Know the facts. GET REGISTERED.
How does PERB work?
The Professional Engineers Registration Board (PERB) is authorised to administer the Professional Engineers Registration Act (PERA) and does the following inter alia: Registers engineers Determines categories of engineering work in which they are to be registered Regulates the practice of engineering in Jamaica Appoints examiners to conduct examinations for persons applying for registration as engineers
Promotes and ensures the maintenance of acceptable standards of professional conduct by persons registered as engineers under the PERA. Prescribes the procedure to be followed in instituting disciplinary proceedings against engineers in relation to professional conduct
Who needs to be registered?
Registration is compulsory for all persons, firms and organisations wishing to offer engineering services in Jamaica.
What are the requirements for registration?
Applicants must be: Citizens of Jamaica or ordinarily resident in Jamaica
Of good character and reputation
Members of, or holders of a certificate granted by an accredited institution, or other body recognised by the board as having competence to approve qualification as an engineer in a category of engineering work. Hold a certificate recognised by the board indicating competence in some category of engineering work. They must have at least two years post qualification practical experience in that category of engineering work (at least one year of which was in Jamaica). They must also have passed such examinations as may be required by the board.
Can PERB discipline registered engineers?
Yes. The public may lodge a complaint in writing against a registered engineer with the PERB,
addressed to the registrar at PERB’s offices. The board, after investigation, may take disciplinary action including censure, reprimand or delisting.
Can persons carry on engineering without being registered?
Persons who contravene the PERA will be guilty of an offence and will be liable to be fined on summary conviction before a resident magistrate.
What are the categories of registration?
The PERB currently approves engineers in 15 categories of engineering work including:
Aeronautical
Agricultural
Bio-Medical
Chemical
Civil/Structural
Electrical
Electronics
Environmental
Marine
Mechanical
Metallurgical
Mining
Sanitary
Structural
Can an engineer be registered in more than one category?
Yes. Applicants who meet all the requirements under the Act may be qualified for registration by the board in the categories deemed appropriate. They may then carry on the practice of engineering in these categories and charge fees in accordance with services rendered
Can PERB also grant registration to special groups of persons dependent on particular circumstances? SPECIAL REGISTRATION
Those who may qualify for special registration are:
Persons working for a specified time on a particular project, persons on the staff of the University of the West Indies, persons at other institutions approved by the Minister of Transport and Works such as the parish councils and persons engaged in a teaching or research capacity in engineering work. The special registration remains valid as long as they remain engaged, as they were when the special registration was granted. This only applies as long as they continue to work for the particular organisation for which they received special registration.
TEMPORARY REGISTRATION
Temporary registration may be granted to engineers who satisfy the PERB that they will be visiting Jamaica temporarily for the purpose of practising the profession of engineering.
How long is temporary registration valid?
The period for which it was granted, up to a maximum of two years in the first instance.
What are the benefits of registration?
PERA registration is intended to uphold public safety by ensuring that only persons qualified as engineers are authorised to carry on engineering work in Jamaica. Registration provides a guide to the public by identifying whom they should engage as engineers. Persons who are not registered under PERA may not lawfully carry on the practice of engineering nor take nor use any designation, title, name, initials nor description indicating or implying that they are entitled to carry on the practice of engineering in Jamaica
How can the public know who is registered?
The registrar of the PERB is required by law to keep a Register of Professional Engineers with the names, addresses and qualifications and other relevant particulars of all persons who are registered under the PERA.
Where can I see the register?
The register is available for inspection by the public during the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the PERB offices at 9 Leinster Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica W.I.
Copies of the Professional Engineers Registration Act may also be purchased from this office.