Board of Engineers Malaysia Recognition for Engineering Degrees Earned Abroad
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Jul 05, 2025 • Fields of Study, Study in Southeast Asia
BEM recognizes engineering degrees from Washington Accord accredited programs for Graduate Engineer registration, and runs the BEM Graduate Assessment Program (BEM-GAP) for degrees that do not fully meet the standard requirements.
🎓 Step 1: register as a Graduate Engineer with BEM
Non-accredited or foreign degrees go through individual academic assessment
BEM-GAP is the alternate route if your degree does not fully meet requirements
Step 2: log supervised practical experience before applying for Professional Engineer status
Step 3: pass BEM's professional assessment to register as a Professional Engineer (PE)
Provisional registration lets you practice under supervision while you finish the remaining requirements
Why BEM Registration Matters
Using the title 'Professional Engineer' and signing off certain categories of engineering work in Malaysia legally requires registration with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) . This applies whether you studied in Malaysia or earned your degree overseas.
How BEM Assesses a Foreign Degree
BEM recognizes engineering degrees from programs accredited by a body that is a signatory to the Washington Accord, the same standard Malaysian MQA-accredited programs are measured against. If your program was accredited by a full signatory body abroad, BEM treats it as meeting the academic requirement for Graduate Engineer registration.
If your program was not accredited by a Washington Accord signatory, BEM's board reviews your transcript and coursework individually against Malaysian academic requirements before deciding whether you qualify directly.
Step 1: Graduate Engineer Registration
You apply to BEM with your degree certificate, official transcript and supporting documents through its registration system . If your degree is from an accredited program, this step is a straightforward document review.
If your qualification does not fully align with BEM's academic requirements, BEM offers the BEM Graduate Assessment Program (BEM-GAP) as an alternate route. BEM-GAP lets you bridge specific gaps, rather than being refused registration outright, and still reach Graduate Engineer status once you complete it.
Step 2: Build Supervised Practical Experience
After Graduate Engineer registration, you work under the supervision of a registered Professional Engineer and log your training, projects and responsibilities. BEM sets a minimum period of supervised practical experience before you can apply for Professional Engineer registration. Check the current required length and logbook format directly on BEM's website, since procedural details can be updated.
Step 3: Professional Engineer (PE) Registration
Once you complete the required experience, you submit your experience logbook and sit BEM's professional assessment. Passing this step gives you full Professional Engineer registration, which lets you use the PE title and sign off engineering work within your area of practice.
Provisional Registration
Provisional registration is an interim category for engineers who have met some, but not all, of BEM's core requirements. It lets you practice under supervision while you complete the outstanding requirements, rather than waiting on the sidelines until every condition is met. The exact eligibility criteria for provisional status are set by BEM, so confirm your specific case on its official site before assuming you qualify.
Where to Start
Begin with BEM's registration portal for the Graduate Engineer application, and check the Malaysian Qualifications Agency for how your specific overseas program is treated for accreditation purposes if you are unsure whether it was Washington Accord accredited.