ECSA – The benefits of registering with the Engineering Council of South Africa

Legislation holds employers responsible for the safety of their employees, so appointing ECSA-registered engineers assists employers to comply with this legislation.

INTRODUCTION
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has reiterated its call to all engineering practitioners to register with the Council.
“The nature of engineering and related fields is such that regulations and guidelines have been put in place to govern the industry,” says the president of ECSA, Cyril Gamede Pr Eng. “It is a process that has seen the South African engineering profession being recognised locally and
abroad, and that assures stakeholders of verified credentials and a commitment to continuing professional development.

“ECSA, in partnership with government and academic institutions, seeks to promote a high level of education and training of engineering practitioners to facilitate full recognition of professionalism in engineering, both locally and abroad.”

REGULATORY BODY
ECSA is the only recognised engineering regulatory body in South Africa, and in this capacity it is also accountable to the public for fair and transparent administration of its operations. The recognition by other professions, locally and abroad, gives a wide spectrum of stakeholders a measure of protection and peace of mind. Hence registration with ECSA is paramount, with individual and business benefits including the following:

Peer recognition of qualification and experience
Professional registration is based on peer recognition by members of the appropriate ECSA committee, where committee members assess whether the minimum requirements necessary for registration are met (the various ECSA committees cover all the recognised engineering professions, such as civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, etc).

Public confidence in professional competence
Professional registration assures the public that an engineer’s competence has been assessed by other professionals, who are knowledgeable in their fields of expertise.

Membership of professional societies
Professional registration is a prerequisite for membership of the various voluntary associations (VAs) recognised by ECSA (of which SAICE is one), thereby offering access to international best practice in the various engineering fields, as well as certain financial benefits, such as a reduced annual ECSA fee if membership of a VA can be demonstrated.

International recognition
ECSA is a signatory to the Washington, Sydney and Dublin Accords (respectively for the education of engineers, engineering technologists and engineering technicians). These agreements provide for mutual recognition of graduates by the registering bodies in the signatory countries, for example Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“With South Africa’s increasing globalisation, it is critical for our country to be competitive at an international level.
Registration contributes substantially to the preservation of professional standards, and ECSA’s continued international recognition is crucial for the maintenance of high standards,” adds Gamede.

Employability
More and more employers require registration with ECSA as a prerequisite for appointment to certain engineering positions. From an employer’s perspective, confidence in the professionalism of staff is crucial. Since not all employers have been educated and trained in engineering, registration is widely regarded as an additional and objective indication of an engineer’s competence. Hence registration with ECSA works in favour of an engineer who is seeking employment.

Statutory empowerment
Legislation holds employers responsible for the safety of their employees, so assists employers to comply with this legislation, and serves as an additional safeguard against unsafe practices, thereby also ensuring the public’s safety. This is the engineering profession’s contribution towards promoting public health and safety – the environment which distinguishes ECSA’s sole existence and activity in the engineering domain.
The ECSA president emphasises that, “The interests of the country and the public can only be served properly if a profession is healthy and thriving, which is why registering with ECSA is central to maintaining a strong engineering profession.”

Website
Non-registered engineering practitioners are encouraged to visit the ECSA website for more information: www.ecsa.co.za
Contact ECSA
T: +27 11 607 9500
E: engineer@ecsa.co.za
P: Private Bag X691, Bruma, 2026
1st Floor Waterview Corner, Bruma Office Park, Ernest Oppenheimer Avenue, Bruma, Johannesburg