Washington Accord

The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries. Established in 1989, the signatories as of 2007 are Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The agreement recognizes that there is substantial equivalency of programs accredited by those signatories. Graduates of accredited programs in any of the signatory countries are recognized by the other signatory countries as having met the academic requirements for entry to the practice of engineering. It is important to note that recognition of accredited programs is not retroactive but takes effect only from the date of admission of the country to signatory status.

cope

The Washington Accord covers undergraduate engineering degrees. Engineering technology and postgraduate programs are not covered by the accord, although some engineering technology programs are covered under the Sydney Accord and the Dublin Accord. Only qualifications awarded after the signatory country became part of the Washington Accord are recognized. The accord is not directly responsible for the licensing or registration of Professional Engineers and Chartered Engineers, but it does cover the academic requirements that are part of the licensing processes in signatory countries.

ignatories

The following are the signatory accreditation bodies of the Washington Accord, their respective countries and territories, and years of admission:
* Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (United States; 1989)
* Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (Canada; 1989)
* Engineering Council UK (United Kingdom; 1989)
* Institution of Engineers Australia (Australia; 1989)
* Institution of Engineers of Ireland (Republic of Ireland; 1989)
* Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (New Zealand; 1989)
* Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (Hong Kong; 1995)
* Engineering Council of South Africa (South Africa; 1999)
* Japan Accreditation Board for Engineering Education (Japan; 2005)
* Institution of Engineers Singapore (Singapore; 2006)
* Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea (South Korea; 2007)
* Institute of Engineering Education Taiwan (Taiwan; 2007)

The following countries have provisional signatory status and may become member signatories in the future:
* Germany
* India
* Malaysia
* Russia
* Sri Lanka

ee also

* Sydney Accord
* Dublin Accord
* Chartered Engineer
* Professional Engineer

External links

* [http://www.ieagreements.org/Washington-Accord/ Washington Accord] (International Engineering Alliance)