Surveyors Australia has launched a refreshed Certified Engineering Surveyor (CES) framework.

The new framework establishes a unified national competency standard for engineering surveyors, designed to mitigate ‘geometric risk’ and bolster the surveying workforce.

According to Surveyors Australia, the CES credential will provide a third-party verified benchmark of technical excellence.

The organisation says that, for engineering surveyors, it will validate expertise and ethical standing, while for clients and tier-one contractors it offers essential risk management and quality assurance.

Bridging the skills gap

Addressing the documented national skills shortage, as outlined in a BIS Oxford Economics report in 2023, the CES framework offers two certification pathways.

Pathway 1 aligns with local procurement standards by recognising Diploma-level and higher qualifications, while the time-limited Experienced Practitioner Pathway (closing December 2027) will enable veteran surveyors to prove their competency through a portfolio of five distinct projects and a technical interview.

Moving away from traditional ‘time-served’ models, the 2025–26 CES framework adopts a rigorous, evidence-based assessment.

Candidates must demonstrate proficiency across three core pillars:

• Survey control: Design and maintenance of traceable, fit-for-purpose networks.
• Detail and As-built survey: Identifying variances and providing technical advice to engineers.
• Data management: Adherence to BIM standards and secure data governance.

Professional development

By mandating Surveyors Australia membership, the CES framework ensures all certified professionals will be governed by a strict Code of Ethical Conduct and a 15-point annual CPD requirement.

To support this, Surveyors Australia hosts monthly engineering webinars specifically designed to assist members navigating the CES process or seeking to maintain their certification currency through relevant technical learning.

Engineering surveyors ready to formalise their expertise can begin the certification process, while industry stakeholders can verify surveyor credentials via the National Register of Certified Engineering Surveyors.

For guidance on the application process, comprehensive Application and Evidence Webinars (Part I & II) are now available.