Introduction

To ensure apartments are being built to the required standard and to help in restoring consumer confidence, legislation has been introduced in the construction industry.

Professional engineers who work on class 2 buildings or buildings with a class 2 part, in any of the following areas, now need to be registered.

Professional engineer registration classes include: 

  • civil 
  • electrical 
  • geotechnical 
  • mechanical 
  • structural  
  • fire safety.

Registration is for 1, 3 or 5 years. Fees are applicable.

Note: If eligible, you can also apply for 2 other registration types in the same digital application:

  • design practitioner – if you’ll make design compliance declarations and/or lodge documents on the NSW Planning Portal
  • principal design practitioner – if you’ll coordinate and lodge designs by other design practitioners for the building practitioner.

If you’re already registered in another Australian state/territory or in New Zealand, you can apply to have your registration recognised under mutual recognition provisions

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply, you need to:

  • be aged 18 or over
  • meet the criteria regarding qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience for the registration classes you’re wanting to apply for
    Note: 'Transitional pathways' option is no longer available.
  • have a current National Police Check certificate that is valid for 4 months when you submit your application (Name and Date of Birth Check only)
  • meet insurance requirements as required.

What you need

  • a MyServiceNSW Account
    • you can create one when you start your application
    • you may need details from 2 identity documents (such as Australian driver licence, Medicare card, passport)
  • your National Police Check certificate that is valid for 4 months when you submit your application (Name and Date of Birth Check only)
  • copies of your degree, postgraduate degree, diploma or National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (NVR) course certificates and/or transcripts
  • your contact details
  • a current credit card for payment.

How to apply

  1. Check the eligibility criteria for the registration types and classes you want to apply for.
  2. Gather your certificates and other required documents.
  3. Select the ‘Apply online’ button.
    Note: You can save and resume your application, but if you have not submitted it within 60 days, any details you’ve entered will be deleted. 
  4. Log in, or create your MyServiceNSW Account.
  5. Follow the prompts to apply for your professional engineer registration.

Privacy

To apply for professional engineer registration with NSW Fair Trading, you’ll need to create or log in with a MyServiceNSW Account.

By logging in you consent to sharing your name and email address in your MyServiceNSW Account with NSW Fair Trading, a division of the Department of Customer Service.

The Professional engineer and/or design practitioner registration – privacy collection notice explains how your personal information will be handled once it is shared by Service NSW.

More information

When you apply for registration, you'll:

  • need to wait for your application to be assessed and approved by NSW Fair Trading 
  • be contacted by NSW Fair Trading if further information is needed
  • be notified about the result of your application within 28 days of submitting it (unless placed on hold, pending further information)
  • receive your registration ID if approved.
Last updated: 13 January 2024