Background
The Board for Certification of New Zealand Ergonomists (BCNZE) assesses and certifies qualified professional practitioners of ergonomics. The Board is associated with the New Zealand Ergonomics Society (NZES). The BCNZE certification scheme is modelled on the Centre for Registration of European Ergonomists (CREE) scheme, on which the certification criteria and administration procedures are based. The NZES is a federated member of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) and BCNZE is abreast of current IEA developments regarding certification programme guidelines. The New Zealand and Australian Ergonomics Societies in 1998 jointly developed core competencies for ergonomists and these are also taken into consideration in certifying ergonomists. BCNZE was established in 1997 and began assessing applications in 1998. It is administered by an elected Board.

If you are interested in applying for Certification, please contact the BCNZE Convenor - s.alexander@clear.net.nz - for an application package.

Certification Criteria
The criteria for certification as either Associate or fully Certified scheme members is outlined below, and in the BCNZE Flow Chart in the attached pdf document.  ( BCNZE_FlowChart_Nov05.pdf, 19kb).

Certified New Zealand Ergonomist (CNZErg)
Certified New Zealand Ergonomists (CNZErg) have completed education, supervised training and at least two years of practise in the Ergonomics field.

There are two routes to certification. The first route (A) is based on the formal components of education, training and experience, as outlined in the HETPEP Report ("Towards a European Registration Model for Ergonomists, Final report of the Working Group - Harmonising European Training Programmes for the Ergonomics Profession". June 1992). Route B is for individuals who have attained a high level of competence in ergonomics, and who would gain little by being forced to go through further formal education to qualify for certification.

Certified New Zealand Ergonomists may use the letters 'CNZErg' or the full designation 'Certified New Zealand Ergonomist'.

Route A
Education:
At least three years (full-time) academic formation in any field, at least 1 year of which is in ergonomics. Must demonstrate competence in the five core knowledge areas: ergonomics principles, human characteristics, work analysis and measurement, people and technology, and professional issues.
Training:
Must have undergone a period of supervised training in aspects of ergonomics practice totalling at least one full-time year. This training should either be interleaved with or follow on from, the formal ergonomics education component. Suitable training might be a thesis completed under supervision, or working closely with other ergonomists on a joint project.
Experience:
A period of professional practice in the ergonomics field of at least two full-time years after the completion of education and training requirements. At least one of the years must be in New Zealand. 'Professional practice' includes involvement in ergonomics consultancy, ergonomic design, ergonomics field research, ergonomics laboratory research, ergonomics tertiary-level teaching, the provision of training and short courses in ergonomics, and the management of ergonomics (including supervision of student field work).

Route B
Education:
At least a Masters degree in any field. Competence in four core knowledge areas (ergonomics principles, human characteristics, work analysis and measurement, people and technology) must be demonstrated in the form of peer reviewed publications in ergonomics journalsand/or conference proceedings, and/or significant published works.
Experience:
Experience in supervision and/or consultancy and/or applied research in the ergonomics field spanning a minimum of six years full-time at post-Masters level, at least two years of which will have been in New Zealand.

Associate New Zealand Ergonomist
Associate New Zealand Ergonomists have met the education and supervised training requirements for certification but are either still in the process of acquiring sufficient practical experience for certification or have previously been fully certified but do not currently meet the General Conditions (see below).

Individuals who meet the education and training criteria of Route A, described above, but are still in the process of acquiring sufficient practical experience can apply for certification as an Associate New Zealand Ergonomist.

An Associate New Zealand Ergonomist must use the full title 'Associate New Zealand Ergonomist'. The designation may not be abbreviated.

General Conditions
The following General Conditions must be met by Certified scheme members. The meeting of these General Conditions must be verified for 3-yearly Recertification.

1.   Must practise ergonomics in the broad sense of the definition including    aspects of physiology, psychology, and work organisation.

2.   Must have a shared perspective with other professional ergonomists that is demonstrated via active and ongoing participation in a variety of ergonomics-specific activities such as professional development meetings, conferences, publication and study.

3.   Practice must be carried out at a level equivalent to that of a university graduated professional.

4.   The applicant is competent to practice ergonomics as an intrinsic part of design activities.