How To Become A Professional Engineer In South Africa

Professional engineer can specialize in a variety of fields, such as civil, structural, architectural, or mechanical engineering. Job duties vary widely, depending on the area of specialization chosen.

Career Requirements to Become A Professional Engineer In South Africa

Degree LevelBachelor’s degree
Degree FieldEngineering or a subspecialty in engineering
ExperienceMinimum of four years of experience is required before taking the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam
Licensure and CertificationLicensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) is often required; some may be able to work under the supervision of a PE
Key SkillsSkills in mathematics, decision making, problem solving, critical thinking, verbal communication and operations analysis; ability to use common engineering technology, computer-aided design (CAD), and development software

Below are steps to Become A Professional Engineer In South Africa

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering

Becoming an engineer begins with graduating from a bachelor’s degree program that is ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited. This will require meeting science and math qualifications.

While the science requirements vary by major and may cover topics from biology to physics, the math requirements generally include a sequence in calculus, plus a differential equations course.

Step 2: Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) requires aspiring PEs to complete two licensing examinations. Students who are close to graduating may take the first exam, the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

The FE is closed book and has two sessions. The morning session covers broad topics in science, math, and engineering. The afternoon session is specific to the engineering discipline and covers the major concepts of that branch.

Step 3: Gain Work Experience

EITs generally need at least four years of work experience before becoming licensed as Professional Engineers (PEs). Work experience varies based on occupation and engineering discipline.

For example, civil engineering EITs may test soils and plan road systems, while aerospace engineering EITs may test model aircraft and perform stress tests on airplane systems.

Step 4: Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam

After passing the FE exam and accumulating four years of work experience, individuals may take the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Exams are divided by engineering discipline and focus on the specific concepts in each branch.

Passing this exam typically completes the process of becoming a licensed professional engineer. NCEES allows PE candidates to use reference materials, as long as they are bound when the exam begins.

How long does it take to become a professional engineer in South Africa?

After obtaining a qualification and a minimum of three years experience you may be registered as an engineering practitioner in the following professional registration categories: Professional Engineer (Pr Eng)

How much do candidate engineers earn in South Africa?

Candidate Engineer Salaries

Job TitleSalary
ArcelorMittal Candidate Engineer salaries – 3 salaries reportedZAR 44,895/mo
Sasol Candidate Engineer salaries – 1 salaries reportedZAR 537,163/yr
Exxaro Candidate Engineer salaries – 1 salaries reportedZAR 30,299/mo

Can you be an engineer without a degree?

Although becoming an engineer without a college degree is indeed possible, you still need to graduate high school to be on your way to an engineering career.

Is a professional engineering license worth it in South Africa ?

There are many benefits of becoming a PE engineer. Considered the highest standard of competence for the engineering profession, Professional Engineering certification not only raises one’s stature in the field, but also shows that the individual has higher levels of authority and responsibility.

Which engineering has highest salary in South Africa?

Top 10 Highest Paying Engineering Jobs In South Africa

Nuclear Engineer.

Mechanical Engineer.

Civil Engineer.

Agricultural Engineer.

Biomechanical Engineer.

Software Engineer. Average salary -R531,666 per year.

Electronic Engineer. Average salary -R524,115 per year.

Systems Engineer. Average salary -R509,393 per year.

Do professional engineers get paid more in South Africa ?

With this comes more financial security and in their Engineering Income and Salary Survey, the NSPE found that, on average, licensed engineers earned R 73854.20 more a year than non-licensed professionals.

How much do professional engineers earn?

Respondents in the Education and training industry reported the highest average wage with a median total package of $203,954, followed by engineers in Gas supply and Information Media and telecommunications with packages of R 2830462.08 and R 2537689.27respectively.