The CDR summary statement is a table on Engineers Australia's template that shows, for each competency element, a brief note of how you applied it and the career episode paragraph numbers where the assessor can find the evidence. The CPD statement is a separate list of the learning you have done since graduating, such as courses, seminars and self-study. Both are short documents, but a weak summary statement can make good career episodes look incomplete.
This post explains the 16 Professional Engineer competency elements in plain words, how to cross-reference paragraphs, and how to set out a CPD list. It assumes you have read our posts on the Engineers Australia CDR process for Nepali engineers and how to write career episodes.
What the CDR summary statement does
EA requires you to download the summary statement template for your occupational category (Professional Engineer, Engineering Technologist, Engineering Associate or Engineering Manager), complete it and upload it. The Professional Engineer template has two columns for each element:
- A brief summary of how you have applied the element
- The paragraph number(s) in the career episodes where the element is addressed
You need only one summary statement for all three episodes. Every one of the 16 elements must be addressed at least once across the episodes. EA's earlier booklet also noted that you do not need to cover every indicator listed under an element. The Technologist and Associate templates use their own element codes and wording, so always work from the template for your category.
The three competency units
The 16 Professional Engineer competency elements in plain words
The titles below follow EA's Professional Engineer summary statement template (June 2025). The plain-word notes are our summary of the indicators in EA's Stage 1 competency standard. Read the full indicators in EA's documents before writing.
| Element | EA title | What it asks you to show |
|---|---|---|
| PE1.1 | Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline | You used basic science and engineering theory, such as soil mechanics or hydraulics, to understand and solve a problem. |
| PE1.2 | Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline | You used maths, statistics, modelling or software in a way that shows you understand what the numbers mean. |
| PE1.3 | In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline | You have deeper knowledge in at least one specialist area, for example structural design, highway engineering or water supply. |
| PE1.4 | Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline | You looked at current research, new methods or new technology and used what you found in your work. |
| PE1.5 | Knowledge of contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline | You considered how social, environmental, economic, safety and business factors affected the work, such as land acquisition, community concerns or monsoon timing. |
| PE1.6 | Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of contemporary engineering practice in the specific discipline | You worked within codes, standards, safety rules, risk management and sustainability principles, and you knew the limits of your role. |
| PE2.1 | Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving | You identified a real problem, analysed it with sound methods, weighed options and justified your solution. |
| PE2.2 | Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources | You chose and used the right tools, tests, materials and software competently, such as lab tests, survey instruments or design software. |
| PE2.3 | Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes | You followed a design process from requirements to checking the final design against them. |
| PE2.4 | Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects | You planned, scheduled, estimated or controlled part of a project, as a team member or leader. |
| PE3.1 | Ethical conduct and professional accountability | You acted honestly and responsibly, for example refusing substandard work, reporting a safety risk or following a code of ethics. |
| PE3.2 | Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains | You wrote reports or presented to engineers, and explained technical matters to clients, locals or workers. |
| PE3.3 | Creative, innovative and proactive demeanour | You suggested a better or new way of doing something and took the initiative to try it. |
| PE3.4 | Professional use and management of information | You found and checked information from reliable sources and kept records and documents under control. |
| PE3.5 | Orderly management of self and professional conduct | You managed your own time and priorities, reviewed your own work and kept learning. |
| PE3.6 | Effective team membership and team leadership | You worked well in a team, respected other views and led or supported others when needed. |
How to cross-reference paragraphs in the summary statement
Once your three episodes are final and numbered, read each paragraph and note which elements it shows. Then fill the template. The sample rows below show the layout only; the content is fictional.
| Element | A brief summary of how you have applied the element | Paragraph number(s) |
|---|---|---|
| PE1.1 | Applied soil mechanics to calculate safe bearing capacity for a hostel foundation from test pit results. | CE 1.8, CE 1.9 |
| PE2.1 | Found that drain scour came from undersized drains, compared two options and justified a masonry drain. | CE 2.9, CE 2.10 |
| PE2.4 | Prepared the work schedule and monthly progress reports for a ward office building. | CE 3.11, CE 3.14 |
| PE3.2 | Explained the road widening plan to landowners at a ward meeting and wrote the meeting minutes. | CE 2.15 |
Tips for this step:
- Point to specific paragraphs, not a whole episode.
- Write the brief summary in your own words; do not paste the paragraph again.
- Check that each referenced paragraph really shows the element. Assessors read the paragraph.
- Spread references across the three episodes where you can, so no element rests on one weak sentence.
- If an element has no paragraph, go back and add honest content to an episode. Do not invent work.
- Recheck every number after the last edit of the episodes, because inserting one paragraph shifts all the numbers after it.
How to write the CPD statement
EA's current booklet asks for a written statement that lists evidence of your continuing professional development. It does not give a fixed format. EA's earlier (March 2020) booklet asked for a table with the title, date, duration, venue and organiser, limited to one A4 page. That is still a sensible layout, but check the current booklet for any new rule.
Activities that usually count:
- Postgraduate study, such as a master's degree in progress
- Short courses and training, for example software training in structural or road design
- Seminars, workshops and conferences, including events run by the Nepal Engineers' Association (NEA) and its divisions
- Technical site visits and technical meetings
- Presenting at seminars or preparing training material
- Service to the profession, such as committee or volunteer work and mentoring
- Self-study of codes, books and journals, for example studying the National Building Code or preparing for the NEC licence exam
Sample layout (fictional entries, dates in AD):
| Title | Date | Duration | Venue or mode | Organiser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar on earthquake-resistant building design | 14 June 2024 | 1 day | Kathmandu | Nepal Engineers' Association |
| Training on road design software | 3 to 14 March 2025 | 40 hours | Lalitpur | Private training institute |
| Online course on slope stability | January to March 2025 | 30 hours | Online | University course platform |
| Self-study of NBC 105:2020 seismic design of buildings | April to May 2025 | 20 hours | Self-study | Self |
List only real activities you can support if asked. Use the Nepali date converter for certificates dated in BS, and keep your certificates together in one file with Merge PDF in case EA asks for them.
Write it yourself and keep it honest
The summary statement and CPD are part of the CDR, and EA requires you to write the CDR yourself. If any part is written by another person or contains copied material, EA rejects the application and can ban the applicant for 12, 24 or 36 months. Do not buy a ready-made summary statement or CPD list, and do not add courses you did not attend. A shorter, true CPD list is better than a long one you cannot prove.
Frequently asked questions
Does every element need a reference from all three episodes?
No. Each element must be addressed at least once across the three episodes. Two or three references for an element are helpful, but one clear paragraph is enough if it truly shows the element.
Can one paragraph be referenced for several elements?
Yes, a paragraph can support more than one element, for example design (PE2.3) and tools (PE2.2). Do not lean on the same few paragraphs for most elements; the assessor will see that the evidence is thin.
What if I have very little CPD as a fresh graduate?
List what you have honestly, including relevant self-study, seminars and training during or after your degree. Then start adding real activities, such as NEA events or short courses, before you apply.
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