WIPA Registration Pathways 

There are two registration pathways as follows:

Pathway 1

If you have more than 4 years of relevant water industry experience, you can apply to become a Registered Water Industry Professional when you have achieved all of the following:

• A recognised water/wastewater qualification (e.g. NZ Certificate or Diploma in water/wastewater, or equivalent) – Please note that certified copies of qualifications need to accompany your enrolment.
• 4 or more year’s experience in the water/wastewater industry
• Endorsement from the enrolee’s employer
• Endorsement from a senior water professional outside of the enrolee’s employer

Applications can be made via info@wipa.co.nz for qualifications outside these criteria to be recognised. Applications for pathway 1, can be made by completing the registration as well as the enrolment form.

Pathway 2

If you have less than 4 years of relevant water industry experience, you can apply to become a Registered Water Industry Professional when you have achieved all of the following:

• 30 WIPA CPD credits achieved within a 2-year period
• A recognised water/wastewater qualification (e.g. NZ Certificate or Diploma in water/wastewater, or equivalent) – Please note that certified copies of qualifications need to accompany your enrolment.
• 2 year’s experience in the water/wastewater industry
• Endorsement from the enrolee’s employer
• Endorsement from a senior water professional outside of the enrolee’s employer

Applications can be made via info@wipa.co.nz for qualifications outside these criteria to be recognised. Applications for pathway 2, can be made by completing the registration as well as the enrolment form.

Registration levels

• Level one registration is granted to people who have achieved a NZQA level 3 reticulation qualification or similar.
• Level two registration is granted to people who have achieved a NZQA level 4 (certificate) qualification or similar.
• Level three registration is granted to people who have achieved a NZQA level 5 (diploma) qualification or similar.

Maintaining Registration   

Maintaining your WIPA registration is essential to ensuring your skills remain relevant to changes in the industry. You must meet the below criteria to keep your WIPA registration current.

• 30 WIPA CPD credits during each subsequent 2 year period
• Updated employer endorsement, every 4 years
• Updated senior water professional endorsement, every 4 years
• Ensure payment of annual administration fee is current

One of the main requirements of being a Water Industry Professional, is the ongoing maintenance of Continuous Professional Development (CPD). CPD for the WIPA programme consists of a blend of technical and personal development and can be both off-job and on-job.

Examples of different types of CPD are listed. Where possible off-job CPD opportunities, and the providers, must be pre-approved by the WIPA Management Committee and evidence of attendance provided by the Water Industry Professional.

On-job CPD is likely to include project management, mentoring, in house courses/training, writing a technical report. This form of CPD must be supported by certificates of achievement/third party attestations such as an employer’s written endorsement, explaining what outcomes/deliverable were achieved, as evidence.

Examples of CPD

CPD is measured by the number of hours assigned to each CPD activity. The WIPA Management Committee assigns the hours to each activity nased on activity structure, outcomes/deliverables, assessment methodology if required, and pre-approval status for the activity provider. On-job CPD activities may need to be assessed on a case by case basis based on the evidence submitted.