VisaEnvoy can help you with reviewing your CDR report for Engineers Australia:
CDR at a glance
- A Competency Demonstration Report (CDR) is the Engineers Australia pathway for engineers whose qualifications are not accredited under the Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accords or an Australian accredited program.
- Your CDR has three parts: a list of your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), three career episodes and a summary statement.
- Each career episode describes a specific period or project in your own words, written in the first person.
- The summary statement maps the paragraphs in your career episodes to each competency element for your occupational category (tables below).
- Engineers Australia checks for plagiarism. Copied content can lead to the application being refused and a ban on applying again for a period.
What is a Competency Demonstration Report?
Engineers Australia is the assessing authority for most engineering occupations. If your engineering degree is not accredited under one of the accords Engineers Australia recognises, you show your skills through a Competency Demonstration Report. The CDR is assessed against the Stage 1 Competency Standard for the occupational category you apply for: Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, Engineering Associate or Engineering Manager.
A strong CDR is specific. It explains what you did, why you did it and what the result was, with technical detail that matches the competency elements. Our team can review your draft CDR before you lodge it. Book a consultation to talk to us.
How to prepare your CDR
- Choose your occupational category and nominated occupation, and check it is on the relevant skilled occupation list for the visa you want.
- Prepare your CPD list, showing courses, conferences, workshops and other learning since you graduated.
- Write three career episodes, each based on a different period of study or work, describing your own role and the engineering work you personally did.
- Complete the summary statement using the template for your category, with the paragraph numbers where each element is addressed.
- Check your English test result and documents (degree, transcripts, passport, CV) against the current Engineers Australia booklet.
- Lodge online through the Engineers Australia portal and pay the assessment fee.
Summary statement templates by occupational category
Select your category to see the competency elements your summary statement must address.
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
Summary Statement
These are the competency Units and Elements. These elements must be addressed in the Summary Statement (see Section C). If you are applying for assessment as a Professional Engineer, you will need to download this page, complete it and lodge it with your application.
| Competency Element | A brief summary of how you have applied the element | Paragraph number in the career episode(s) where the element is addressed |
| PE1 KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL BASE | ||
| PE1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline | ||
| PE1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline | ||
| PE1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline | ||
| PE1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline | ||
| PE1.5 Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline | ||
| PE1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline | ||
| PE2 ENGINEERING APPLICATION ABILITY | ||
| PE2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving | ||
| PE2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources | ||
| PE2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes | ||
| PE2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects | ||
| PE3 PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES | ||
| PE3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability | ||
| PE3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains | ||
| PE3.3 Creative innovative and proactive demeanour | ||
| PE3.4 Professional use and management of information | ||
| PE3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct | ||
| PE3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership | ||
CDR frequently asked questions
Who needs a CDR?
You need a CDR if your engineering qualification is not accredited by Engineers Australia and not recognised under the Washington Accord (Professional Engineer), Sydney Accord (Engineering Technologist) or Dublin Accord (Engineering Associate). If you apply as an Engineering Manager, you also complete a summary statement against the management competency elements shown in the template above.
How long should each career episode be?
Engineers Australia sets a word range for each career episode in its Migration Skills Assessment booklet. Write clearly and concisely within that range, and focus on your own contribution rather than the work of your team.
Can I use a CDR writing service or a sample CDR?
You can get advice and have your CDR reviewed, but the content must be your own. Engineers Australia uses plagiarism checks, and copied or purchased material can lead to refusal and a ban from applying for a period.
How long does an Engineers Australia assessment take?
Processing times vary with demand and the service you choose. Engineers Australia offers a fast track option for an extra fee. See our Engineers Australia skills assessment guide for the current fees.
