Get certified
It benefits an employee by providing recognition and career opportunities and an employer by increasing their credibility to customers.
The Engineering Surveying Professional – Australasia Pacific (ESP-AP) Certification is open to all persons irrespective of membership status with GCA.
A registered or licensed land surveyor may require ESP-AP certification to conduct engineering surveying work in New Zealand or an Australian State and Territory, if stipulated in infrastructure specifications.

The certification entitles a person to be recognised as an ESP-AP and current certified professionals are listed in the ESP-AP Register.
Under the Engineering Surveying Certification, the process requires a professional to initially demonstrate that an advanced level of expertise has been achieved, including:
- Successful completion of particular formal tertiary education in a particular spatial science discipline
- Achievement of further relevant professional experience
- Contributions to the profession.
To retain your certification, you must undertake Continuing Professional Development.
How to apply
We have created a comprehensive application manual to guide you through the process. Please take the time to read this carefully before applying and refer to it regularly while completing your application.
Click here to view the ESP-AP Manual
The form to apply for certification is a fillable PDF. Please just click in the appropriate spaces and type your responses/information.
Click here to download the ESP-AP Application Form
ESP-AP certification fees
- · GCA Members $330 (inc GST)
- · Non-members $850 (inc GST)
Retention of certification
To retain your ESP-AP Certification, you must undertake Continuing Professional Development. Please visit the ESP-AP Retention section for all the details.
Note, CPD points DO NOT need to be achieved in the year certification achieved e.g. if a professional is awarded certification in February, they don’t need to begin tracking CPD until 1 July that year
Right of appeal
If an applicant is denied ESP-AP Certification and feels the decision is not warranted, they have the right to appeal.
Applicants can email the GCA Chief Executive Officer on ceo@geospatialcouncil.org.au within one (1) month of the receipt of the decision and provide details of the application and why they believe the incorrect outcome was reached.
Further information
Enquiries regarding your ESP-AP Certification can be addressed to the Certification Coordinator on certification@geospatialcouncil.org.au or phone 02 6282 2282.
Competencies framework
Assessing your Work Experience
The ESP-AP Competency Framework is a structured and comprehensive approach for defining, assessing and demonstrating knowledge, skills and abilities required for job roles associated with Engineering Surveying.
The Framework outlines specific competencies that are necessary to successfully perform duties as an Engineering Surveyor and provides a clear and objective framework for assessing an individual’s level of competence. The Framework includes categories or domains of competencies, specific descriptors for each competency, performance criteria for assessing competency and allocated points or level of proficiency and evidence of Qualification and or Degree attained.
The ESP-AP Competency Framework is used by industry including Government, building and construction, engineering, town planning and surveying to guide recruitment, training, development and performance management processes. It informs the eligibility for issuing a certification for a professional issued by the Geospatial Council of Australia.
The ESP-AP Competency Framework has been developed and approved by the ESP-AP Certification Committee and endorsed by the Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA). GCA will assess applications based on evidence provided aligned to the Performance Criteria which is a component of the Certification application.
Competency Framework comprises:
CORE AND ELECTIVE ELEMENTS
- Survey Control is overarching. At least one of the survey control sub-categories mandatory – can be concurrent with a project
- Topographical. At least one of the topographical sub-categories is mandatory – can be concurrent with a project
- Construction Surveying. At least 2 categories from construction surveying are mandatory
- A minimum of 3 months duration in any category is required
- A minimum of 4 categories is required in total (Does not have to be every year)
- Management category is optional, and the supervision and team leader components can be concurrent with other categories
Evidence of attained Degree and or a Qualification as set out below:
QUALIFICATION BASED PROVISION
- a) AQF/NZQF Level 7 surveying related qualification and a minimum of four years of documented work experience OR
- b) AQF/NZQF Level 6 certification and five additional points from education along with a minimum of four years of documented work experience.
LONG-TERM PRACTICE PROVISION
- a) AQF/NZQF Level 6 surveying related qualification along with 10 years’ documented work experience OR
- b) AQF/NZQF Level 5 surveying related qualification obtained during or before 2015, along with 10 years’ documented work experience.
This provision is only available until 1 July 2023. See Section 7 of the manual for full details.
EMERITUS PROVISION
For those applicants who are retired but want to maintain professional recognition.
Emeritus ESP-AP is an honorary recognition and as such does not require an annual CPD return to maintain certification.
To be considered for Emeritus status, complete the Personal Details, Application Type & Payment parts of the Application Form.
On retirement, a professionally active ESP-AP can switch to the Emeritus classification by writing to the Geospatial Council Workforce Administrator requesting a classification change.
Survey Control – overarching. This category can be stand-alone or incorporated into other categories
Category | Sub-category | Description | Points per year | Performance criteria | Evidence examples |
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Survey control | Survey control networks (Primary control) | Primary survey control networks for large scale projects. Connected to appropriate Geodetic datums. If incorporated in other work categories, then pro rata time against those projects | 30 |
Performance criteria should include majority of the following:
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Evidence should include:
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Survey control networks (medium) | Terrestrial observations (for example, for bridge control networks). If incorporated in other work categories, then pro-rata time against those projects | 25 |
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Evidence should include:
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Construction Surveying – at least 2 categories mandatory (for example, Bridge is one category) | |||||
Bridge | Bridge (large/complex) | Medium /complex activities plus majority of the following: Significant fabricated steel superstructures, balanced cantilever construction, very heavy foundations, construction over navigable waterways | 35 |
Majority of the following should include:
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Supplied evidence should include majority of the following:
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Bridge (medium / complex) | Simple activities plus majority of the following: Complex geometry, super T’s / T-roffs, major slipform piers, complex earthworks, cast in-situ piles, setting out with horizontal and vertical curve geometry. | 30 | |||
Bridge (simple) | Cast in situ reinforced concrete flat slab bridges, simple bridges, moderate earthworks, non-complex pile foundations, setting out abutments and piers without horizontal/vertical curve geometry. | 25 | |||
Road | Road (major – motorways / multiple carriageways) | Minor arterial activities plus majority of the following: Grade separated intersections. Duplication of major arterial roads. Heavy duty asphalt pavements. Complex service relocations | 35 | ||
Road (major arterial) | Minor arterial activities plus majority of the following: Grade separated intersections. Duplication of major arterial roads. Heavy duty asphalt pavements. Complex service relocations | 30 | |||
Road (minor arterial) | Low volume rural / urban plus majority of the following: Multi-layer granular or simple A/C pavement. complex urban intersections. Earthworks exceeding 5m cut/fill. Complex drainage works including large size culverts/multiple bays. Moderately | 25 | |||
Road (Low volume rural / urban) | Activities include majority of the following: Low complex at grade intersections. Multi-layer granular or simple A/C pavement. Low to Medium drainage works. Earthworks up to 5m cut/fill. Non-complex service relocation works | 20 | |||
Earthworks | Substantial | Earthworks on major construction sites. Can include a range of activities from topsoil stripping, excavations and filling. If incorporated in bridge or road categories, then pro-rata time against those projects | 25 | ||
Minor | Earthworks can include a range of activities from topsoil stripping, excavations and filling. If incorporated in bridge or road categories, then pro-rata time against those projects | 15 | |||
Drainage | Complex | Can include drainage systems and culverts. A drainage system can include an underground network of pipe culverts and / or box culverts connecting between field inlets, gully pits and access chambers. If incorporated in road categories, then pro rata time against that project | 30 | ||
Simple | Culverts under roadways. If incorporated in road categories, then pro-rata time against that project | 20 | |||
Water / Wastewater network | Large / Complex | Water networks can include water main lines, hydrants, valves, meters, inspection chambers, inspection pits and envelopers. If incorporated in road categories, then pro rata time against that project | 25 | ||
Minor / Simple | Water networks can include water main lines, hydrants, valves, meters, inspection chambers, inspection pits. If incorporated in road categories, then pro-rata time against that project | 20 | |||
Retaining structures | Substantial and Complex | Can include retaining wall pad / strip footings. Can include horizontal and vertical geometry and multiple lifts during construction. If included in bridge or road categories, then pro-rata time against those projects | 30 | ||
Minor / Simple | Can include retaining wall pad / strip footings. Simple geometry. If included in bridge or road categories, then pro-rata time against those projects | 20 | |||
Tunnel | Complex | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 35 | ||
Simple | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
Dam | Major / complex | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 35 | ||
Minor / simple | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
Port Infrastructure | Major / complex | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 35 | ||
Minor / simple | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
Processing plant | Major / complex | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 35 | ||
Minor / simple | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
High Rise building | High Rise | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 35 | ||
Low Rise (Generally max. 3 levels) | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
Rail | Major | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 30 | ||
Minor | To be developed (Applicant to specify) | 20 | |||
Other (Specify) | Applicant to specify |
Topographical surveying (Mandatory) – This can also be inclusive
Category | Sub-category | Description | Points per year | Performance criteria | Evidence examples |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Topographical | Topographical (complex) | Includes majority of the following: Complex urban environments / high number of features. Major drainage features. Complex intersections. Complex bridges and extensive underground services | 25 |
In addition to the survey control requirements, majority of the following should include:
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Supplied evidence should include majority of the following:
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Topographical (simple) | Small scale non-complex ground and feature surveys-rural or simple urban. Simple drainage features. Open terrain with few features | 20 |
Management (Optional)
Category | Sub-category | Description | Points per year | Performance criteria | Evidence examples |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Management | Team leader | Can include leading multiple types of engineering surveying categories | 10 bonus points |
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Supervisor | Can include supervision of any type of engineering surveying categories | 10 bonus points |
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Example of calculating points
Road construction project | |||
Duration | Points per year | Total pts | |
---|---|---|---|
Survey control network (simple) | 1 month | 20 | 1.7 |
Road (major arterial) | 4 month | 30 | 10.0 |
Retaining structure | 3 month | 30 | 7.5 |
Drainage | 2 month | 25 | 4.2 |
Earthworks | 1 month | 20 | 1.7 |
Topographical (simple) | 1 month | 20 | 1.7 |
Renewal of your certification
Form
To renew existing ESP-AP Certification that has lapsed, please email certification@geospatialcouncil.org.au
Review
The application will be reviewed by the Engineering Surveying Certification Panel (ESCP) within approximately two weeks (except over the Christmas period where this would extend to approximately for weeks).
Cost
The cost to renew ESP-AP Certification is:
- GCA Members – $220 inc GST
- Non GCA Members – $605 inc GST
An invoice for the Renewal Fee will be issued on receipt of the application form. Payment must be made before the application is reviewed by the ESCP.
Right of Appeal
If an applicant is denied renewal of certification and feels the decision is no warranted, they have the right to appeal.
Applicants can email the GCA Chief Executive Officer on ceo@geospatialcouncil.org.au within one (1) month of the receipt of the decision and provide details of the application and why they believe the incorrect outcome was reached.
The CEO will convene a review panel consisting of themselves, one Company Director and the Chair of the Engineering & Mining Surveying
Commission (or another Committee member should the Chair also sit on the ESCP) – or any other configuration as directed by the Board.
The review panel will consider the appeal within 30 days and provide final judgement – their decision will be final and no further correspondence will be entered into.
Queries
All enquiries regarding ESP-AP Certification can be addressed to the Certification Coordinator on certification@geospatialcouncil.org.au or phone 02 6282 2282.
ESP–AP Register
Engineering Surveying Professional – Australasia Pacific (ESP-AP) Certification is the official recognition by the GCA that a person has demonstrated the necessary knowledge and experience to competently perform engineering surveys and associated activities.
Please refer to the link below for the current list of ESP-AP Certified Professionals.
If you are seeking to confirm the certification status of an engineering surveying professional and they don’t appear on this list, please feel free to reach out to the Certification Coordinator on certification@geospatialcouncil.org.au
Retention of certification
To retain your certification, you must undertake Continuing Professional Development.
Members
ESP-AP holders who are members of GCA must undertake 15 CPD points each financial year ending 30 June to allow the certification to remain current into the next financial year.
Methods of Accrual
The CPD points can be obtained through any of the methods outlined in Section 4 of the CPD Policy, however for ESP-AP holders, five (5) of the 15 CPD points must be related to engineering surveying specifically.
CPD Period
The CPD year is the Australian financial year, that is 1 July – 30 June. You can only include activities undertaken in that period (i.e. if a webinar is held live on 15 June 2023 but you don’t watch the recording until 3 July 2023, that counts in 2023-24 CPD period).
Recording CPD
Members should record all CPD undertaken via their profile in the online membership portal.
Note, CPD points do not need to be undertaken or recorded in the financial year certification is achieved but must begin in the financial year immediately after.
Cost
There is no cost to retain ESP-AP Certification for current, financial GCA Members.
Should an ESP-AP holder choose not to renew their membership, they must pay the Retention Fee listed in the non-member section below.
Audit
The Certification Coordinator will undertake a randomly chosen spot check audit of 10% of all member ESP-AP holders at the end of July each year, to ensure they have met the required 15 CPD points. This gives certificants four weeks following the end of the financial year to ensure their records are in order.
Should an ESP-AP holder believe they will not be able to obtain the required annual CPD points by 30 June, they should email the Certification Coordinator requesting an extension in order to comply. The extension will not normally be greater than three (3) months. The request must be received by 30 June to be considered – and request does not guarantee acceptance.
Non-Compliance
Should it be found via audit that an ESP-AP holder has not met the requirements, the Certification Coordinator will contact the certificant to advise and provide them a four week grace period to obtain the required points.
If this is not completed in line with CPD Policy and to the satisfaction of the Certification Coordinator, the ESP-AP holder will be removed from the ESP-AP Register.
Should the professional wish to hold ESP-AP Certification again within the next four years, they can undertake the process of renewal of certification. If applying more than four years after lapse, a new certification process will need to be completed.
NON-MEMBERS
ESP-AP holders who are not members of GCA must undertake 15 CPD points each financial year ending 30 June to allow the certification to remain current into the next financial year. There is no limit to this, i.e. as
long as certificants complete the 15 CPD points per year and pay the required annual fee, the ESP-AP Certification remains valid.
Methods of Accrual
The CPD points can be obtained through any of the methods outlined in Section 4 of the CPD Policy, however for ESP-AP holders, five (5) of the 15 CPD points must be related to engineering surveying specifically.
CPD Period
The CPD year is the Australian financial year, that is 1 July – 30 June. You can only include activities undertaken in that period.
Recording CPD
Non-member ESP-AP holders must record all CPD undertaken in the financial year via this form. The form is to be emailed to certification@sssi.org.au by no later than 31 July each year.
Cost
There is a Retention Fee of $385 (inc GST) per year to retain ESP-AP Certification for non members. This fee will be reduced to $215 if 6 or more CPD points are achieved via official GCA programs and events.
An invoice for the Retention Fee will be issued on approval of appropriate CPD being undertaken each year. Payment must be made within 14 days or the ESP-AP holder will be removed from the ESP-AP Register.
Once removed from the register, should the professional wish to hold ESP-AP Certification again within the next four years, they can undertake the process of renewal of certification. If applying more than four years after lapse, a new application will need to be completed.
Audit
The Certification Coordinator, in conjunction with the Engineering Surveying Certification Panel (ESCP), will undertake an audit of all non SSSI member ESP-AP holders at the end of July each year, to ensure they have met the required 15 CPD points.
This gives certificants four weeks following the end of the financial year to ensure their records are in order and submitted.
Should an ESP-AP holder believe they will not be able to obtain the required annual CPD points by 30 June, they should email the Certification Coordinator requesting an extension in order to comply. The extension will not normally be greater than three (3) months. The request must be received by 30 June to be considered – and request does not guarantee acceptance.
Non-Compliance
Should it be found via audit that a non member ESP-AP holder has not met the CPD point requirements, the Certification Coordinator will contact the certificant to advise and provide them a four-week grace period to obtain the required points.
If this is not completed in line with CPD Policy and to the satisfaction of the Certification Coordinator, the ESP-AP holder will be removed from the ESP-AP Register.
Should the professional wish to hold ESP-AP Certification again within the next four years, they can undertake the process of renewal of certification. If applying more than four years after lapse, a full new certification process will need to be completed.