Interim Provisions on the Registration System for Professional Qualifications of Chemical Engineering Engineers Chapter 1 General Provisions Article 1 These provisions are formulated in order to strengthen the management of professional and technical personnel engaged in chemical engineering design, ensure the quality of engineering projects, and safeguard public interests as well as the safety of people’s lives and property, in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Building Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Regulations on the Management of Surveying and Design Work for Construction Projects, as well as relevant provisions on professional qualification systems. Article 2: These provisions apply to professional and technical personnel engaged in the design of chemical engineering projects (including chemicals, petrochemicals, chemical fibers, pharmaceuticals, and light chemicals) and related business activities. Article 3: **A registration system for professional qualifications shall be implemented for those engaged in chemical engineering design activities, and such system shall be incorporated into the unified framework of the national professional qualification system. Article 4: The registered chemical engineer referred to in these provisions is a professional technician who has obtained the \"Practice Qualification Certificate for Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\" and the \"Registration Certificate for Practice Qualification of Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\", and is engaged in chemical engineering design and related activities. Article 5: Relevant departments of the State Council such as the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Personnel, as well as the construction administration departments and personnel administration departments of the people’s governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, shall, in accordance with these provisions, provide guidance, supervision, and inspection over the examination, registration, and practice of registered chemical engineers. Article 6: Under the National Committee for the Management of Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design, there is a National Committee for the Management of Registered Chemical Engineering Engineers in Surveying and Design (hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Engineering Committee). This committee is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Personnel, relevant industry associations, as well as experts in chemical engineering, and is responsible for organizing exams, handling registrations, and managing the professional qualifications of registered chemical engineering engineers. The Management Committees for Registered Engineering Consultants in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for organizing the examinations for the professional qualification of registered chemical engineers in their respective areas, managing those who have obtained such qualifications, and handling matters related to registration applications. Chapter 2 Exams Article 7 The professional qualification exam for registered chemical engineers follows a national unified syllabus and unified examination questions, and is held once a year in principle. Article 8: The Chemical Engineering Professional Committee is responsible for formulating the examination syllabus and questions for the chemical engineering specialty, establishing and managing the question bank, organizing the marking of exams, and proposing suggestions regarding scoring criteria and passing standards. The National Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design is responsible for establishing the examination syllabus, annual test questions, scoring criteria, and passing standards. Article 9: The professional qualification examination for registered chemical engineers consists of a basic examination and a specialized examination. Article 10: Any citizen of the People’s Republic of China who abides by **laws and regulations, adheres to professional ethics, and possesses the necessary professional education and work experience may apply to take the examination for certification as a registered chemical engineer. Article 11: Those who pass the professional qualification examination for registered chemical engineers shall be issued a \"Certificate of Professional Qualification for Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\", which is printed uniformly by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and stamped by both the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Construction, by the human resources administrative departments of the provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government. Chapter 3 Registration Article 12 Those who have obtained the \"Practice Qualification Certificate for Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\" may submit an application to the Management Committee for Registered Engineers in Survey and Design of their respective province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government; such committee will then forward the relevant materials for registration to the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee. Article 13: The Chemical Engineering Professional Committee issues to the applicants approved for registration the \"Registration Certificate for the Qualification of Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\", as well as the practice seal, which are uniformly produced by the Ministry of Construction and stamped by the National Committee for the Management of Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design and the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee. Only after registration can the applicant practice within the specified scope of business. The Chemical Engineering Professional Committee shall submit the list of registered chemical engineers approved for registration to the National Management Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design for record-keeping. Article 14: The validity period of the registration for practicing as a registered chemical engineer is 2 years. If one wishes to continue practicing after the expiration of the valid period, registration renewal procedures must be completed within 30 days prior to the expiration date. Article 15 Registration shall not be granted under any of the following circumstances: (1) Failure to possess full capacity for civil conduct ; (II) Those who have committed errors in engaging in chemical engineering or related activities and have been subject to administrative penalties or disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal upwards, and for whom the period from the date of such penalty or disciplinary decision to the date of application for registration is less than 2 years ; (III) Those who have not yet reached 5 years since the date of completion of their criminal punishment until the date of applying for registration ; (IV) Other circumstances specified by the relevant departments of the State Council for which registration is denied. Article 16: If the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee decides not to grant registration in accordance with Article 15 of these regulations, it shall notify the applicant in writing within 15 working days from the date of the decision. If there are any objections, the applicant may file an appeal with the National Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design within 15 working days from the date of receipt of the notice. Article 17: After registration, if a registered chemical engineering engineer falls under any of the following circumstances, the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee shall revoke their registration: (1) Lacking full capacity for civil conduct ; (II) Those who have received criminal penalties ; (III) Those who have caused engineering accidents in chemical engineering design and related activities, and have been subject to administrative penalties or disciplinary actions ranging from dismissal upwards ; (IV) Those found to be in violation of the registration regulations ; (5) Those who seriously violate professional ethics standards. Article 18: If a person whose registration has been revoked objects to such revocation, they may file an appeal with the National Committee for the Management of Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design within 15 working days from the date of receiving the notice of revocation. Article 19: Persons whose registration has been revoked may apply for re-registration in accordance with these provisions 5 years after the expiration of the penalty period. Chapter 4 Practice Article 20 Scope of practice for registered chemical engineers: (1) Chemical engineering design (including environmental protection projects in this field) ; (II) Chemical engineering technology consulting (including environmental protection engineering in this field) ; (III) Tendering and procurement consulting for chemical engineering equipment ; (IV) Project management services in chemical engineering ; (5) Provide guidance and supervision over the construction of design projects in this field ; (6) Other tasks specified by the relevant departments of the State Council. Article 21: A registered chemical engineer may only be employed by one entity with engineering design qualifications. Article 22: When a registered chemical engineering engineer practices, their employer shall undertake the commissioning and collect fees uniformly. Article 23: The entity entrusted with the work shall bear liability for compensation for any economic losses resulting from defects in the design of chemical engineering projects or related activities, and shall have the right to seek reimbursement from the registered chemical engineer who signed the contract in accordance with the terms thereof. Article 24: The measures for the professional management and penalties of registered chemical engineers shall be formulated separately by the Ministry of Construction in conjunction with relevant departments. Chapter 5 Rights and Obligations Article 25 Registered chemical engineers have the right to engage in the prescribed professional activities in their capacity as registered chemical engineers. Article 26: The main technical documents prepared in the field of chemical engineering design, consulting, and related activities shall become valid only after being signed and sealed by a registered chemical engineer. Article 27: Any entity or individual that wishes to modify technical documents signed and sealed by a registered chemical engineer must obtain the consent of such registered chemical engineer ; If it is not possible to obtain their consent due to special circumstances, other registered chemical engineers may sign and seal the document and assume responsibility. Article 28 Registered chemical engineers shall fulfill the following obligations: (1) Abide by laws, regulations, and professional ethics, and safeguard the interests of the public ; (II) Ensure the quality of professional work, and sign and seal the technical documents for which they are responsible ; (III) Maintaining trade secrets learned in the course of practice ; (IV) One shall not be employed by two or more entities to practice simultaneously ; (5) One shall not permit others to practice under one’s own name. Article 29: Registered chemical engineers shall receive continuing education as required, which shall serve as one of the conditions for re-registration. Chapter 6 Supplementary Provisions Article 30: Those who have met the requirements for the qualification to practice as a registered chemical engineer prior to the implementation of the examination for such qualification may, upon assessment, be awarded the \"Certification of Qualification to Practice as a Registered Chemical Engineer of the People’s Republic of China\". Article 31: With the approval of the relevant departments of the State Council, foreign nationals and professionals from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan who are permitted to work within the People’s Republic of China may, if they meet the requirements set out in these regulations, apply through the prescribed procedures to take examinations, obtain registration, and practice their profession. Article 32: The specific measures for assigning registered chemical engineers to entities engaged in chemical engineering design activities shall be stipulated separately by the Ministry of Construction in consultation with relevant departments. The types of technical documents that require the signature and seal of a registered chemical engineer to become valid, as well as the procedures for their management, are established by the Chemical Engineering Committee. Article 33 These provisions shall come into force as of May 1, 2003. Implementation Measures for the Registered Chemical Engineer Practice Qualification Examination Article 1: The Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Personnel are jointly responsible for organizing the Registered Chemical Engineer Practice Qualification Examination. Article 2: The National Committee for the Management of Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design is responsible for formulating the examination syllabus, annual test questions, scoring criteria, and passing standards. The National Management Committee for Registered Chemical Engineering Engineers in Survey and Design (hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Engineering Committee) is responsible for the actual organization and implementation of the examination. The examination administration is entrusted to the Personnel Examination Center of the Ministry of Human Resources. Examination work in various regions is organized and implemented by the local personnel administration departments in conjunction with the construction administration departments, with the specific division of responsibilities determined through consultation among those local authorities. Article 3: The examination is divided into a basic examination and a professional examination. Only those who pass the basic exam and complete the required period of professional experience may apply for the specialized exam. Only after passing the professional examination can one obtain the \"Practice Qualification Certificate for Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\". Article 4: Those who meet the requirements of Article 10 of the Interim Provisions on the Professional Qualification System for Registered Chemical Engineers and satisfy one of the following conditions may apply to take the basic examination: (1) Having obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in this field (referring to chemical engineering and technology, polymer materials and engineering, inorganic non-metallic materials engineering, pharmaceutical engineering, light chemical engineering, food science and engineering, bioengineering, etc.; see Appendix 1 for details) or a related field (process equipment and control engineering, environmental engineering, safety engineering, etc.; see Appendix 1 for details). (II) Hold an associate degree in this or a related field, with at least 1 year of experience in chemical engineering design work. (III) Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in another engineering field, with at least 1 year of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work. Article 5: Those who have passed the basic examination and meet one of the following conditions may apply to take the professional examination: (1) Having obtained a doctoral degree in this field, and having accumulated at least 2 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a doctoral degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 3 years. (II) Having obtained a master’s degree in this field, with at least 3 years of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a master’s degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 4 years. (III) Having obtained a double bachelor’s degree including this major, or having graduated from a graduate program in this field, and having accumulated at least 4 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or obtain a double bachelor’s degree in a related field, or complete postgraduate studies, and have accumulated at least 5 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (IV) Having obtained a bachelor’s degree from a university that has passed the educational assessment for this field, and having accumulated at least 4 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a bachelor’s degree from a university that has not passed the evaluation for education in this field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 5 years ; Or have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with at least 6 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (5) Having obtained an associate degree in this field, with at least 6 years of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining an associate degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 7 years. (VI) Having obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in another engineering field, and having accumulated at least 8 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. Article 6: As of December 31, 2002, those who meet one of the following conditions may be exempted from the basic examination and only need to take the professional examination: (1) Having obtained a doctoral degree in this field, with a total of 5 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a doctoral degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 6 years. (II) Having obtained a master’s degree in this field, with at least 6 years of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a master’s degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 7 years. (III) Having obtained a double bachelor’s degree including this major, or having completed a postgraduate program in this field, and having accumulated at least 7 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or obtain a double bachelor’s degree in a related field, or complete postgraduate studies, and have accumulated at least 8 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (IV) Having obtained a bachelor’s degree in this field, with at least 8 years of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 9 years. (5) Having obtained an associate degree in this field, with a cumulative of 9 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining an associate degree in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 10 years. (VI) Having obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in another engineering field, and having accumulated at least 12 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (7) After obtaining an associate degree in another engineering field, having accumulated at least 15 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (8) Having obtained a secondary vocational diploma in this field, and having accumulated at least 25 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or, after obtaining a secondary vocational diploma in a related field, having worked in chemical engineering design for a total of 30 years. Article 7: To take the exam, an applicant must submit a request themselves; upon approval by their employer, they may then register with the local examination authority. After reviewing the applications in accordance with the prescribed procedures and requirements, the examination authority issues admission tickets. Candidates must take the exam at the time and place specified on their admission tickets. Professional and technical personnel from the units under various departments of the State Council and enterprises under central government management register for the exam in accordance with the principle of territorial jurisdiction. Article 8: Examination centers shall, in principle, be located in provincial capitals and municipalities directly under the Central Government. If it is truly necessary to establish them in other cities, approval must be obtained from the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Construction. Article 9: Adhere to the principle of separating examinations from training. Examination staff must strictly adhere to the recusal policy for examinations; those involved in question development and examination organization shall not take part in any training related to the examinations nor sit for them. Article 10: Strictly enforce the relevant rules and regulations governing examination administration, ensure confidentiality throughout the processes of question design, printing, and distribution of exam papers, strictly abide by the confidentiality protocols, and take thorough measures to prevent any leaks of information. Article 11: Examination room discipline must be strictly enforced; fraud is strictly prohibited. Those who violate examination discipline and relevant regulations shall be dealt with severely, and both the individuals involved and their supervisors shall be held accountable. Measures for the Assessment and Recognition of Qualifications for Registered Chemical Engineers I. Conditions for Assessment and Recognition Persons who have been engaged in chemical engineering design work for a long period prior to the issuance of these measures, who hold senior professional and technical positions in the engineering field, who demonstrate good professional ethics and are in good health, and who meet one of the following conditions. (1) An academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences or an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. (II) National Master of Engineering Design. (III) As of December 31, 1983, those who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, have at least 15 years of experience in chemical engineering design work, and are the main technical responsible persons for projects that have won gold or silver awards for outstanding national engineering designs or relevant **-level science and technology progress awards in the field of chemical engineering; such individuals must be 70 years of age or younger and meet one of the following conditions: 1. Having held positions as chief engineer or deputy chief engineer in a design firm with Class A qualifications for chemical engineering design for at least 5 years. 2. Appointed as an expert for compiling the syllabus and designing exam questions for the Registered Chemical Engineer Practice Qualification Examination. (IV) Those who meet either Condition 1 or Condition 2 below and have passed the professional test. 1. Those who meet each of the conditions in (1) and (2) below. (1) Educational background and years of experience in the profession: ① Obtained a bachelor’s degree in this field before December 31, 1983, with at least 15 years of cumulative experience in chemical engineering design work ; Or have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with at least 20 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. ②By December 31, 1983, hold an associate degree in this field and have at least 20 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Before December 31, 1978, hold an associate degree in a related field, with a total of 25 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. ③Before December 31, 1978, obtain a secondary vocational diploma in this field, and have accumulated at least 25 years of experience in chemical engineering design work ; Before December 31, 1973, hold a secondary vocational diploma in a related field, and have accumulated at least 30 years of experience in chemical engineering design work. (2) Technical performance and experience: ① Served as the technical leader for chemical engineering projects, completing engineering designs for 5 or more medium-scale chemical engineering projects, or 3 or more large-scale projects, in accordance with the classification standards for engineering design qualifications. ②Have held the positions of chief or deputy chief engineer in chemical engineering for 5 years at a design firm qualified to undertake Class A engineering design projects. ③Have held the position of Chief Engineer for chemical engineering in a design firm with Class B engineering design qualifications for 7 years. 2. After 1983, those who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher in this field, have spent a total of 15 years working in chemical engineering design, and were the main technical responsible person for projects that won national awards for excellent engineering design or awards for scientific and technological progress at the ** level in this field; or those who were the main technical responsible person for 2 or more provincial or ministerial-level awards for excellent chemical engineering design or for scientific and technological progress at levels one, two, or three. II. Procedures for Assessment and Recognition (1) Engineering designers who meet the requirements for assessment and recognition are recommended by their respective employers to the construction administration departments of the province, autonomous region, or municipality where the employer is registered. Among them, Class A and Class B survey and design units under the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Water Resources recommend candidates to the departments in charge of survey and design under those ministries, while survey and design units within the military system recommend candidates to the Infrastructure and Barracks Department of the General Logistics Department. (II) The construction administration departments of various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, as well as the departments in charge of surveying and design under the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Infrastructure and Barracks Department of the General Logistics Department, shall review the applicants from the design units within their respective regions and departments. After further review by the personnel (job reform) administration departments of those same regions and departments, as well as the Cadre Department of the General Political Department, a list of recommended candidates shall be submitted for preliminary examination by the National Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design – Chemical Engineering Specialty Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Chemical Engineering Committee). (III) The Chemical Engineering Professional Committee is responsible for the testing and management of those who have passed the preliminary review. The construction administrative departments of various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government are responsible for conducting the specific tests for those who have passed the preliminary review in their respective areas, and they submit the test results to the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee. (IV) The Chemical Engineering Professional Committee will compile the preliminary review results and test scores and submit them to the National Management Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design. The National Management Committee for Registered Engineers in Surveying and Design conducts a final review based on the preliminary results and test scores. After obtaining approval from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the Ministry of Construction, the committee publishes a list of those who have passed the assessment and been granted the \"Practice Qualification Certificate for Registered Chemical Engineers of the People’s Republic of China\". III. Application materials for assessment and approval (1) Letters of opinion from the construction administration departments of various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government, as well as from the competent survey and design departments such as the Ministry of Railways, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the Infrastructure and Barracks Department of the General Logistics Department. (II) Application Form for the Assessment and Recognition of the Professional Qualification for Registered Chemical Engineers (Appendix 2). (III) Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, or National Design Masters shall provide a copy of their academician or master certificate. Other individuals shall provide copies of the following supporting documents: academic degree or diploma, certificate of senior professional and technical position, award certificates, proof of signature on the main design documents or drawings of the awarded projects, and appointment documents for positions as chief engineer or deputy chief engineer. (IV) A certificate of professional ethics issued by the employer, and a certificate stating that the applicant is the main technical responsible person for the award-winning project, issued by the organization that awarded the prize. IV. Submission Time and Requirements (1) The construction administration departments and personnel departments of each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the Central Government, as well as the departments in charge of surveying, design, and personnel affairs at the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Water Resources, the Infrastructure and Barracks Department of the General Logistics Department, and the Cadre Department of the Political Department, shall submit the documents of those who have passed the review and verification to the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee by May 31, 2003. (II) Those who have obtained other professional practice qualifications through licensing or assessment and certification shall not apply for the assessment and certification for the professional qualification of registered chemical engineers. (III) All regions and relevant departments shall strictly follow the prescribed conditions and procedures to carry out application submission, review, and verification work in a proper manner. Those who fail to exercise proper oversight or engage in fraud will have their right to submit applications for that region or department, as well as their individual eligibility to apply, revoked. (IV) When conducting reviews and verifications, various regions and relevant departments shall check the original copies of various certificates and related supporting documents. Copies of various certificates and relevant supporting documents submitted to the Chemical Engineering Professional Committee should be signed with an opinion by the head of the personnel (cadre) department of the respective organization, and stamped with the organization’s seal. Appendix 1: Comparison Table of Old and New Specialties for Registered Chemical Engineers
Specialty Classification | New Specialty Name | Old Specialty Name
--- | --- | ---
Chemical Engineering and Technology | Chemical Engineering, Chemical Process Engineering
Polymer Chemistry and Fine Chemicals | Chemical Engineering and Technology
Biochemical Engineering (partial) | Chemical Engineering and Technology
Industrial Analysis | Industrial Analysis
Electrochemical Engineering | Electrochemical Engineering
Industrial Catalysis | Industrial Catalysis
Petroleum Engineering | Petroleum Engineering
Polymer Materials and Chemical Engineering | Polymer Materials and Engineering
Polymer Materials and Engineering | Polymer Materials and Engineering
Composites (partial) | Polymer Materials and Chemical Engineering
Inorganic Non-metallic Materials Engineering | Inorganic Non-metallic Materials Engineering
Silicate Engineering | Inorganic Non-metallic Materials Engineering
Composites (partial) | Composites (partial)
Pharmaceutical Engineering | Pharmaceutical Engineering
Chemical Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | Pharmaceutical Engineering
Biopharmaceuticals | Biopharmaceuticals
Traditional Chinese Medicine Manufacturing | Traditional Chinese Medicine Manufacturing
Light Industry Engineering | Light Industry Engineering
Leather Engineering | Leather Engineering
Pulp and Paper Manufacturing | Pulp and Paper Manufacturing
Dyeing and Finishing Engineering | Dyeing and Finishing Engineering
Food Science and Engineering | Food Science and Engineering
Sugaring Engineering, Oil Processing Engineering | Sugaring Engineering, Oil Processing Engineering
Cereal Engineering | Cereal Engineering
Food Science and Engineering | Food Science and Engineering
Tobacco Engineering | Tobacco Engineering
Biotechnology | Biotechnology
Biochemical Engineering (partial) | Biochemical Engineering (partial)
Fermentation Engineering | Fermentation Engineering
Others, such as forestry-related chemical engineering and similar specialties | Others, such as forestry-related chemical engineering and similar specialties
Process Equipment and Control Engineering | Process Equipment and Control Engineering
Chemical Plant Structures and Equipment | Chemical Plant Structures and Equipment
Environmental Engineering | Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring
Safety Engineering | Safety Engineering
Safety | Safety
Other Engineering Specialties | Other engineering specialties other than those listed above
Note: The “New Specialty Name” in the table refers to the specialty names specified in the “Undergraduate Specialty Catalogue for Regular Higher Education Institutions” issued by the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China in 1998 ; “\"Old professional names\" refer to the names of majors used by various institutions prior to the issuance of the 1998 Catalogue of Undergraduate Majors in Regular Higher Education Institutions.