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Professional Competency

Council of Engineers Thailand set out the professional competence framework for engineering practice in each license classes of professional practice. There are four generic areas of competence broadly covering:

Engineering Knowledge and Technology.
Experience and Skill in Practice.
Professional Leadership and Management.
Awareness on Society, Public and Environment.

Complying with the APECEA competency requirements, each of the four areas of professional competency is further described and matching with APECEA competency as followings

1. Engineering Knowledge and Technology:

Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimize the application of existing and emerging technology for professional practice.
1.1 Comprehend and apply advanced knowledge of the widely-applied principles underpinning good practice
1.2 Comprehend and apply advanced knowledge of the widely-applied principles underpinning good practice specific to the jurisdiction in which he/she practices

2. Experience and Skill in Practice:

Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems and of professional development.
2.1 Define, investigate, and analyse complex problems.
2.2 Design or develop solutions to complex problems.
2.3 Evaluate the outcomes and impacts of complex activities
2.4 Undertake CPD activities sufficient to maintain and extend his or her competence.
2.5 Recognize complexity and assess alternatives in light of competing requirements and incomplete knowledge. Exercise sound judgement in the course of his or her complex activities.

3. Professional Leadership and Management:

Professional leadership, management, and professional service
3.1 Conduct his or her activities ethically
3.2 Manage part or all of one or more complex activities.
3.3 Communicate clearly with others in the course of his or her activities.
3.4 Be responsible for making decisions on part or all of complex activities

4. Awareness on Society, Public and Environment:

Recognition of responsibility to professional practice, society, public and environment.
4.1 Recognize the reasonably foreseeable social, cultural, and environmental effects of complex activities generally, and have regard to the need for sustainability; recognize that the protection of society is the highest priority.
4.2 Meet all legal and regulatory requirements and protect public health and safety in the course of his or her activities.

The detailed explanation of each competence area is given for further identifying of the activities that may be quoted to demonstrate the required competence and some guideline examples and/or commitment of disciplines of his/her practice.

1. Engineering Knowledge and Technology

Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimize the application of existing and emerging technology for professional practice

Competence Explanation

1.1 Comprehend and apply advanced knowledge of the widely-applied principles underpinning good practice.

  • Identify the limits of own personal knowledge in basic specific and advanced engineering.
  • Strive to extend own technological capability of existing new and advancing, and emerging technology.
  • Broaden and deepen own knowledge base through research and experimentation for good practice.
  • Investigate and research for performance evaluation for best practice.

1.2 Comprehend and apply advanced knowledge of the widely applied principles underpinning good practice specific to the jurisdiction in which he/she practices.

  • Identify the scope of work and the responsibility in professional practice as specified in his or her jurisdiction. (Engineer Act., Ministerial Regulation)
  • Comprehend and strive responsible charge of relevant law and regulation.
  • Undertake the applied principles of knowledge and technology for best practice.

Guideline activities to demonstrate the intended competence

  • Engage in formal post-graduate academic study.
  • Learn and develop new engineering theories and techniques in the workplace.
  • Broaden your knowledge of engineering codes, standards, and specifications.
  • Lead manage market research, product and process research and development.
  • Cross-disciplinary working involving complex projects.
  • Conduct statistically sound appraisal of data.
  • Use evidence from best practice to improve effectiveness.

2. Experience and Skill in Practice

Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems and of professional development

Competence Explanation

2.1 Define, investigate, and analyse complex problems.

  • Explore the territory within own responsibility and complexity in professional practices.
  • Review the potential for enhancing engineering products, processes, systems, and services.
  • Access the viability of engineering solutions of complex problems.

2.2 Design or develop solutions to complex problems.

  • Identify and agree upon alternatives for solution of complex problems with appropriate tests and evaluation on the basis of necessary resources.
  • Collect, analyse and evaluate the relevant data to draft, present and agree on design recommendations, taking account of cost, quality, safety, reliability, and fitness for purpose and environmental impact.
  • Undertake engineering design solution for further improvement of good practice

2.3 Evaluate the outcomes and impacts of complex activities.

  • Ensure that the application of the design results in the appropriate practical outcome.
  • Implement design solutions, taking account of critical constraints and evaluating the design solution against the original specification.
  • Actively learn from feedback on results to improve future design solutions and build best practice.

2.4 Undertake continuing professional development (CPD) activities sufficient to maintain and extend his or her competence.

  • Undertake reviews of own development needs for the position and responsibility.
  • Prepare action plans to meet personal and organizational objectives.
  • Carry out planned (and unplanned) CPD activities relevant to each individual and the organization.
  • Maintain evidence of competence development for the position and responsibility.
  • Evaluate CPD outcomes against the action plans for further improvement.

2.5 Recognize complexity and access alternatives in light of competing requirements and incomplete knowledge. Exercise sound judgement in the course of his or her complex activities.

  • Identify engineering solutions by the performance indicators leading to implementation covering critical constraint.
  • Implement design solution and evaluate their effectiveness of the appropriate outcome.
  • Determine criteria for evaluation of the design solutions.
  • Evaluate the design solutions conformance to the specification and term of reference.
  • Actively learned from feedback for further improvement and for the process of best practices.

Guideline activities to demonstrate the intended competence

  • Involvement in the marketing of and tendering for new engineering products, processes, and systems.
  • Involvement in the specification and procurement of new engineering products, processes and systems Set targets, and draft programs and action plans with schedule activities.

  • Carry out formal theoretical research. Carry out applied research on the jo and evaluate numerical and analytic tools.
  • Lead/manage value engineering and whole life costing.
  • Lead design teams, Draft specifications, Develop and test options. Identify resources and costs of options. Produce concept designs, and develop these into detailed designs.

  • Follow the design process through into product or service realization and its evaluation.
  • Prepare and present reports on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the designs.
  • Manage product improvement.
  • Interpret and analyse performance.
  • Determine critical success factors.

  • Keep up to date with national and international engineering issues.
  • Maintain CPD plans and records
  • Involvement with the affairs of your professional body.
  • Evidence of your development through on-job learning, private study, in-house courses, external courses, and conferences.


  • Follow the alternative process through into product or service realization and its evaluation.
  • Prepare and present reports on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the designs alternate
  • Determine critical factors of competing requirement for product improvement.

3. Professional Leadership and Management

Professional leadership, management, and professional service

Competence Explanation

3.1 Conduct his or her activities ethically.
Agree objectives and work plans with teams and individuals to meet changing techniques and management needs.

  • Identify team and individual needs, and plan for professional development in ethical conducts.
  • Lead and support team and individual in professional practices and development, ethically.
  • Assess team and individual performance, and provide feedback ethically.

3.2 Manage part or all of one or more complex activities.

  • Identify factors affecting the project implementation.
  • Lead on preparing and agreeing implementation plans and method statements.
  • Ensure that the necessary resources are secured and brief the project team.
  • Negotiate the necessary contractual arrangements with other stakeholders (client, subcontractors, suppliers, etc.).
  • Manage the quality assurance system in line of performance indicator and continuing professional development.

3.3 Communicate clearly with others in the course of his or her activities.

  • Understand the level of communication within the organization of policies strategic, and execution plan.
  • Manage the communication system at all levels with modern technology in presentation, meeting, reporting and documentation.
  • Collect and exchange information conflicts, and provide advice in technical or non-technical enhancing communication skill.
  • Lead and sustain debates with audience and feed the result back to improve the proposals.
  • Demonstrate personal and social skills in communication and beware of the needs and concerns of the others, where related to diversity and equality.

3.4 Be responsible for making decision on part or all of complex activities.

  • Take responsibility in conformance to or deem to satisfaction of the relevant code of conduct, code of service, and code of practice.
  • Lead the work with relevant legislation, regulations, and labor work issues.
  • Work plan to cover organization, human resource, budget, direction, and control.
  • Set up appropriate management system to accommodate quality assurance, appropriate budget, and legal statutory requirements.

Guideline activities to demonstrate the intended competence

  • Carry out/contribute to staff appraisals. Plan / contribute to the training and development of staff.
  • Gather evidence from colleagues of the management, assessment, and feedback that you have provided.
  • Carry out / contribute to disciplinary procedures.

  • Lead / manage project planning activities. Produce and implement procurement plans. Carry out project risk assessments.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders, and negotiate agreement to the plans.
  • Plan programmes and delivery of tasks. Identify resources and costs.
  • Negotiate and agree contracts / work orders.

  • Records of meetings. Evidence from colleagues of your personal and social skills.
  • Take responsibility for productive working relationships.
  • Apply diversity and anti-discrimination legislation

  • Take responsibility for and control project operations.
  • Manage the balance between quality, cost, and time. Satisfy legal and statutory obligations. Lead / manage tasks within identified financial, commercial, and regulatory constraints.

4. Awareness on Society, Public and Environment

Recognition of responsibility to professional practice, society, public and environment

Competence Explanation

4.1 Recognize the reasonable foreseeable social, cultural, and environmental effects of complex activities generally, and have regard to the need for sustainability, recognize that the protection of society is the highest priority.

  • Operate and act responsibly, taking account of the need to progress environmental, social, and economic outcomes, simultaneously.
  • Use creativity and innovation to provide products and services which maintain and enhance the quality of the environment and community.
  • Understand and secure stakeholder involvement in sustainable development.
  • Manage and apply safe systems of work compliance with code of conducts, safely and legislation requirements.

4.2 Meet all legal and regulatory requirements and protect public health and safety in the course of his or her activities.

Guideline activities to demonstrate the intended competence

  • Carry out environmental impact assessments (EIA).
  • Carry out environmental risk assessments.
  • Plan and implement best practice on environmental management systems, e.g., ISO 14000 and work within environmental law.
  • Adopt sustainable practices. Achieve “triple bottom line” (i.e., social, economic, and environmental) outcomes

  • Undertake formal Health & Safety training and work with Health & Safety laws and best practice. e.g., ISO1800
  • Carry out safety audits, identify and minimize hazards, assess, and control risks.
  • Evaluate the costs and benefits of safe working. Deliver strategic Health & Safety briefings and inductions