Application Process for Registration in Candidate and Professional Categories

Application may be made for registration in the following Candidate and Professional Categories 

- CANDIDATE ENGINEER
- PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
- CANDIDATE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
- PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
- CANDIDATE CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
- PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
- CANDIDATE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
- PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

A Step-by-Step Guide to making an application in any category is availible HERE

CANDIDATE ENGINEER 
Requirements

Registration as a Candidate Engineer requires only an educational achievement that can be demonstrated in the following ways:

• Holding a BEng/BSc(Eng)-type qualification or combination of qualifications accredited by ECSA;
• Holding a qualification recognised by ECSA because it is accredited by a signatory to the Washington Accord;
• Holding an qualification or combination of qualificationsevaluated by ECSA as meeting its standard; or
• Undergoing individual assessment approved by ECSA. (This option is to be phased in.)

These requirements do not change with the changes in application process described below.

Application Methods

A person who hold an ECSA-accredited qualification(s) or Washington Accord qualification(s) may apply directly for registration as a candidate Engineer by the methods described below. Other applicants must first apply for educational evaluation. Applicants who have previously undergone educational evaluation and have been judged to meet the education requirements may also apply directly for registration.

Applications received by ECSA on or before 22 March 2013 should be made using the existing application form for registration as a Candidate Engineer. The instructions attached to the form must be followed.

Applications submitted on or after 2 April 2013 may be in one of the following forms:

• An application on paper may be submitted using the new application form. Select Candidate Engineer from the options at the head of the form. Complete the new Proof of Identity and Declaration Form and sign this before a Commissioner of Oaths. Attach certified copies of your original degree certificate(s) and academic record/transcript to the form. If these are not in English, a certified translation must also be attached. Pay the application fee and e-mail proof of payment to (email addess to be confirmed).
• Make an on-line application on the ECSA-online website (URL to follow). Obtain a login and select Candidate Engineer. You will then be prompted to provide information (same as on form in paper option), upload certified copies of degree certificates and transcripts, with translations if not in English and to upload the completed Proof of Identity and Declaration Form. You will be prompted to pay the application fee. If the method of payment is not credit card, proof of payment must be uploaded.

Assessment process

The assessment process starts when the application is complete, including payment of the application fee. If the applicant has not already completed the educational requirements, the qualification(s) are checked to confirm that they are either accredited or recognised. If the application fails this check, the applicant will be advised to apply for Educational Evaluation. If the application passes this check, the applicant will be registered as a Candidate Engineer, advised by letter and the registration certificate issued. The applicant will then be liable for pro-rata payment of the annual registration fee.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
Requirements

An applicant for registration as a Professional Engineer must meet two requirements:

• Educational requirement, identical to that for Candidate Engineer; and
• Demonstrate competency against standards determined by the ECSA Council;

The competency standard is changing from that defined in ECSA document R2/1A section 5, supplemented by the Discipline-specific Guidelines (DSG) for the particular discipline to that defined in ECSA Competency Standard R-02-PE, applicable to all disciplines. This change is principally in the method of defining the required level of competency that must be exhibited by the applicant. It is not Council’s intention to change the level. The two standards are compared in Appendix A of ECSA document R-03-PE.  Council offers applicants for registration as a Professional Engineer the following competency assessment options:

• Until 31 March 2015, be assessed against the legacy standard, using the legacy documentation and legacy assessment method;
• From 1 April 2013, be assessed against the outcome-based standard R-02-PE using documentation and processes defined under the NRS;

Alternate Route Applicants

The term “alternate route” refers to an applicant who aspires to become registered in a Candidate or Professional Category but does not have the accredited or recognised qualification(s) and who proposes to meet the educational requirement through further study and assessment. The previous arrangement whereby a holder of a National Diploma with a minimum of ten years experience at the level of a Professional Engineer could complete a set of final year courses has been closed by Council. No new applications are being accepted and those already admitted have until 31 December 2014 to complete their examinations.

Persons wishing to follow the “alternate route” are advised to proceed as follows.

There are no prior experience requirements; a person can launch an alternate route strategy at any stage. 

The first step is to apply for Educational Evaluation. The applicant must indicate to ECSA that he or she is following an alternate route strategy and indicate the category of registration that is being targeted.

The applicant must submit qualifications held as part of the application. The applicant may submit a portfolio of evidence of achievement against identified criteria for assessment as part of the evaluation.

The applicant’s educational standing will be evaluated by the Qualifications Evaluation Committee for the targeted category. The result of the evaluation is a statement of the credits that have been awarded against the various criteria for the targeted category. 

Application Methods

Legacy Standard: Applicants electing to be assessed against the legacy standard (document R2/1A and applicable DSG)must proceed as follow:

• Persons applying before 23 March 2013 must use the existing application form and supporting documents for registration as a Professional Engineer. 
• Applicants after 1 April 2013 but before 31 March 2015 must use the new application form (URL to be supplied), the new Proof of Identity and Declaration and the same supporting document templates as applicable before 1 April. These are attached to the legacy application form and the relevant DSG.

The following documentation is required, in addition to the Training and Experience Summary and Training and Experience Reports for applications using the legacy standard.

New Competency Standard: Applicants electing to be assessed against the new ECSA Competency Standard R-02-PE have two options for submitting their applications:

• After 1 April 2013, using the new application form, prepare and submit a paper-based application, including the supporting documents:
  • If not already registered as a Candidate Engineer or completed Educational Evaluation, attach certified copies of your original degree certificate(s) and academic record/transcript to the form. If these are not in English, a certified translation must also be attached.
  • Training and Experience Summary,  (TES) new format
  • Training and Experience Reports,  (TER) new format;
  • Engineering Report;
  • Initial Professional Development Report (IPDR);
  • Proof of membership of or application made to a recognised Voluntary Association;
  • Proof of Identity and Declaration Form and sign this before a Commissioner of Oaths.

Pay the application fee and e-mail proof of payment to (email addess to be confirmed).

• After 1 April 2013, once the on-line application system is available, make an on-line application ECSA-online website (URL to follow). Obtain a login and select Professional Engineer. You will then be prompted to provide information and documents (as listed above ). You will be prompted to pay the application fee. If the method of payment is not credit card, proof of payment must be uploaded.

Assessment process

The assessment process starts when there application is complete, including payment of the application fee. If necessary, qualification(s) are checked to confirm that it is accredited, recognised or that you have completed the education requirements. If the application fails this check, you will be advised to apply for Educational Evaluation. If the application passes this check, the assessment proceeds.

The first stage of assessment is the Experience Appraisal, a desktop evaluation by peer reviewers to determine whether the application documentation indicates that the applicant is competent to the standard. If the application passes this hurdle, the next step is the Professional Review, an interactive assessment in the form of a short presentation by the applicant and an interview by two peer reviewers. The Reviewers recommend to the Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) for the discipline that the applicant has demonstrated competence or has not.

The PAC may decide to register the applicant or defer consideration of the application for up to 12 months to allow him or her to make up shortfalls in competence. Such a deferment may be granted twice but no more. The PAC may recommend to the Engineers registration committee and the Central registration Committee that the application be refused.

For applicants under the NRS, there is, in general, no additional test, for example essay writing. The PAC may however invoke such tests if needed in exceptional cases. In such cases applicants will be given due notice of the test.

If the application does not pass the Experience Appraisal hurdle, it is referred to the discipline PAC to determine the next step, including seeking more information from the applicant or deferring the application. 

Once the PAC has decided to register the applicant, the applicant will be registered as a Professional Engineer, advised by letter and the registration certificate issued. The applicant will then be liable for pro-rata payment of an annual registration fee, with pro-rata refund of the Candidate annual fee if registered as such. On registration as a Professional Engineer, registration as a Candidate Engineer will be cancelled, if the applicant was so registered.

CANDIDATE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
An application for registration as a Candidate Engineering Technologist(formerly Engineering Technologist in Training) only requires certified proof that the applicant holds a recognised or accredited academic qualification, which is a BTech(Eng) degree obtained at a University of Technology. If an applicant holds a foreign qualification, certified copies must be submitted of the qualification as well an academic record reflecting all the subjects taken and passed during all the years of study as well as the in-service training component of the qualification, along with the Assessment of Foreign Qualifications form

ECSA will assess the application for completeness and, if so, evaluate the academic qualification. If the application is incomplete, the candidate is advised of any shortcomings which must be rectified as soon as possible.

ECSA requires as the baseline qualification, a B Tech degree in engineering, or an M Dip Tech in engineering obtained from a South African Technikon, and which has been accredited by ECSA. A qualification assessed by ECSA to be equivalent will also be recognised.

Once an applicant’s academic qualification is recognised the applicant is registered as a "candidate engineering technologist" and candidates are advised in writing of their registration and a certificate of registration is prepared and posted to them as soon as possible thereafter.

The process described above represents a very concise and simplified description of the process.

It is important to note that persons who were registered as "Engineering Technologists in Training" in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 1990 are deemed to be registered as "Candidate Engineering Technologists" in terms of Act 46 of 2000.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIST
Any person who desires to be registered as a Professional Engineering Technologist, or as a candidate engineering technologist may lodge the prescribed application with ECSA. The application must be complete in all respects to obviate unnecessary delays in the processing of the application.

Applications from persons holding accredited qualifications, including those already registered as candidate engineering technologists (formerly engineering technologists in training), will not be subjected to a detailed evaluation of their qualifications. Any applicant should at least have had three years of post-qualification training and experience before an application will be considered for registration. See Policy Statement R2/1B and the relevant DSG

An application is administratively checked for completeness. If incomplete the applicant is advised of the deficiency which must be rectified as soon as possible. Our experience shows that incomplete and badly prepared applications cause serious delays in the processing and finalisation of applications. It is strongly advised that applicants carefully read the application forms and meticulously follow the instructions. Applicants will be expected to have consulted the documents listed above and to have completed their application forms strictly in accordance with the requirements. Applications that do not comply with all the requirements will cause delays. It should be noted that the quality of a person’s application reflects on his or her professionalism.

Assuming that an applicant’s qualification is recognised, the process of evaluating the applicant’s training and experience starts. The number of applications received every month are referred to a subcommittee responsible for the discipline relevant to an applicant’s education, training and experience. The members of these committees, who are volunteers and evaluate applications in their own spare time, advise the administration of their findings and recommendations and the files are prepared for discussion at the meetings.

If a committee is unanimous in finding that an applicant is registerable the committee’s decision is reported to the next meeting of the Registration Committee for Professional Engineering Technologists. If successful the applicant is immediately registered administratively and the applicant is advised accordingly.

It is important to note that persons who were registered as "Professional Technologists (Engineering)" in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 1990 are deemed to be registered as "Professional Engineering Technologists" in terms of Act 46 of 2000.

CANDIDATE CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
An application for registration as a Candidate Certificated Engineer only requires certified proof that the applicant holds a recognised certificate of competency referred to below. If an applicant holds a foreign qualification or certification comparable to the South African equivalent, certified copies must be submitted of the qualification as well an academic record reflecting all the subjects taken and passed during all the years of study as well as the training/experience and processes leading to the award of the certification in such country.

ECSA will assess the application for completeness and, if so, evaluate the academic qualification. If the application is incomplete, the candidate is advised of any shortcomings which must be rectified as soon as possible.

At this stage ECSA only requires submission of any one or more of the following certificates of competency, or their equivalent:
1. CoC Mechanical (Occupational Health and Safety)
2. CoC Electrical (Occupational Health and Safety)
3. CoC Mechanical (Mine Health and Safety)
4. CoC Electrical (Mine Health and Safety)
5. CoC Mine Manager (Mine Health and Safety) (Metalliferous)
6. CoC Mine Manager (Mine Health and Safety) (Coal)
7. CoC Marine Engineer (Merchant Shipping) (First Class)

Once an applicant’s academic qualification is recognised the applicant is registered as a "candidate certificated engineer" and candidates are advised in writing of their registration and a certificate of registration is prepared and posted to them as soon as possible thereafter.

The process described above represents a very concise and simplified description of the process.

It is important to note that persons who were registered as "Certificated Engineers in Training" in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 1990 are deemed to be registered as "Candidate Certificated Engineers" in terms of Act 46 of 2000.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATED ENGINEER
Any person who desires to be registered as a Professional Certificated Engineer or as a Candidate Certificated Engineer may lodge an application form with ECSA. The application must be complete in all respects to obviate unnecessary delays in the processing of the application.

Applications from persons holding a recognised certificate of competency, including those already registered as candidate certificated engineers, will not be subjected to a detailed evaluation of their qualifications.

An application is administratively checked for completeness. If incomplete the applicant is advised of the deficiency, which must be rectified as soon as possible. Our experience shows that incomplete and badly prepared applications cause serious delays in the processing and finalisation of applications. It is strongly advised that applicants carefully read the information sheet in the application form and meticulously follow the instructions. Applicants will be expected to have consulted Policy Statement R2/1D and to have completed their application forms strictly in accordance with the requirements. Applications that do not comply with all the requirements will cause delays. It should be noted that the quality of a person’s application reflects on his or her professionalism.

Assuming that an applicant’s qualification is recognised, the process of evaluating an applicant’s training and experience starts. The applications received are submitted to the members of the Registration Committee for Professional Certificated Engineers in time for the next meeting. Meetings take place once every two months. The members of this committee, who are volunteers and evaluate applications in their own spare time, advise the administration of their findings and recommendations and the files are prepared for discussion at the forthcoming meeting.

At a scheduled meeting the committee members discuss each application and if the committee is unanimous in finding that an applicant meets the requirements, the committee decides to register the applicant and the decision is reported to the next meeting of the Central Registration Committee. Meanwhile the registration is immediately effected by the administration and the applicant is advised accordingly.

If the committee is not satisfied that an applicant meets the requirements for registration, the committee may make the following decisions:
Refuse, if the deficiencies are serious;
Defer, (for a maximum of one year) to enable the applicant to rectify the deficiencies;
Offer registration as a "candidate certificated engineer", if the applicant is not already registered as such.

Since any one of these decisions constitutes a "refusal", a recommendation to that effect is made to the Central Registration Committee for consideration. It is the responsibility of the Central Registration Committee (CRC) to ensure that all the Registration Committees under its structure have applied their minds thoroughly to the merits of each application. The CRC is the most senior committee in the registration hierarchy and is empowered to confirm refusal of an application, which will complete the process, or to refer the application back to the Registration Committee for reconsideration or such other action as may be necessary.

The Central Registration Committee consists of two representatives from each of the four Registration Committees.

It is important to note that persons who were registered as "Registered Certificated Engineer" in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 1990 are deemed to be registered as "Professional Certificated Engineers" in terms of Act 46 of 2000.

CANDIDATE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
An application for registration as a Candidate Engineering Technicianonly requires certified proof that the applicant holds a recognised or accredited academic qualification, which is a National Diploma in Engineering obtained at a University of Technology. If an applicant holds a foreign qualification, certified copies of the qualification must be submitted, as well an academic record reflecting all the subjects taken and passed during all the years of study, as well as the in-service training component of the qualification.

ECSA will assess the application for completeness and, if so, evaluate the academic qualification. If the application is incomplete, the candidate is advised of any shortcomings which must be rectified as soon as possible.

ECSA requires as the baseline qualification, a National Diploma (NDip) in engineering obtained from a South African Technikon, and which has been accredited by ECSA. A qualification assessed by ECSA to be equivalent will also be recognised.

Once an applicant’s academic qualification is recognised the applicant is registered as a "candidate engineering technician". Candidates are advised in writing of their registration and a certificate of registration is prepared and posted to them as soon as possible thereafter.

The process described above represents a very concise and simplified description of the process.

Persons who were registered as "Engineering Technicians in Training" in terms of Act 114 of 1990, are deemed to be registered as "Candidate Engineering Technicians " in terms of Act 46 of 2000.

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
Any person who desires to be registered as a Professional Engineering Technician, or as a candidate engineering technician may lodge an appropriate application with ECSA. The application must be complete in all respects to obviate unnecessary delays in the processing of the application.

Applications from persons holding accredited qualifications, including those already registered as candidate engineering technicians, will not be subjected to a detailed evaluation of their qualifications. Any applicant should at least have had three years of post-qualification training and experience before an application will be considered for registration. See Policy Statement R2/1C and the Application Form. For persons wishing to upgrade their existing registration to Professional Engineering Technician, first read Guidelines for Upgrade.

An application is administratively checked for completeness. If incomplete the applicant is advised of the deficiency which must be rectified as soon as possible. Our experience shows that incomplete and badly prepared applications cause serious delays in the processing and finalisation of applications. It is strongly advised that applicants carefully read the information sheet in the application form and meticulously follow the instructions. Applicants will be expected to have consulted Policy Statement R2/1C and to have completed their application forms strictly in accordance with the requirements. Applications that do not comply with all the requirements will cause delays. It should be noted that the quality of a person’s application reflects on his or her professionalism.

Assuming that an applicant’s qualification is recognised, the process of evaluating the applicant’s training and experience starts. The number of applications received every month are divided in equal halves and submitted to two subcommittees, at least one month before a meeting. Meetings take place concurrently on a monthly basis. The members of these committees, who are volunteers and evaluate applications in their own spare time, advise the administration of their findings and recommendations and the files are prepared for discussion at the meetings.

If a committee is unanimous in finding that an applicant is registrable, the committee’s decision is reported to the next meeting of the full Registration Committee (which consists of the two subcommittees) but the registration is immediately effected by the administration and the applicant is advised accordingly.

If a committee is not satisfied that an applicant is registrable, the application is referred to the other subcommittee for consideration at its next meeting. This committee considers the application without prior knowledge of the first committee’s decision. If it transpires that the second committee’s decision coincides with the first committee’s decision, the collective decision is implemented by the administration. If the decisions are contrary to each other, the two committees discuss the matter jointly. Each committee is at liberty to obtain such further information as it may require or to have an interview with the candidate before a decision is made.

If the joint decision is to refuse an application, the full Registration Committee makes a recommendation to the Central Registration Committee for ratification. It is the responsibility of the Central Registration Committee to ensure that all the Registration Committees under its structure have applied their minds thoroughly to the merits of each application. The CRC is the most senior committee in the registration hierarchy and is empowered to confirm refusal of an application, which will complete the process, or to refer the application back to the Registration Committee for reconsideration or such other action as may be necessary.

The Central Registration Committee consists of two representatives from each of the four Registration Committees.​