Guidelines for Registration

Introduction 

In accordance with the governing Act, applicants for registration must satisfy the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) that their degrees are recognised and accredited and that they have at least four years of engineering experience after graduation.  

Requirements for Registration with the BOETT

1. The first prerequisite is graduation from an approved Engineering Programme at the Bachelor’s level. The academic requirements are also satisfied by success in the UK Engineering Council exams. 

2. There are two routes through which an Engineer can qualify for registration with the Board of Engineering. These are as follows: 

• Four (4) years post-graduation work experience in engineering practice plus evidence of further learning which should be equivalent to a Degree.

The Master’s Degree needs not necessarily be in an Engineering Discipline (e.g. MBA or any other accredited Master’s Degree). 

Although a MSc. Degree or integrated MEng degree is a definitive route, it is not necessarily the only route once there is equivalency in the number of postgraduate level Credits (42) otherwise acquired. This number of credits (42) is equivalent to 546 contact hours of further learning via examined courses, pursued online or in-person and offered by recognised CPD course providers. 

• A minimum of seven (7) years post-graduation work experience in engineering practice, of which at least two years shall be in “responsible charge” 

3. Once any of the above two criteria are met, the Engineer can submit his/her application to the Board (An application Fee required). Applications Forms and instructions are available on the Board’s Website, boett.org.

4. Criteria for “Responsible Charge”

• Responsible charge = leadership + accountability. The role must involve the exercise of independent judgment, decision-making, and personal accountability over technically “significant engineering work”.
• “Significant engineering work” means work that is non-trivial — substantial in terms of cost, duration, and technical complexity.

• Accountability and Outcome. The person in “responsible charge” should be personally accountable for success or failure of the project or work under their management.

• Documentation is required. Applicants must prove via their applications (reports, narratives, project breakdowns) that their experience meets the “responsible charge” criteria. 

Application Form:

PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND RETURN THE APPLICATION FORM TOGETHER WITH A TTD$200.00 (NON-REFUNDABLE) APPLICATION FEE, THE ORIGINAL AND COPY OF CERTIFICATES, MEMBERSHIP CARDS OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATION(S) AND STATEMENTS FROM TWO SPONSORS. 

Completion of Application for Registration

Please be advised that an application for registration is only complete when the ‘Application for Registration’ form, duly signed and dated, is returned to the offices of the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago together with:- 

1. Fees[1]

            The non-refundable application fee of TT$200.00 (or US $30.00 for overseas-based applicants); 

2. Evidence of Qualifications 

Acceptable supporting evidence of qualifications and professional organization(s) membership (where applicable) – originals and one copy each. The copies will be noted as “original seen” and the originals will be returned to the applicant at the time of presentation. An appropriately certified copy of the originals would suffice for overseas applicants;

3. Statements from Sponsors

Statements from two sponsors, duly signed and dated, attesting to specifics of tasks performed that would now enable the applicant to undertake, on his/her own, engineering work of a professional standard in his/her field.  This information must come from the personal knowledge of the sponsors.

Sponsors are advised that they are required to provide an evaluation of the applicant’s work.  Statements prepared by applicants and simply signed/endorsed by Sponsors will not be accepted. 

            Of particular relevance would be actual tasks performed on various assignments detailing:-

• creative or original inputs at a professional level contributing to an engineering solution or resolution;
• design, investigation, reporting, diagnostic analysis and solution finding, and problem solving of a professional nature;
• specification preparation and documentation;
• preparation of detailed ‘scope of works’ and terms of reference; and
• research leading to innovative developments in engineering design and methods requiring original thought and judgement and reporting thereof. 

Of less relevance would be experience gained by performing: –

• routine standard quality control testing, measurement and assessment for product acceptability;
• routine maintenance, monitoring and performance; and
• lecturing or teaching of a ‘non original’ nature. 

            A sample of a suggested format in which this information may be submitted is provided below. 

The statements are to be confidential and submitted in sealed envelopes so marked.   Where it is not possible for the applicant to obtain the detailed statements from sponsors who are Registered Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, the applicant should provide a written explanation of why this is so and also include his/her own written statement of the information required above. In such circumstances, the applicant would normally be required to attend an interview at which he/she would need to provide supporting evidence and/or samples (drawings, designs, calculations, reports, etc.) of work that he/she has actually done since graduation.

Applicants for Registration as Structural Engineers 

With respect to the Registered Structural Engineer, applicants are required to demonstrate competency in the Codes of Practice and Material Standards required by the Design Branch of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. As part of the assessment process, applicants wishing to be registered as Structural Engineers are required to provide proof that they have worked with these Codes and Standards and are capable of applying them.

To this end, applicants for Registration as Structural Engineers will be required to submit fully detailed drawings and calculations for projects in structural steel (over 35 feet in height) and reinforced concrete where these Codes and Standards have been used.  Buildings must be designed as being in Seismic Design Category D based on 1BC 2006, 2009 or 2012”.

Applicants may also be required to be interviewed by a panel of the Assessment Committee where they can be questioned on their submissions. 

All Other Applicants

All other applicants should further note that they may be required to attend an interview in advance of which they would need to provide the Board with examples of work actually performed by them since graduation – such as drawings, designs, calculations, reports, etc. The work would need to be of a professional nature under the supervision of a Registered Engineer of Trinidad and Tobago or other suitably qualified professional engineer. 

For further information and details, applicants are advised to view “THE REGISTRATION PROCESS AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERING OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (BOETT)” on the BOETT’s Website. https://www.boett.org Don’t delay, get Registered today!

 SUGGESTED FORMAT FOR SUBMITTING THE INFORMATION REQUIRED OF SPONSORS

 Categories of Registration with the Board or Engineering. 

 [1] Fees are subject to change