NER requirements in 2026
What Engineers Australia currently asks for to join the National Engineering Register. Updated October 2026
- Qualification: an Engineers Australia recognised engineering qualification, or a successful migration skills assessment or membership competency assessment.
- Experience: at least five years of full-time equivalent engineering work, with at least four post-graduate years gained within the last 10 years.
- Competencies: you must meet the five NER competencies.
- Documents: a detailed CV with your responsibilities, projects and achievements for each engineering role. Non-members also provide photo ID and their qualifications and transcripts.
- Referees: two referees who supervised or worked directly with you within the last five years.
- Interview: with a qualified Engineers Australia assessor.
- Fees: assessment AU$410 for members or AU$670 for non-members. Annual registration AU$130 or AU$215.
- State registration: Engineers Australia also assesses engineers for registration in Queensland (RPEQ), Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and the ACT. NER or Chartered status generally makes you eligible.
Official sources: Engineers Australia: National Engineering Register · Engineers Australia: assessment for state registration
How our NER writing works
Send us your CV and your CDR if you have one. We check your eligibility and reply within 24 hours.
You answer a few questions about your projects from the last five years.
We prepare your detailed CV and project summaries for the online self-assessment against the NER competencies, re-using your career episodes where possible.
You review every draft and approve the final version before you apply.
NER questions
Who can apply for NER?
Engineers with an Engineers Australia recognised qualification or a successful Engineers Australia assessment, and at least five years of experience, four of them post-graduate within the last 10 years.
Is NER the same as Chartered?
No. NER is a separate register with its own assessment and interview. Many engineers hold both.
Does NER help with RPEQ or state registration?
Yes. Engineers Australia assesses engineers for state registration, and NER or Chartered status generally makes you eligible. You then apply to the state regulator.
How much does NER writing cost?
From AU$195. The price depends on how many of your career episodes we can re-use.
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