Practice of Professional Engineering in Singapore

Er. Prof. Chiew Sing-Ping

Professor of Civil Engineering, Singapore Institute of Technology, SINGAPORE
Board Member, Professional Engineers Board, SINGAPORE (2012-2020)

29 September 2021
 Scope of Presentation

• Professional Engineers Act

• Professional Engineers Board
• Functions of the Board
• Registration of Professional Engineers (PEng)
 Professional Engineers Act
An Act to establish the Professional Engineers Board, to provide
for the registration of professional engineers, to regulate the
qualifications and conduct of professional engineers and to
regulate corporations, partnerships and limited liability
partnerships which supply professional engineering services in
Singapore.

Professional engineering services means engineering services and

advice in connection with any feasibility study, planning, survey,
design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance and
management of engineering works or projects and includes any
other engineering services approved by the Board.
 Professional Engineers Act

Key Areas
• Establish the PE Board
• Provide for registration of PEs
• Set out privileges of PEs
• Regulate conduct of PEs
• Regulate corporations which supply professional
engineering services in Singapore
 Subsidiary Legislations Under the PE Act

• Professional Engineers Act

• Professional Engineers Rules
• Professional Engineers (Code of Professional Conduct
and Ethics) Rules
• Professional Engineers Board Rules
• Professional Engineers (Approved Qualifications)
Notification 2009
 Composition of Professional Engineers Board
15 Board Members:

• 6 registered Professional Engineers with PC who are

resident in Singapore to be elected by all PEs

• 6 registered Professional Engineers to be appointed by the

Minister of National Development with 3 Ex-Officio
 Commissioner of Building Control, BCA
 President of the Institution of Engineers or his nominee
 Architect from the Board of Architects (BOA)
 Functions of the Professional Engineers Board

• Keep registers of professional engineers, practitioners and licensees

• Approve or reject applications for registration
• Conduct examinations/interviews to qualify persons for registration
• License corporations, partnerships and limited liability partnerships
• Establish and maintain standards of professional conduct and ethics
• Hear and determine disputes relating to professional conduct or
ethics of professional engineers
• Promote learning, education and development of profession
engineering
 Why register Professional Engineers ?

Only registered PEs with Practicing Certificates (PC)

canprovide Professional Engineering services, sign
and submit prescribed documents to the
Government Authority or Agency
 Registration of Professional Engineers
PEs are Competent or Qualified Persons specified by :
•Building And Construction Authority
•Public Utilities Board
•Land Transport Authority
•Energy Market Authority
•National Environment Agency
• Ministry of Manpower
•Fire Safety & Shelter Department
Professional Engineering Services
 Scope of PE Registration

PEB registers PEs from the following prescribed branches

of engineering ONLY:

• Civil
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• Chemical
 Registration Criteria

Applicants are required to:

a) Obtain Approved Qualifications

b) Sit and Pass prescribed Registration Examinations
c) Obtain 2.5 years of relevant Practical Experience
d) Attend and Pass the Professional Interview
 Approved Qualifications

Applicants must have a qualification specified in:

• Professional Engineers (Approved Qualifications)

Notification 2009
 Approved Qualifications - Nomenclatures

1. Prescribed Branch of Engineering

2. Engineering Education = at least 4 Years

3. Further Learning
4. Advanced Standing
5. On-Campus Study
 Summary of Approved Qualifications
Category 4-YR University Degree in Prescribed Branch
NUS & NTU only
Recognized Degrees
7 Indian IITs; 15 Chinese Universities
1 (Green Lane)
Selected European universities from Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland & Italy (soon)
All accredited degrees from Australia (1989), Canada (1989), Ireland (1989), New
Zealand (1989), USA (1989), France (1991)*, South Africa (1999), Japan (2005),
Accredited Degrees Singapore (2006), Korea (2007), Taiwan (2007), Malaysia (2009), Turkey (2011),
WASHINGTON ACCORD Russia (2012), Sri Lanka (2014), China (2016), Pakistan (2017), Peru (2018)
(Encumbrances – further Provisional Status: Chile, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mexico, Philippines
2
learning, advanced
standing & on-campus India (2014, Tier 1)
study)
Hong Kong (1995) & UK (1989) 3-YR accredited degree plus further learning –
postgraduate degrees from any recognized universities

3 Other Degrees e.g. 4-YR degree from Myanmar plus MSc from either NUS or NTU only
 Professional Engineers Registration Examinations

Fundamentals of Engineering Examination (FEE)

(a) obtained approved degree or qualification

Practice of Professional Engineering Examination (PPE)

(a) Passed FEE
(b) Obtained 2.5 years of practical experience
Professional Engineers Registration Examinations
 Fundamentals of Engineering Examination
Subjects Time Allocated Format
FEE Part 1
Core engineering subjects
*3 hours & 10 mins • 40 MCQs
in Civil / Mechanical /
(9.00 am – 12.10 pm)
Electrical / Chemical
Engineering
FEE Part 2
• Answer 5 out of 9
Core/Elective subjects in
*3 hours & 10 questions (civil)
Civil / Mechanical /
minutes • Answer 5 out of 7
Electrical / Chemical
(2.00 pm – 5.10 pm) questions (electrical,
Engineering
mechanical)
 Practice of Professional Engineering Examination
Subjects Time Allocated Format
• Answer 10
PPE Part 1 2 hrs 10 mins compulsory MCQs
Common Paper (9.00 am – 11.10 • Answer 3 out of 5
am) essay questions

PPE Part 2 Civil / • Answer 1 compulsory

Mechanical / Electrical 4 hrs 10 mins question plus 4 out of
/ Chemical Engineering (1.00 pm – 5.10 pm) 7 questions
Practice of Professional Engineering Examination
 Professional Interview

• Summary of Post-Graduate Professional Experience

• Report on Post Graduate Engineering Experience
• Professional Interview – 45 to 60 mins
• 3-Member Interview Panel chaired by a Board
Member
 Oral Examination For Experienced Applicants
Who qualify as ‘Experienced Applicant’?
• Qualifications specified in PE (Approved Qualifications)
Notification 2005 obtained before 1 December 2005
• 25 years practical experience (from award date of
qualification to time of application)
• Oral Examination
• Professional Interview
 Practicing Certificate (PC)

• Issued on a yearly basis

• Required to meet Continual Professional Development
(CPD) requirements
• Enhanced requirement if 3 years without PC
• PE may be suspended or removed from register
• May be taken off the register if 10 years without PC
 Number of PEs @ 31 Dec 2017

1Others include Aeronautical, Chemical, Electronic, Industrial, Information technology, Manufacturing, Marine, Naval
architectural and Production
 Registration as Specialist PE

• Geotechnical Engineering (BCA)

• Tunnel Engineering (LTA)
• Protective Security Engineering (MHA)
• Lift and Escalator (MOM)
• Amusement Ride (MOM)
• Crane (MOM)
• Access Platform (MOM)
• Pressure Vessel (MOM)
 Forms of PE Practices

• Employee
• Sole-Proprietor
• Partnership with other PEs
• Licensed Limited Liability Partnership – multi
discipline partnership with registered architects or
land surveyors
• Licensed Private Limited Corporation
• Licensed Private Unlimited Corporation
 Licensed Corporations and Partnerships

No of Licensees at as 31 Dec 2017

Thank You for your Kind Attention !