Frequently Asked Questions

Each application needs to include at least the following:  completed application form supporting documents regarding ergonomics education (degree certificates, academic transcripts, course outlines) work samples (at least one large work project and at least one small work project). You will most probably have to submit more than two work samples. Your work samples should demonstrate that you have met each of the core competencies as outlined in the application form. If there are multiple authors on your work samples, you will need to carefully describe how you have contributed to the report. If you have a CPE as a mentor, then your mentor must also submit a report detailing the work that you have completed and the competencies that you have achieved (and how you have achieved them). signed code of conduct proof of payment of the application fee

The competencies that the applicant must demonstrate in their work samples are: Investigates and analyses the demands for ergonomics design to ensure appropriate interaction between work, product and environment, and human needs, capabilities and limitations. Analyses and interprets findings of ergonomics investigations. Documents ergonomics findings appropriately. Determines the compatibility of human capabilities with planned or existing demands. Develops a plan for ergonomics design or intervention. Makes appropriate recommendations for ergonomics changes. Implements recommendations to improve human performance, health and well-being. Evaluates outcomes of implementing ergonomics recommendations. Demonstrates professional behaviour and does not work outside his/her area of competence.

A major work sample is a piece of work where the contribution of the applicant was more than 300 hours.

The work samples should indicate all nine competencies as described in the questions above.

Certification as CPE requires at least 4 years of full-time ergonomics work experience, certification as CEA 2 years. Part-time work and work were ergonomics only forms part of the applicants responsibility are considered accordingly. This may be reduced by 25% where the applicant’s work is supervised by a mentor who is a CPE, but the mentor needs to complete a mentorship report which is submitted with your application.

Professional practice and ergonomics education are considered independently and the general principle is that educational requirements cannot be fulfilled by extensive work experience and vice versa. However, the PAB constitution acknowledges that due to lack of historical access to education not everyone was in the position to gain access to postgraduate education, there is the option to prove that you have the knowledge and skills that someone would gain with a Master degree. The technical term for this is ‘recognition of prior learning’. You would basically need to demonstrate that you have the skills and the knowledge (both ergonomics specific as well as general Masters studies outcomes). If you were to apply for CPE without a Master degree you would need to go through every single ergonomics educational core competence and describe where you have gained that knowledge and how to prove it.

Experience may include working as an ergonomics practitioner, educating others about ergonomics, or conducting ergonomics research, where ergonomics practice also forms a part of the person’s total activity.

Yes. The assessment of ergonomics education looks at two criteria: Whether you have a degree and; How many hours you spent on ergonomics education. To demonstrate the ergonomics education you need to fulfil the different hourly requirements for the different sections in the application form. In order to assess this you need to demonstrate how this was obtained. So, for the different course/modules the assessors require a course outline and the length/duration of the course either described as nominal hours of work or using ‘notional hours’ or credit as defined by the South African Qualifications Authority SAQA.