Interstate engineer registration requirements need to be checked because registration in one Australian jurisdiction does not automatically authorise work everywhere else.
Requirements can depend on:
- where the engineer is physically located
- where the project is located
- where the services are intended to be used
- the engineering discipline
- whether the work relates to regulated buildings or another prescribed activity
This is particularly important for remote work.
For example, some schemes apply to services provided for a jurisdiction even when the engineer is sitting interstate. Victoria and the ACT both expressly regulate certain services provided from outside the jurisdiction for local projects.
Mutual recognition or automatic mutual recognition may assist, but availability and scope differ between jurisdictions. An interstate registration should therefore not simply be assumed to transfer on identical terms.
Before commencing interstate work, engineering firms should check:
- the registration position in the engineer’s home jurisdiction
- the rules applying where the project is located
- any mutual-recognition pathway
- whether the Professional Indemnity policy covers the activities and jurisdictions involved
Registration and insurance should be checked separately.
For an overview of interstate occupational registration, see the Australian Government mutual recognition guidance. Local registration requirements should still be checked with the relevant state or territory regulator.
