Professional Engineers Registration Board
National Emblem of Papua New Guinea

Professional Engineers Registration Board

Professional Engineers Registration Board

The Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) registers and de-registers professional engineers from every discipline in Papua New Guinea, under the Professional Engineers Registration Act 1986 (amended).

Established Under
PER Act 1986 (Amended)
Board Comprises
IEPNG Board
Chairman
PERB Chairman (Ex Officio)
Deputy Chairman
PERB Vice Chairman (Ex Officio)
01

Overview

The Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) is the Board which is set up by the Professional Engineers Registration Act 1986 (amended) primarily to register and de-register professional engineers from all disciplines in Papua New Guinea.

The terms "engineering profession" and "professional engineer/engineering" are used by the Board in the broadest possible way, to include all those who use a systematic process of analysis, design/synthesis and implementation, strive to operate in a responsible way, are governed by a code of ethics set by their peers, and engage in continuing professional development to maintain the currency of their competence.

Sections 2 & 3 of the Act relate to the Establishment and Composition of the Board.

02

Establishment & Composition

Sec. 2Establishment and Constitution of the Board
(1)
A Professional Engineers Registration Board is hereby established.
(2)
The Board shall comprise the Council of the Institution (formerly referred to as the Board of the Institution).
(3)
The Board may co-opt additional members as required for any specified period, but not exceeding the life of the Board, to carry out the functions of the Board.
03

Chairman & Deputy Chairman

Sec. 3Chairman and Deputy Chairman
(1)
The President of the Institution shall be the Chairman of the Board in an ex officio capacity.
(2)
The Deputy-President of the Institution shall be the Deputy Chairman of the Board in an ex officio capacity.
04

Tenure of Office

Sec. 4Tenure of Office
(1)
A member of the Board shall be appointed for a period not exceeding one year, in accordance with the election of the Board of the Institution, and is eligible for reappointment.
(2)
When the position of a member becomes vacant before the expiration of his term of office, the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall be appointed in accordance with Subsection (1).
(3)
A member appointed under Subsection (2) holds office until the expiration of the term of the member whose position has become vacant.
05

Role of IEPNG

The intentions and activities of the IEPNG focus on the advancement of the engineering profession in Papua New Guinea. The IEPNG is also the Secretariat of the Board and the CEO of IEPNG is also the Registrar of the PERB

IEPNG — Regulation of the Practice of Engineering (Part V)
Professional Engineers Registration Act 2007 (Amended)

Part V — Regulation of the Practice of Engineering

Anyone carrying out engineering-related work must be registered with the Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB). This Part sets out who must register, and the penalties that apply when they don't.

Overview

Registration is mandatory, not optional

A person who is carrying out functions or work related to or involved with engineering must be registered with the Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB), as prescribed by the Professional Engineers Registration (Amendment) Act 2007. Part V of the Act defines who must be registered and prescribes the penalties that apply to both the engineer and the employer of an engineer who is not registered and is involved in engineering-related activities.

Section 23

Employment of Registered Engineers

23

Employment of Registered Engineers

Subsection (1)

Any person, company, statutory body, government body or organisation that undertakes or employs others to undertake professional engineering studies and works — including design work, investigations and other works carried out offshore, where the total project value exceeds K200,000.00 — shall employ registered engineers for the engineering management, design and implementation of these works.

Subsection (1A)

All drawings and documentation for the construction of works approved under Subsection (1) shall be approved and signed by a registered engineer.

Subsection (2)

A person who fails to employ registered engineers in accordance with Subsection (1) is guilty of an offence.

Fine not exceeding K200,000.00 — or up to the full value of the commission, fee or profit margin, whichever is greater
Subsection (3)

A provisionally registered engineer may be employed under Subsection (1), provided he is under the full-time direction of a registered engineer who accepts responsibility for the engineering work of the provisionally registered engineer.

Sections 24–26

Offences & Penalties

Beyond employment obligations, the Act sets out specific offences for misrepresenting registration status.

24

Unregistered persons using reserved titles

A person other than a registered engineer who uses any prescribed identifying title or abbreviation for a registered engineer — or implies, in any way, that they are a registered engineer — is guilty of an offence.

Fine not exceeding K5,000.00
25

Unregistered persons signing documents

A person who is unregistered but claims to be registered, or who signs engineering documents as though they are registered, is guilty of an offence.

Fine not exceeding K5,000.00
26

Penalty for employing an unregistered person

A person, company, statutory body, government body or organisation who employs an unregistered person as a registered engineer, knowing them to be unregistered, is guilty of an offence.

Fine not exceeding K10,000.00
Sections 27–32

Enforcement & Powers of the Board

The Act also gives the Board the authority to enforce these provisions and investigate breaches.

27

Board may direct prosecutions

The Board may order the Institution — generally, or in any particular case — to take proceedings for the recovery of penalties and the prosecution of any person, company, statutory body, government body or organisation offending against the Act.

28

Power to summon witnesses

The Board may summon witnesses to appear before it to give evidence and produce documents. A summons must be in the prescribed form, in writing, signed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman, and served on the witness personally, or left at or sent by post to their usual place of business or abode.

29

Power to examine on oath

A member of the Board may administer an oath to a person appearing as a witness — whether summoned or appearing voluntarily — and the witness may be examined on oath.

30

Failure to attend or produce documents

A person served with a summons who refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to attend before the Board or to produce required books, documents or writings is guilty of an offence. It is a defence if the requested material was not relevant to the matter before the Board.

Fine not exceeding K400.00  •  Default penalty not exceeding K40.00
31

Refusal to be sworn or give evidence

A witness before the Board who refuses to be sworn, to make an affirmation, or to answer a relevant question put by a Board member is guilty of an offence.

Fine not exceeding K200.00
32

Regulations

The Head of State, acting on advice, may make regulations — not inconsistent with the Act — prescribing any matters required or permitted to be prescribed, or necessary and convenient for giving effect to the Act.

How to Register

Ready to get registered with PERB?

Get in touch with the IEPNG office to begin your registration or renewal with the Professional Engineers Registration Board.

IEPNG also maintains the current Professional Engineers Registration List — the official public record of registered engineers in Papua New Guinea.

Email
memberservices@iepng.org.pg
Telephone
(675) 325 8763  /  (675) 325 8765
Registration is renewed annually — engineers on the Current Registration List must reapply every February.