering Associate level you should initially apply using the Australian Qualifications Application Form.

The Canadian Accreditation Board of the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers www.ccpe.ca

Hong Kong SAR The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers www.hkie.org.hk

Please note that if your Australian qualifications are at the post-graduate level (eg Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Engineering, PhD) but your undergraduate engineering qualifications are from overseas you cannot apply using this pathway. Persons who hold Australian engineering qualifications at the Trade or Technician level must not apply to Engineers Australia for assessment. Details of the relevant assessing authority for these occupations can be found in the General Skilled Migration Booklet available from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Ireland

The Institution of Engineers of Ireland www.iei.ie

New Zealand

The Institution of Professional Engineers,New Zealand www.ipenz.org.nz

South Africa

The Engineering Council of South Africa www.ecsa.co.za

United Kingdom The Engineering Council of the UK www.engc.org.uk United States of America

The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology www.abet.org

Please Note The Accord only applies to professional engineering degrees accredited and delivered in the signatory countries. The Accord does not apply to: • Qualifications at lower academic levels or • Postgraduate qualifications in engineering. If you consider your qualifications fall under the Washington Accord you should complete the Washington Accord application form and provide the required documentation and assessment fee.

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You should first check that your qualification is listed as an accredited Engineering Technologist program with the relevant body before applying.

Your qualifications will be checked with the relevant Washington Accord accreditation body. If your qualification is not listed as accredited under the Washington Accord, you will be invited to submit a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR).

If you consider your qualifications fall under the Sydney Accord you should complete the Sydney Accord application form and provide the required documentation and assessment fee.

If your application under the Washington Accord is successful the occupational classification given to you will be according to the engineering discipline specified in the program title. If you wish to seek another engineering occupational classification other than the one specified in your qualifications you will need to submit a CDR.

Your qualifications will be checked with the relevant Sydney Accord accreditation body. If your qualification is not listed as accredited under the Sydney Accord, you will be invited to submit a Competency Demonstration Report.

Sydney Accord The Sydney Accord is an agreement between the engineering accreditation bodies, listed below, to recognise as equivalent the Engineering Technologist programs of study which are accredited and delivered in those countries.

If your application under the Sydney Accord is successful the occupational classification given to you will be according to the engineering discipline specified in the program title. If you wish to seek another engineering occupational classification other than the one specified in your qualifications you will need to submit a CDR.

The Sydney Accord applies only to accreditations conducted by the signatories within their respective national or territorial boundaries.

b) Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) If your engineering qualifications are not recognised through the agreements listed above you may seek recognition through a competency assessment process.

The following countries are signatories to the Sydney Accord. While Australia is a signatory country it is not listed here. If you have Australian qualifications you must apply using the Australian qualifications application form. Canada

The Competency Demonstrations Report (CDR) provides you with the opportunity to establish that your engineering knowledge and competencies are equivalent to those of the appropriate occupational category within the engineering team in Australia. The Overseas Qualifications Assessment Kit guides you in determining your occupational category and preparing your CDR submission.

The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists www.cctt.ca

Hong Kong SAR The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers www.hkie.org.hk Ireland

The Institution of Engineers of Ireland www.iei.ie

New Zealand

The Institution of Professions Engineers, New Zealand www.ipenz.org.nz

South Africa

The Engineering Council of South Africa www.ecsa.co.za

Section E of the Overseas Qualifications Assessment Kit provides you with Self-Assessment Charts for each occupational category. You should refer to section 2. above to initially determine in which occupational category you might apply. You should then turn to the relevant Self-Assessment Chart to see if you can demonstrate the required competency elements. If you are satisfied that you have demonstrated all of the competency elements you may prepare your submission. If this is not the case you should undertake further study and/or workplace activity to develop the required competency elements before making your application.

United Kingdom The Engineering Council of the UK www.engc.org.uk Please Note The Accord only applies to engineering technologist qualifications accredited and delivered in the signatory countries.

Section C of the Kit provides detailed instructions on how to prepare your submission. A CDR Application Form is also available from the Engineers Australia website (www.engineersaustralia.org.au).

The Accord does not apply to: • Qualifications at lower academic levels or • Postgraduate qualifications in engineering.

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4. English Language Requirements

5. Certification of Copies of Documents

All applicants applying to have their skills assessed by Engineers Australia are required to provide evidence of their English language competency. Applicants are required to have achieved a minimum of Band 6 in each of the four modules of speaking, listening, reading and writing in either the general or academic modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (www.ielts.org).

Many applications for a skills assessment are delayed because documents are not properly certified. The assessors will contact you by letter or email if there are any omissions in regard to certification. Please make sure your email and contact addresses are up to date. Applicants should note the following points concerning certification of documents: 1.Certified copies of previously certified copies will not be accepted. You must provide a properly certified copy of the ORIGINAL document.

Please Note You must arrange for an original IELTS Test Report Form to be sent to Engineers Australia directly from the Test Centre.

2.Proper certification will appear on each page to be certified, and should show: (a)

the signature of the person certifying the document

(b)

The following applicants may be exempt from the requirement to provide an IELTS assessment result:

the name of the person certifying the document. This should be clearly printed or evident in the official stamp.

(c)

the address of the person certifying the document

• Applicants who are native English speakers;

(d)

• Applicants who have completed an Australian undergraduate engineering qualification;

the phone number and if possible the email address of the person certifying the document.

(e)

And where possible an official stamp indicating the status of the person certifying the document, ie. Justice of the Peace, Commissioner for Oaths, Notary Public, or indicating the name of the law firm.

Details of locations where IELTS assessments are conducted may be found on the IELTS website (www.ielts.org).

• Applicants who have lodged a migration application prior to 1 July 1999 which is still current. Such applicants must provide a certified copy of the letter of authority from an Australian Diplomatic Post. These applicants should also check the English language requirements for their migration application with DIMIA;

3.The following classes of persons are authorised to certify copies of documents: •

A current member of Engineers Australia other than at the grade of student. The Membership number must be shown.

•

A staff member of Engineers Australia

•

An officer of an Australian Diplomatic Post

•

A Notary Public authorised in the country of application

•

A Commissioner for Oaths (Declarations) authorised in the country of application

•

A Solicitor, Barrister or Judge authorised in Australia or in the country of application

•

A Justice of the Peace authorised in Australia or in the country of application

• Applicants who have successfully completed a Masters degree or PhD program at an Australian university. Please note that the above IELTS exemptions are determined on a case by case basis and Engineers Australia reserves the right to require an IELTS assessment result if it is deemed necessary.

4.If you employ the services of a legal firm, the solicitor must sign each page. It will not be satisfactory for the name of the law firm to appear in lieu of the actual name and signature of the solicitor certifying your documents. Collective responsibility implied in the use of “we”, accompanied by the name of the law firm, is not acceptable.

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If you have appointed a person to act as your agent you must complete the authorisation form. This form may be found on the reverse of the application form or on the website (www.engineersaustralia.org.au) under ‘Overseas Qualifications’.

Please Note Assessment of your application will not proceed if you submit copies of documents where the class of person certifying the copy is not one of those listed above or where the requirements stated above are not complied with.

Steps in the CDR Assessment Process Read Qualifications Assessment Kit

6. Steps in the CDR Assessment Process The following sections in the Kit assist you to undertake the self-assessment and prepare your Competency Demonstration Report.

Determine Occupational Category

Section B: Self-Assessment

Undertake Preliminary Self-Assessment

This part of the Kit guides you through a self-assessment process. By undertaking the self-assessment you can determine whether you have the necessary competencies to justify proceeding with your application. If you feel you have the necessary competencies you should proceed to Section C of the Kit.

Decide whether to proceed with CDR

You should note however that a positive self-assessment is not a guarantee of success. Your application will be rigorously assessed on the basis of the information and evidence you provide.

Decision

No

Organise your workplace practice, professional development and/or undertake further study to acquire the competencies

Yes

Section C: Compilation of a Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) Prepare Competency Demonstration Report (CDR)

This part of the Kit provides you with guidelines for a description of your personal engineering practice and an identification of your engineering competencies.

Dispatch to Engineers Australia with lodgement fee

This is known as the Competency Demonstration Report or CDR. It is the substantial component of your application which provides the basis for Engineers Australia’s assessment of your competencies.

If there are any deficiencies in your submission you will be notified in writing. If the application is successful you will receive a letter of recognition suitable for migration purposes.

You should follow the guidelines in Section C carefully when compiling your CDR. Section D: Checklist of documentation and dispatch

Please Note Only one original letter of recognition will be issued. Provision of an additional letter will require a Statutory Declaration explaining the reason for the additional letter together with an administration fee of AUD$75.00.

This section provides you with a checklist of the required material and dispatch address. The assessment fee is specified on the CDR application form. The steps in the assessment process are shown below. Section E: Self-Assessment Charts These charts allow you to determine your level of competency. Section F: Application forms You should complete the CDR application form provided.

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