Queensland has one of Australia’s broadest statutory professional engineer registration regimes.
A person providing a professional engineering service in Queensland generally needs to be registered as an RPEQ unless an exception applies, such as working under appropriate RPEQ supervision or applying a prescriptive standard.
The requirement can apply where the engineer is physically outside Queensland but provides professional engineering services for Queensland.
Professional Indemnity Insurance is also relevant. The Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland’s Code of Practice requires RPEQs to take reasonable steps to procure and maintain Professional Indemnity Insurance appropriate to the professional engineering services they provide.
The appropriate insurance arrangement can depend on:
- the engineering disciplines undertaken
- project values and client types
- whether the engineer works as an employee, sole practitioner or through a company
- the scope of services and contractual responsibilities
- any additional client or contract requirements
There is not a single fixed PI limit that is appropriate for every RPEQ. The cover needs to be considered against the engineer’s actual professional activities and exposures.
For current registration requirements, see the Board of Professional Engineers of Queensland RPEQ registration guidance. BPEQ also publishes a Professional Indemnity Insurance practice note.
