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The Sydney Accord is an international mutual recognition agreement for qualifications in the fields of engineering technology. [1]
| | This article needs additional citations for verification .(August 2023) |
The Sydney Accord is an international mutual recognition agreement for qualifications in the fields of engineering technology. [1]
The Sydney Accord is an agreement between the bodies responsible for accrediting engineering technologist qualification programs in each of the signatory countries. It recognizes the substantial equivalency of programs accredited by those bodies, and recommends that graduates of accredited programs in any of the signatory countries be recognized by the other countries as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering technologist. The Sydney Accord was signed in 2001. [1]
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The Sydney Accord is an international agreement that acknowledges the educational qualifications of engineering technologists. It encompasses programs such as the Bachelor of Engineering Science and Bachelor of Engineering Technology. Conversely, the Bachelor of Engineering qualifications are recognized under the separate Washington Accord. [2]
The scope of the Sydney Accord only covers the academic requirement for an engineering technologist qualification. Engineering technologist titles do not transfer directly between signatory countries that don't have reciprocating agreements, because the signatory countries reserve the right to scrutinize foreign titles and compare them to their own licensing criteria. However, this does not mean the titles are not respected by employers within those signatory countries.
The engineering technologist may be hired within a country by an employer where a formal license is not required. The industrial exemption clause negates formal engineering registration within the United States for those who meet the criteria.
Foreign titles may be utilized as a foundation for recognition of professional licensing. The titles can be supplemented with additional experience and/or training to meet the local definition of formal registration. This serves to underline that a foreign technologist covered under the accord does not arrive in a fellow signatory country without merit. The Sydney Accord is therefore not a hollow agreement without advantages.
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The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) and the United Kingdom's Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE) signed a reciprocating agreement of recognition for engineering technologist. In 2006, the IIE merged with the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) to form the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). The CCTT also signed a reciprocating agreement with the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). NICET is a United States organization sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). The formal recognition of the CCTT as a common link between NICET and the IET has not been realized.
The following are the signatories of the Sydney Accord, their respective countries, and years of admission: [3]
The following are provisional signatories of the Sydney Accord, their respective countries, and years of admission:
Canada has signed the Sydney Accord with the title of "Applied Science" and "Engineering Technologist".
From 2002-2022, the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) represented Canada in the Sydney accord. In 2023 Technology Professionals Canada took the CCTT's place in representing Canada. [4]
Hong Kong originally signed the Sydney Accord with the title of "Science Technologist" and later abbreviated the title to "Technologist."
The United States applied for recognition with the Sydney Accord in 2007 and was granted that status in 2009. Despite this achievement the United States still has significant confusion in defining a unified technologist registration for professionals. Part of the reason for this is that the engineering technology profession is not well defined as a separate profession (distinct from professional engineering) in the United States. This is because the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) has opposed legal registration of technologist by the United States government through a licensing program.[ citation needed ] The loss of government oversight has led to competing ideologies from societies with different perspectives on what represents the qualities of a technologist.[ citation needed ]
Some legitimate societies and organizations that have established technology programs do not have clear representation in the accord. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), and the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) are two organizations that have engineering technology and technician certifications that are respected and recognized but operate independently from the accord. In addition to these societies there are legitimate accreditations that are unacknowledged. They are the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), the National Association of Industrial Technology (NAIT), the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT), or other non-ABET/TAC institutions that are exclusively regionally accredited. It is unclear if these organizations or societies will eventually be represented by a formal avenue of recognition in the Sydney Accord.
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As an international representative of the accord the UK offer a registration program for individuals from any country. However, since the standards for technologist are higher in UK (B.Sc. and B.Eng. in Engineering or Technology) only 25 UK (emigrating) registrants up to this date applied for registration as "Technologist" indicating the failure of the Accord within UK. In the UK the term "engineer", "professional engineer" or "engineering" have no meaning in law so anyone can call themselves a professional engineer, or technologist without restrictions. However the titles "Chartered Engineer", "Incorporated Engineer" and "Engineering Technician" awarded by The Engineering Council (UK) are protected by law. United States' graduates may apply for a peer review by the Engineering Council UK if they belong to one of the organizations or societies that are not explicitly mentioned as a member of the accord. Individuals that graduate from a regionally accredited technology program are likely to receive acceptance through professional engineering registration as an Incorporated Engineer.
In the U.S. professional registration is regulated by each state individually. While the profession of engineering technologist is not specifically recognized, many states provide engineering technologists with a pathway towards Professional Engineer (PE) licensing that bypasses national engineering requirements. This is opposed by the national regulatory and representative bodies for professional engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). Notably, the Washington Accord does not apply to American PEs who have obtained this status through a technologist route.
Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes licensed to practice engineering and to provide professional services and products to the public.
An engineering technologist is a professional trained in certain aspects of development and implementation of a respective area of technology. An education in engineering technology concentrates more on application and less on theory than does an engineering education. Engineering technologists often assist engineers; but after years of experience, they can also become engineers. Like engineers, areas where engineering technologists can work include product design, fabrication, and testing. Engineering technologists sometimes rise to senior management positions in industry or become entrepreneurs.
Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau is a not-for-profit professional body that promotes the integrity and interests of members, the profession, and the industry. It seeks to "bring engineering to life" and has more than 22,000 members.
The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for undergraduate professional engineering academic degrees and postgraduate professional engineering academic degrees between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries. The full signatories as of January 2024 are Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Certified engineering technologist (CET) is a Canadian professional certification awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as C.E.T., most Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer this certification. Certification is voluntary and does not represent a provincial regulatory requirement or a statutory required license.
The National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) is an organization that was established in 1961 to create a recognized certification for engineering technicians and technologists within the United States. A 1981 study by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), requested by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' SubCommittee On Construction (AASHTO SCOC), prompted the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) to merge two certification bodies; the Institute for the Certification of Engineering Technicians (ICET) and the Engineering Technologist Certification Institute. The result is a nonprofit organization that provides a nationally recognized and accepted procedure for recognition of qualified engineering technicians and technologists.
An engineering technician is a professional trained in skills and techniques related to a specific branch of technology, with a practical understanding of the relevant engineering concepts. Engineering technicians often assist in projects relating to research and development, or focus on post-development activities like implementation or operation.
Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education, and any advanced education and specializations that follow. Engineering education is typically accompanied by additional postgraduate examinations and supervised training as the requirements for a professional engineering license. The length of education, and training to qualify as a basic professional engineer, is typically five years, with 15–20 years for an engineer who takes responsibility for major projects.
The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, or OACETT, is a not-for-profit, self-governing organization in Ontario, Canada. It is a professional association that promotes the interests of engineering and applied science technicians and technologists to industry, educational institutions, government and with the public. It currently has 24,000+ members.
The Engineering Technologist Mobility Forum is an international forum held by signatories of the Sydney Accord to explore mutual recognition for experienced engineering technologists and to remove artificial barriers to the free movement and practice of engineering technologists amongst their countries. Signatories met in Sydney in November 1999 and Thornybush South Africa in June 2001. At their meeting on 25 June 2001, the Sydney Accord signatories established a forum, to be known as the Engineering Technologists Mobility Forum (ETMF).
The Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta (ASET), is a professional association located in Alberta, Canada. The organization represents applied science and engineering technology professionals in industry, educational institutions, the public and the government. ASET also evaluates the qualifications of individuals who voluntarily apply for certification and issues professional credentials accordingly. It also delivers a number of benefits and services to its members and their employers.
Island Technology Professionals is Prince Edward Island's independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists. It is an official trade name of the Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Prince Edward Island.
The Certified Technicians and Technologists Association of Manitoba (CTTAM) is a regulated profession in Manitoba responsible for certifying engineering/applied science technicians and technologists. The Certified Applied Science Technologists Act assented on June 29, 1998.
The Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Nova Scotia, also called TechNova Certified Technology Professionals, is Nova Scotia's independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists.
The Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists of Newfoundland and Labrador (AETTNL) is Newfoundland and Labrador's independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists.
The Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC), is British Columbia's regulating body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists in British Columbia.
The Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec is Quebec's independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists.
Technology Professionals Canada (TPC) is an organization that advocates for the professions of technicians, applied science technologists and engineering technologists within the provinces of their member organizations.
The Seoul Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional computing and information technology academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries. Established in 2008, the signatories as of 2016 are Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. Provisional signatories include Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. In 2021, Mexico officially became a signatory. In 2024, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Indonesian, Malaysia add in one of signatories, while Sri Lanka, Peru, Philippines are provisional status. On the other hand, New Zealand quit at same year.
The New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists or NBSCETT is New Brunswick's independent certifying body for engineering/applied science technicians and technologists. NBSCETT was established in 1968. It confers the designations "C.Tech" and "P. Tech" which are symbols of achievement in engineering/applied science technology and are legally protected for use only by fully certified members. The designations are recognized across Canada by many employers and other engineering professionals through the efforts of provincial associations that make up the Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT). Though CCTT being a signatory, NBSCETT recognizes international transferability through the Sydney Accord, the Dublin Accord and the Engineering Technologist Mobility Forum, which confers the ability to award the designation IntET (Canada) for Technologists who wish to work internationally.