We’re here to help you on your journey to becoming Chartered. As our first step, we use our credential check process to assess your engineering credentials against the global engineering educational standards: Washington, Sydney, and Dublin Accord.

Why do I need a credential check?

We use Credential checks as a fast-track way to determine someone's Accord equivalence, and they need to be at Washington Accord status to match our New Zealand standard.

When applying for Chartered status, your first step is to have your credentials checked. We will verify if you meet the academic requirement for the Chartered class you need.

Immigration New Zealand may ask you to provide a letter from us certifying you meet the benchmark requirements for Chartered Professional Engineer status in New Zealand (the benchmark requirement is a Washington Accord qualification, or equivalent).

It’s important to note, Credential checks are a way to recognise education and study – not skill or experience. If you are not granted Washington Accord Accreditation through a Credential check, it is because your education provider in your country, or the course you took, was not Washington Accord accredited.

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Fees and processing time

You can check out all our fees here.

A Credential check is free if you’re a member of Engineering New Zealand.

Find out about our membership options

Credential checks typically take 7 to 10 working days, after payment is received.

What are we checking in Credential checks?

We will be checking and verifying your engineering credentials, including:

  • Qualifications that you have (you have completed graduation requirements)
  • Memberships and registrations with international engineering organisations
  • Assessments with Engineers Australia, NCEES (USA) or past Knowledge Assessments with IPENZ

You will also be asked to complete an ID check.

Preparing for your check

Create an account or use your existing login with Engineering New Zealand to access your member portal.

Add your credentials to your account, including evidence for each credential.

To add credentials, go to: Menu > Career > Credentials > Qualifications/Other credentials

What you will get

If your Credential check is successful, you will receive Accord recognition.

We will assign an Accord recognition status to each credential:

This Accord recognition:

Meets the benchmark to apply for:

This Accord recognition: Washington Accord or equivalent

Meets the benchmark to apply for: Chartered Member & Chartered Professional Engineer registration

This Accord recognition: Sydney Accord or equivalent

Meets the benchmark to apply for: Chartered Member (Engineering Technologist)

This Accord recognition: Dublin Accord or equivalent

Meets the benchmark to apply for: Chartered Member (Engineering Technician)

This Accord recognition: No equivalence

Meets the benchmark to apply for: Not applicable. This means that we were unable to determine that your credentials are accredited or have an Accord equivalence.

If an Accord recognition is assigned, this means the credential is either recognised by us as Accord-accredited or as demonstrating equivalence to an Accord-accredited qualification.

If your goal is to become Chartered, this will help us recommend your next step: which assessment you need to complete.

Find out more about recognised qualifications

Find out more about recognised credentials

Find out more on getting Chartered

Need a report about your international credentials?

As part of your credential check request, you can tell us if you need a report about your international credentials for:

  • Immigration New Zealand visa application
  • Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) registration assessment
  • Potential employer or education provider

We’ll send you a report that meets your purpose after your credential check is completed.

Fraudulent activity and plagiarism

We take any activity of the sort very seriously.

Read our document outlining fraudulent activity and plagiarism   |  141.9 KB