CER – Renewal of Registration Requirements

A CER for renewal of registration is intended to show that skills and knowledge are being maintained. A CER is a brief narrative no longer than four (4) pages that should focus on, and address, the following criteria:

• how a specific task was completed;
• the process followed;
• the judgements made;
• the results and outcomes achieved; and
• have relevant supporting documents and evidence attached.

A CER is a structured document that allows surveyors to show how they are applying their professional and technical competencies in their day-to-day work. It is a description of any project or period of work that highlights their professional qualities and skills. A CER is about a task you have completed within the past two years of the date of renewal, or a time period at the discretion of the Board. A CER is not a description of how you would complete a job and nor is it a report or summary of work performed by someone else even if that person was being supervised by you. To satisfy the requirements of the Surveyors Act 2003 a CER must be linked to the competency framework applicable to the surveyors level of registration.

Why is a Renewal CER Necessary?

The Surveyors Act 2003 requires the Board to establish competency frameworks appropriate for the qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience for each level of registration.  The Act also requires the Board to assess competence for the renewal of registration each year.

Each year, a random selection of 10% of registrants (except surveying graduates) is required to provide documentary evidence of their competency to the Board. This is achieved by submission of a CER which is assessed by a Board appointed assessor.

Once a CER is satisfactorily completed and assessed a registrant is excluded from the random selection process for the next two years.

What should a Renewal CER Contain?

A CER must address the units and elements within the respective competency frameworks.  A renewal CER does not have to address every descriptor within an element. The CER should contain enough detail to demonstrate to the assessor the actions considered by the surveyor and the process and methodology applied to complete the task including reference to quality assurance procedures.

The CER should be mapped against the competency framework elements. This is achieved by recording in the margin the element numbers against the description of work performed, (see the example CER). The CER should be signed and dated by the registrant.

For renewal of registration purposes, the registrant is required to select and demonstrate competency in two units from the relevant competency framework. If an endorsement or multiple endorsements is held then two units from the surveyor framework and one additional element for the endorsement selected for you by the Board will have to be completed.

No CER is required for a consulting endorsement.