Licensed Surveyors Registration Regulations 1990

The Regulations are structured around three core operational concepts: (1) professional training agreements; (2) the examinations and evidence trail to a certificate of competency and licence; and (3) professional indemnity insurance as a gate to practising. Each is defined and constrained by specific procedural rules.

Professional training agreement. Defined in regulation 3 and regulated in Part 2 (regulations 4-9). A professional training agreement is the vehicle for the field service element required under section 9(1)(b) of the Act (regulation 4(1)(a)). The Regulations prescribe: the default 24‑month period (regulation 4(1)(b)); eligibility of the supervising surveyor (natural person, licensed for at least two years, reg 4(3)); eligibility of the trainee (possession or entitlement to an educational award recognised by the Board, reg 4(4)); a limit on one new agreement per supervising surveyor per 12 months and a cap of two concurrent trainees without Board approval (regulation 4(5)); content requirement that the agreement specify the training to be provided (regulation 4(6)); the requirement to lodge a copy with the Board within six months and pay the fee (regulation 5(1), Schedule 1 item 1); a register is maintained by the secretary (regulation 6); transfer/assignment rules including fee (regulation 7, Schedule 1 item 2); Board power to reduce the period (minimum 6 months) on demonstrable prior experience (regulation 8); and Board power to extend field service where training is unsatisfactory (regulation 9).

Examinations and progression rules. Part 3 sets the required written, practical/project, field and oral components (regulation 10(1)(a)-(c)), and links eligibility to having lodged projects and completed the filed service and Form 1 certificate (regulation 10(4)-(5)). The Board may grant credits for equivalent qualifications or reciprocal jurisdictions (regulations 10(2), 11, 12). Practical rules include requirements to provide one’s own instruments and a non‑surveyor field assistant for certain field exams (regulation 13(5)) and authority to disqualify for improper conduct (regulation 13(6)). Forms for certification are prescribed (Form 1, Form 2, etc; regulations 14, Schedule 2).

Professional indemnity insurance (PII). Part 5 (regulations 18F-18M) creates a tightly defined compliance regime for PII. A “complying policy” must be professional indemnity insurance covering civil liability including professional negligence in connection with practising as a licensed surveyor, must be on a claims‑made or notified basis (regulation 18G(2)-(3)), provide minimum cover of $2 million per claim inclusive of claimant’s and defence costs (regulation 18G(4)), and provide additional coverage appropriate to the value of the work (regulation 18G(5)). Evidence of coverage is mandatory on issue or renewal of a practising certificate (regulation 18I(1)-(5)), and a practising certificate holder must not make authorised surveys unless covered (regulation 18J). The employer may hold the policy (regulation 18H) but a certificate of currency must be accompanied by written employer confirmation if so held (regulation 18H(3)). The Board may order written notice and a certificate of currency, and may suspend practising certificates where it reasonably believes the holder is not covered (regulations 18L-18M). Civil penalties in the Regulations are limited to fines (eg $1,000 in regulations 18J, 18K and 18L for particular contraventions).

Other concepts. Forms and fees are prescribed in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 and are part of the compliance chain. Reg 18A prescribes “standard periods” (1, 2 and 3 years) for the statutory definition of that term in section 3(1) of the Act. Transitional and savings provisions preserve existing agreements and partially completed courses/exams under the repealed regulations (regulation 21).

Together these concepts map the permitted path from educational qualification through supervised field experience, examination and Board registration to licensed practice, with PII inserted as an ongoing precondition to practising and to performing authorised surveys.

The Regulations affect several distinct groups through different mechanisms and obligations:

• Trainees and graduates seeking a certificate of competency. Prospective entrants who have or are entitled to an academic qualification recognised by the Board must enter a registered professional training agreement and generally serve 24 months of field service unless the Board reduces that period under regulation 8 (regulations 4(4), 4(1)(b), 8). They must ensure their supervising surveyor files the agreement with the Board within six months (regulation 5(1)) and must lodge projects and a Form 1 certificate of field service to be eligible for certain examinations (regulation 10(4)-(5); Form 1 in Schedule 2).

• Supervising surveyors. A supervising surveyor must be a natural person who has been a licensed surveyor for at least two years (regulation 4(3)), may not enter more than one professional training agreement in any 12‑month period nor have more than two trainees concurrently without Board approval (regulation 4(5)), and must sign off the Form 1 certificate of professional training (Schedule 2). Supervising surveyors therefore choose whether to take trainees, subject to Board approval if beyond the caps.

• Licensed surveyors applying for or holding a practising certificate. Part 5 creates ongoing regulatory obligations: an applicant for issue or renewal must supply evidence that they will be covered by a complying policy for the whole period the practising certificate is in force and the Board must be satisfied of that (regulation 18I(1)-(5); regulation 18B(1) cross‑refers to evidence in regulation 18I). Holders must not make authorised surveys unless covered by a complying policy (regulation 18J) and must notify the Board if not covered (regulation 18K). The Board may require written notice and a certificate of currency and may suspend practising certificates where it reasonably believes a holder lacks cover (regulations 18L-18M). Practising certificate fees are set out in Schedule 1 items 8-11 and include differentiated first‑year rates depending on date of issue (Schedule 1 item 8).

• Employers who engage licensed surveyors. The Regulations allow an employer to hold the complying policy for a surveyor (regulation 18H(2)), but if the employer holds the policy the certificate of currency provided to the Board must be accompanied by written confirmation from the employer that the individual is covered (regulation 18H(3)). This makes employers potentially responsible for maintaining cover for engaged surveyors and for producing documentary evidence to the Board.

• Insurers and brokers who underwrite professional indemnity risks for surveyors. The Regulations set minimum structural features for policies (claims‑made/notification mechanics, minimum $2 million per claim inclusive of costs, and additional coverage proportionate to the value of work , regulation 18G(3)-(5)). Insurers decide premium and underwriting terms in light of these baselines, and may be asked to supply certificates of currency.

• The Licensing Board, secretary and administrative staff. The Board exercises multiple discretionary decisions (registering agreements, approving transfers, reducing/ extending training periods, granting credits for equivalents or reciprocal exams, accepting evidence for practising certificates, ordering certificates of currency and suspending certificates on a reasonable belief) (eg regulations 5(2), 7, 8, 9, 10(2), 11-12, 18I(5), 18L, 18M). The secretary must maintain the register of professional training agreements (regulation 6).

• Users of survey services, claimants and clients. While not addressees of filing or fee obligations, clients are affected by the insurance requirement because coverage and minimum limits apply to the liability profile of surveyors doing authorised surveys (regulation 18G; regulation 18J notes a practising certificate is also required under section 16(3a) and (4) of the Act).

Financially, individuals and employers bear the direct costs of fees in Schedule 1 (for registration of agreements, exams, licence applications and practising certificates) and insurance premium costs linked to the minimum cover and the need for “appropriate” additional cover based on the value of work (regulation 18G(5); Schedule 1 items 1, 3, 7-9). Administratively, trainees and supervising surveyors bear compliance tasks: signed agreements, lodging projects, Form 1, and ensuring Board notifications. The Board bears decision and enforcement burdens; insurers bear the underwriting risk of extending cover compatible with the Regulations’ coverage mechanics.

Duties

• Enter and register professional training agreements. Parties must perform the required field service under a professional training agreement (regulation 4(1)(a)), lodge a copy with the Board within six months (regulation 5(1)), and pay the fee (Schedule 1 item 1). Supervising surveyors must ensure they meet eligibility (licensed for at least two years, reg 4(3)) and respect caps on trainees and new agreements without Board approval (reg 4(5)).

• Provide specified examination evidence. Candidates must lodge projects set by the Board before eligibility for field tests or oral exams (regulation 10(4)). They must file a completed certificate of field service in the form of Form 1 before sitting the general oral examination (regulation 10(5); Form 1 in Schedule 2).

• Meet registration and licence application requirements. Applications for registration and licence under section 7 must be in Form 3 and accompanied by age evidence, certificate of competency, two testimonials, statutory declaration evidence under section 7(c), and the fee (regulation 15(1)-(2); Schedule 1 item 7 for the licence application fee). Applicants from reciprocating jurisdictions must supply evidence of authorisation to practise, absence of disciplinary proceedings, testimonials and competency evidence (regulation 16).

• Maintain and evidence professional indemnity insurance. Applicants for issue or renewal of a practising certificate must supply evidence they will be covered by a complying policy for the whole period the certificate is in force (regulation 18I(1)-(5)). Holders must not make authorised surveys without coverage (regulation 18J) and must notify the Board if not covered (regulation 18K). If the Board orders notice and a certificate of currency, the holder must comply (regulation 18L). The Board must suspend practising certificates if it reasonably believes the holder is not covered (regulation 18M).

• Provide instruments and a field assistant for certain practical exams. A person sitting for a field examination must supply their own instruments and one field assistant who is not and has not been a licensed surveyor or a person who has previously passed that examination (regulation 13(5)).

Rights and discretionary protections

• Right to Board consideration and credits. The Board may grant credits for equivalent examinations or qualifications and may credit reciprocal exams from stated reciprocating States and countries (regulations 10(2), 11, 12). The Board may reduce the required period of professional training on evidence of practical experience (regulation 8) but cannot reduce it below six months (regulation 8(4)).

• Procedural protections in refusal and refund. Where the Board refuses to register a professional training agreement it ceases to have effect (regulation 5(3)), and where the Board refuses to allow a person to sit for an examination the Board must refund fees or place them to the applicant’s credit (regulation 13(4)). The Board may also refund examination fees where an applicant withdraws (regulation 13(3)).

• Right to a replacement certificate. If a certificate or licence is lost or destroyed, the Board may issue a replacement on payment of the relevant fee (regulation 18E(1); Schedule 1 item 6).

• Reasonableness standard for Board belief. The Board’s powers to suspend (regulation 18M(1)) and to terminate suspension (regulation 18M(3)) operate on the standard that the Board “reasonably believes” the holder is not/is covered. The Regulations set out specific circumstances that may give rise to that reasonable belief (regulation 18M(2)(a)-(c)), but the discretionary trigger is fact dependent.

Operational obligations are therefore both documentary and behavioural: keep and supply certificates of currency, comply with Board orders, lodge training agreements and project work, and ensure eligibility requirements are met. Rights are primarily administrative: opportunities for credit, Board‑ordered reductions of training length, refunds, and the procedural avenue of Board approval for exceptions (transfers of agreements; supervising surveyor caps).

Monetary fines and administrative sanctions are the principal enforcement tools in the Regulations, supplemented by the Board’s administrative powers to register, refuse, suspend and reinstate licences and practising certificates.

Monetary penalties and offences

• Making authorised surveys without complying policy: regulation 18J creates a specific offence with a penalty of a fine of $1,000. The regulation is supplemented by a note that a person must also be a licensed surveyor and hold a practising certificate under relevant Act sections (regulation 18J note referencing section 16(3a) and (4) of the Act).

• Failure to notify Board when practising certificate holder is not covered: regulation 18K imposes a fine of $1,000 for failure to give written notice that the holder is not covered by a complying policy.

• Failure to comply with a Board order requiring notice and certificate of currency: regulation 18L(2) imposes a fine of $1,000 for non‑compliance.

These fines are modest in absolute terms relative to likely insurance premiums, liability exposure, and professional discipline stakes. The Regulations do not prescribe criminal sanctions beyond fines of the kinds stated, nor do they set escalating or continuing penalties in these provisions.

Administrative enforcement

• Registration refusal and cessation: regulation 5(2) permits the Board to refuse to register a training agreement if the trainee is ineligible or the proposed training is unsatisfactory; regulation 5(3) treats such a refusal as terminating the agreement’s efficacy under these Regulations.

• Disqualification from sitting or continuing an examination: an examiner may disqualify a candidate if their conduct is improper and likely to affect the conduct of the examination (regulation 13(6)).

• Suspension of practising certificates: regulation 18M imposes a mandatory power on the Board to suspend a practising certificate if the Board reasonably believes the holder is not covered by a complying policy (regulation 18M(1)). The regulation supplies enumerated factual circumstances that suffice to establish a reasonable belief (regulation 18M(2)(a)-(c)), including written admission by the holder that they are not covered, failure to produce a certificate of currency when ordered, or non‑compliance with a Board order regarding notice of coverage. The Board may terminate the suspension once it reasonably believes the holder is covered (regulation 18M(3)).

• Orders requiring evidence: regulation 18L permits the Board to require written notice and a certificate of currency, with a statutory obligation to comply (regulation 18L(2)). Non‑compliance attracts the fine above.

Practical enforcement features and implications

• The Board’s decisions on registration, acceptance of evidence and suspension rest on standards of opinion and “reasonable belief” rather than judicial thresholds. Regulations give the Board broad discretion to decide whether training, evidence of competency or proposed insurance arrangements are satisfactory (eg regulations 5(2)(b), 8(3), 10(2), 18I(5)). That creates implementation risk for practitioners where the Board requires further documentary evidence or declines registrations or renewals.

• Monetary fines are small but administrative actions (suspension) carry immediate professional consequences: a suspended practising certificate will prevent authorised surveys and may trigger wider professional discipline or commercial consequences for the holder and their employer (regulation 18M).

• The Board’s power to suspend without a prior administrative hearing is triggered by the Board’s reasonable belief; the Regulations do not prescribe an appeal or review pathway within the instrument (appeal mechanisms would need to be sought in the Act, general administrative law or other statutes).

• The requirement that an insurer’s certificate of currency be provided and, where employer‑held, be accompanied by employer confirmation, gives the Board documentary means to verify coverage and to enforce suspension where documentary evidence is lacking (regulation 18H(3), 18I(3)-(4), 18L).

In short, enforcement combines modest pecuniary penalties for non‑notification and non‑compliance with more consequential administrative sanctions tied to Board discretion over certificates of competency and practising certificates.

The Regulations operate as subsidiary law under the Licensed Surveyors Act 1909 and link specific procedural obligations back to statutory sections. The text repeatedly cites provisions of the Act and thus prescribes the manner in which statutory preconditions are to be satisfied. Key interactions are:

Primary statute , Licensed Surveyors Act 1909. The Regulations implement and give effect to procedural and documentary details referenced in the Act. Examples in the text:

• Professional training agreements implement the field service requirement in section 9(1)(b) of the Act (regulation 4(1)(a)). The Regulations specify the format, duration and registration process for agreements that satisfy that statutory field service requirement.

• Certificates of competency are issued under section 9(1) of the Act and by regulation 14 are set out in Form 2. Applications for registration and licence are made under section 7 of the Act and regulation 15 prescribes Form 3 and supporting documents (regulation 15(1)-(2)). Regulation 16 prescribes supporting evidence for applicants licensed in reciprocating States or countries under section 7.

• Practising certificate processes link to section 11A/11B of the Act: regulation 18B(3) requires evidence that requirements of section 11B have been complied with when renewing, and regulation 18B(1) requires evidence referred to in regulation 18I be supplied when applying for issue or renewal of a practising certificate.

• Regulation 18J’s note cross‑references section 16(3a) and (4) of the Act for the additional requirement that a person must be a licensed surveyor and holder of a practising certificate to make authorised surveys.

Administrative law and judicial review. The Board’s discretionary functions to accept or refuse agreements, to grant credits, to order evidence, or to suspend practising certificates will in practice be subject to general administrative law controls (eg reasonableness, procedural fairness). The Regulations themselves do not set out internal appeals or review procedures. Where the Board exercises discretion there may be scope for administrative review under statutes such as the State Administrative Tribunal Act (not referenced in the Regulations), or judicial review in superior courts, but those routes and timeframes are outside the text of the Regulations.

Insurance law and corporations law. The PII requirements interact operationally with insurance law (contract formation, claims‑made vs occurrence policies, run‑off/run‑on coverage, certificates of currency), and for employer‑held policies with corporations law where an employer is a corporate entity that holds and manages insurance for employees and contractors. The Regulations require written employer confirmation where an employer holds the policy (regulation 18H(3)), producing documentary interplay with employer record keeping and possibly employment contracts.

Other Acts and professional regulatory regimes. The Regulations prescribe evidence and conduct for registration and practise that may also intersect with other professional or land‑use statutes (eg dealing with cadastral survey standards, land titles acts) and with occupational health and safety duties. Those interactions are not spelled out in the Regulations; the instrument assumes the Board enforces surveying professional requirements distinct from any other statutory regime.

Fees and financial regulations. The Schedule 1 fees tie in to public finance and fee‑collection mechanisms managed by the Board; fee quantum and collection timing may interact with broader public sector charging rules and audit obligations.

Transitional and repealed instruments. Regulation 20 repeals the earlier Regulations for the Examination and Registration of Licensed Surveyors and regulation 21(1) preserves existing field service agreements and partially completed courses/exams, thereby interacting administratively with previous regulatory regimes.

In short, the Regulations operationalise statutory duties from the Licensed Surveyors Act 1909 and create documentary/insurance thresholds that will interact with insurance contracts, employment arrangements and general administrative law. They do not themselves create standalone appeal mechanisms or cross‑reference every potentially relevant statutory regime; that leaves practical cross‑statutory interplay to be navigated by practitioners and the Board.

The compilation table and notes attached to the Regulations provide a clear chronology of amendments and reprints. Key points from the source are:

• The Regulations were originally published as the Licensed Surveyors Registration Regulations 1990 and commenced on 1 March 1990 (regulation 2; compilation table first entry). The citation was later changed to Licensed Surveyors (Licensing and Registration) Regulations 1990 (note under r. 1).

• The instrument has been amended across multiple years, with entries in the compilation table documenting:

  • 1991 Amendment Regulations (commencing 10 January 1992),
  • 1994 Amendment Regulations (commencing 20 May 1994),
  • 1997 Amendment Regulations (Gazette 4 April 1997; commencement 5 April 1997) which introduced several changes including insertion of headings and forms (see heading inserts across Parts),
  • 2002 Amendment Regulations (commencing 2 August 2002),
  • 2004 Amendment Regulations (22 June 2004),
  • 2009 Amendment Regulations (commencing 1-2 September 2009 depending on provision),
  • 2014 Amendment Regulations (commencing 15 July 2014 and 1 September 2014 for other regs),
  • 2017 Amendment Regulations (commencing 23 June/1 July 2017),
  • 2023 Amendment Regulations SL 2023/149 (commencing 22 Sep 2023 for r. 1-2, and 1 Oct 2023 for other regulations),
  • 2024 Amendment Regulations SL 2024/216 (published 18 Oct 2024; staged commencements with some regs effective 1 Nov 2024 and r. 11 effective 1 Jan 2025).

• Specific insertions and changes are recorded in the body text. For example:

  • Heading insertions and amendments to forms or parts are noted (eg [Heading inserted: SL 2024/216 r. 4.] at the head of Part 1; [Regulation 18D inserted: Gazette 4 Apr 1997 p. 1763; amended: SL 2024/216 r. 9.]).
  • The professional indemnity insurance Part and associated regulations (18F-18M) are additions dated to the 2024 amendment package (the Part 5 heading inserted: SL 2024/216 r. 10; regulations 18F-18M inserted by SL 2024/216 r. 10-11).
  • Schedule 1 was updated by SL 2023/149 r. 4 and further amended by SL 2024/216 r. 14 , Schedule 1 now lists contemporary fees with itemised amounts (e.g. registration fee $53.25; practising certificate fees item 8).

• Forms and standard periods. Regulation 18A (standard periods of one, two and three years) was inserted by Gazette 4 Apr 1997 p. 1762; Forms 6 and 7 and Form 2 amendment dates are recorded in text (Forms 6 and 7 inserted 1997; Form 2 amended SL 2024/216 r. 15).

• Repeals and transitional provisions. Regulation 20 expressly repeals the prior Regulations (the Regulations for the Examination and Registration of Licensed Surveyors), and regulation 21 provides savings and transition for agreements or examinations in progress at commencement.

The compilation table functions as the authoritative list of published amendments and commencement dates. Practitioners should note staged commencements within amendments (some provisions in a amendments package took effect on different dates) and confirm which version of a provision applies at any given time by referring to the compilation table entries and Gazette notices cited in the Regulations.

The Regulations and attached compilation table, as provided, do not include or cite any case law or judicial decisions. The source contains no references to litigation, judicial interpretation, appeals, or tribunal decisions concerning the meaning or operation of these Regulations. It names no cases.

Implication for practitioners: there is no litigation history recorded in the instrument itself to guide interpretation of discretionary standards such as the Board’s “satisfaction” or “reasonable belief” thresholds (for example in regulations 5(2), 8(3), 18I(5) and 18M). That means practitioners and advisors must rely on the ordinary meaning of the text, the Act’s provisions, and general administrative law principles as applied in external jurisprudence. Where contested matters such as denial of registration of a training agreement or suspension of a practising certificate arise, the Regulations do not contain built‑in appeal or review processes; recourse would therefore be to the general statutory or judicial review mechanisms available under Western Australian administrative law, or any appeal pathways established under the parent Act or other statutes. The absence of in‑text litigation references also means policy or enforcement ambiguities will likely be resolved in future cases rather than by precedents cited in the Regulations.

If a legal challenge were to arise (for example over the Board’s refusal to register an agreement, suspension based on insurance lack, or crediting of overseas qualifications), the issues likely to be litigated would be statutory interpretation of the Act and Regulations, procedural fairness in Board decision‑making, and the adequacy of documentary evidence (certificates of currency, Form 1s, testimonials). Because no cases are cited, the Regulations do not themselves construe these standards.

Practical pitfalls and traps that commonly lead to compliance failures under these Regulations can be identified from the text. They are procedural, documentary and evidential in nature.

• Missed lodgement deadline for professional training agreements. The copy of a professional training agreement must be forwarded to the Board within six months of execution (regulation 5(1)). If not lodged the Board could find the training non‑registered; if the Board refuses registration the agreement “ceases to have effect for the purposes of these regulations” (regulation 5(3)). Practical consequence: trainees and supervising surveyors should file promptly and keep evidence of the date of lodgement.

• Supervising surveyor eligibility and caps. Supervising surveyors must be natural persons licensed for at least two years (regulation 4(3)). They are restricted to entering one new professional training agreement in any 12‑month period and to supervising no more than two trainees simultaneously without Board approval (regulation 4(5)). Failure to obtain Board approval where required could invalidate an agreement or lead to non‑registration.

• Form 1 requirement gating oral exam eligibility. Candidates must submit the completed certificate of field service in Form 1 to be eligible for the general oral examination (regulation 10(5); Form 1). If the supervising surveyor’s sign‑off or entries are incomplete, the candidate may be disqualified from sitting.

• Projects and sequencing. Practical and field tests are gated: a candidate is not eligible for certain field or oral examinations until they have lodged the projects set by the Board (regulation 10(4)). Missed or late project lodgement delays examination progression.

• Examination practicalities. For field examinations the candidate must supply their own instruments and a field assistant who is not and has not been a licensed surveyor or a person who has passed that examination (regulation 13(5)). Procuring a compliant assistant and appropriate equipment is an operational requirement that may be overlooked.

• Insurance documentary standards and employer‑held policies. For issue/renewal of practising certificates, evidence must establish that the applicant will be covered by a complying policy for the whole period the practising certificate is in force (regulation 18I(1)). If the complying policy is held by an employer, a certificate of currency must be accompanied by written confirmation from the employer that the person is covered (regulation 18H(3)). Gotcha scenarios include: (a) a certificate of currency provided without explicit employer confirmation; (b) a “claims‑occurrence” policy or a policy without appropriate run‑off/notification mechanics that does not meet regulation 18G(3); (c) a policy with limits below the $2 million per claim minimum (regulation 18G(4)); and (d) absence of coverage for defence costs where the policy is not explicitly inclusive, despite regulation 18G(4) requiring inclusivity.

• Claims‑made vs occurrence confusion. Regulation 18G(3) requires cover for “claims made or notified during the period of insurance” and for “claims made after the period of insurance arising from circumstances notified during the period of insurance”. This requires careful attention to policy wording, retroactive dates, and run‑off terms. Practitioners relying on occurrence‑based policies should ensure their policy wording and certificate of currency actually meet the claims‑made/notification requirements in practice.

• Board’s discretionary standards. Several Board actions are subject to a standard of the Board being “satisfied” or having a “reasonable belief” (eg regulations 5(2), 8(3), 10(2), 18I(5), 18M(1)). Those standards are fact‑dependent and leave scope for differing Board practice, meaning applicants may face uncertainty about what will be accepted as satisfactory evidence.

• Small statutory fines but significant practical consequences. Monetary fines for non‑notification or making authorised surveys without complying policy are modest ($1,000 for the offences in regulations 18J, 18K, 18L). However, suspension of a practising certificate under regulation 18M can have immediate practical and commercial consequences well beyond the nominal fines.

• Fee timing and quantum traps. Practising certificate fees have differential first‑year amounts depending on whether issued before or after 1 September (Schedule 1 item 8(a)(i)-(ii)). In addition, renewal fees and late or expedited processing fees have specific items (Schedule 1 items 8-10). Incorrect fee payment or timing could result in applications not being processed or delayed.

• Transfer/assignment mechanics. Assignment of a professional training agreement requires consent of all parties and Board approval plus payment of a fee (regulation 7). Failure to obtain Board approval for an assignment may leave an arrangement outside the regulatory framework.

• The Regulations do not specify appeal procedure. If the Board refuses registration or suspends a practising certificate, the Regulations themselves do not set an internal appeals mechanism; remedies will require recourse to the Act, general statutory review mechanisms or judicial review.

Being attentive to lodgement deadlines, accurate completion of forms (Forms 1-7), employer confirmation where policies are employer‑held, policy wording consistent with regulation 18G(3)-(5) and prompt response to Board orders will avoid the most common compliance pitfalls.

A practical checklist, rooted in the Regulations’ requirements, for trainees, supervising surveyors, licensed surveyors and employers:

For trainees (applying for a certificate of competency)

1. Confirm academic eligibility. Ensure you have obtained or are entitled to be awarded an educational qualification recognised by the Board (regulation 4(4)).

2. Enter a written professional training agreement with an eligible supervising surveyor (regulation 4(2)-(3)). Ensure the agreement specifies the training to be provided (regulation 4(6)).

3. Register the agreement with the Board. Forward a copy to the Board within six months of execution and pay the fee in Schedule 1 item 1 ($53.25 as listed) (regulation 5(1); Schedule 1).

4. Maintain accurate records of field service and ensure the supervising surveyor completes Form 1 (certificate of professional training) with detailed experience entries required by Form 1. Lodge projects set by the Board before attempting field or oral exams (regulation 10(4)-(5); Form 1).

5. Provide your own instruments and a compliant field assistant for field examinations (regulation 13(5)). Be aware of rules about assistants who are not former licensed surveyors or prior passers of the same exam.

For supervising surveyors

1. Verify your eligibility to supervise (natural person and licensed for at least two years, reg 4(3)).

2. Respect caps and seek Board approval before exceeding them. Do not enter more than one professional training agreement in any 12 months or supervise more than two concurrent trainees without Board approval (regulation 4(5)). If you need to assign an agreement, obtain consent and Board approval and pay Schedule 1 item 2 ($53.25) (regulation 7; Schedule 1).

3. File the agreement and any transfers promptly and ensure trainees’ Form 1s are signed and accurate (regulations 5, 6, Form 1).

For licensed surveyors applying for or renewing practising certificates

1. Insurance evidence: obtain a complying policy as defined in regulation 18G:

   • Covers civil liability including professional negligence related to practising as a licensed surveyor (regulation 18G(2));
   • Written to cover claims made or notified during the policy period and claims made after the period arising from circumstances notified during the period (regulation 18G(3));
   • Minimum $2 million per claim inclusive of claimant’s and defence costs (regulation 18G(4));
   • Additional coverage tailored to the value of the work (regulation 18G(5)).

2. Documentary evidence on application/renewal: supply either a valid certificate of currency covering the whole practising certificate period or a certificate of currency for current/commencing cover plus a written undertaking to ensure coverage for the whole practising certificate period (regulation 18I(2)-(4)). The Board will not issue or renew unless it reasonably believes the applicant will be covered for the whole period (regulation 18I(5)).

3. Employer‑held policies: if your employer holds the complying policy, ensure the employer provides a written confirmation that you are covered accompanying the certificate of currency (regulation 18H(3)). Keep copies of written confirmations.

4. Keep coverage continuous and evidence readily accessible. If you cease to be covered you must give written notice to the Board (regulation 18K), and be prepared to respond to any Board order under regulation 18L requiring notice and a certificate of currency.

5. Avoid doing authorised surveys without coverage. A practising certificate holder must not make or attempt to make an authorised survey unless covered by a complying policy (regulation 18J). Non‑compliance exposes you to a $1,000 fine and potential suspension under regulation 18M.

For employers

1. If you choose to hold the complying policy, ensure that you maintain a certificate of currency that shows the individual is covered and supply written confirmation when the employee/contractor supplies the certificate to the Board (regulation 18H(3)).

2. Ensure policy wording complies with regulation 18G’s claims notification and minimum limit requirements; pay attention to retroactive dates, run‑off and defence costs inclusions.

Administrative steps for everyone

• Maintain careful documentary evidence: dated lodgement receipts for training agreement registration, copies of projects and Form 1 sign‑offs, certificates of competency (Form 2), licence (Form 4), practising certificate (Form 7), letters of accreditation (Form 5), and certificates of currency.

• Budget for fees shown in Schedule 1. Note practising certificate fee timing distinctions: first year fees differ if issued before or after 1 September (Schedule 1 item 8(a)(i)-(ii)), and renewal fees and late‑renewal handling fees are specified (Schedule 1 items 8-10).

• Respond promptly to Board orders. Regulation 18L gives the Board power to require written notice and a certificate of currency within a specified period; non‑compliance attracts a fine of $1,000 and may lead the Board to form a reasonable belief under regulation 18M and suspend the practising certificate.

• If refused registration or renewal, document the Board’s reasons and seek procedural advice about review avenues. The Regulations themselves require refunds of exam fees where the Board refuses a person permission to sit (regulation 13(4)), so keep evidence of refunds or credits.

• Align insurance procurement with regulation 18G. When negotiating policies, require insurers to provide certificates of currency that explicitly cover claims as required, confirm defence costs are included in the limit or otherwise, and specify retroactive dates and run‑off where relevant.

• When assigning or transferring professional training agreements, follow regulation 7: obtain consent of all parties, Board approval and pay the Schedule 1 fee.

Following these steps will address the documentary and substantive preconditions the Regulations impose for training, examination, licensure and practising. Keep a local compliance folder that pairs each practitioner’s Form 1/Form 2/Form 3/Form 6/Form 7 and insurance certificates with the Board’s correspondence, and record lodgement dates and fees to avoid the procedural “gotchas” identified above.