1.

Introduction

1.1

A period of training exemption may be approved for a trainee who has:-

(a)

Obtained relevant work experience or training prior to gaining the HKIE recognised academic award.

(b)

Undergone training whilst studying on an HKIE recognised degree course (e.g. training in approved centre or on a sandwich course)

(c)

Obtained relevant training/work experience after the award of an HKIE recognised academic qualification and prior to registration on Scheme "A".

1.2

The maximum exemption that can be granted is 18 months. It being a requirement that at least 6 months of the Scheme "A" training be after obtaining the recognised academic award.

2.

Rules of Exemptions

The qualifying types of training and general requirements for Scheme "A" training exemptions are as follows:

2.1

'Industrial' Training undertaken in an Approved Industrial Training Centre*.

2.2

Industry Based Training carried out as part of Sandwich Course.

2.3

Any relevant Work Experience or Training other than 2.1 and 2.2 above.

2.4

The trainee must have satisfactorily completed the period of training or work experience for which exemption is sought.

2.5

Exemptions proposals should be agreed within company/organisation and proposed by the company/organisation to the HKIE.

2.6

Requests for Exemption are expected at the time of or soon after registration. Exemption application outside 6 months from the date of registration will NOT be processed.

2.7

Request for exemptions will only be accepted from the trainee's company/ organisation, endorsed by the Engineering Supervisors.

2.8

Late submission of Form TD2 (Scheme "A" - Employer's Registration of Trainee) by the Company/Organisation cannot be used as a reason for Exemption application as a maximum of 6 months is already allowed for training back date.

2.9

The maximum exemption granted will be 18 months. This could consist of:-

(a)

Normally not more than 8 weeks for training undertaken in an approved industrial training centre (no exemption for this training is given to Civil, Structural and Geotechnical Engineering Trainees).

(b)

Up to 12 months for sandwich course training for all disciplines except for Civil, Structural and Geotechnical Engineering Trainees where the maximum is 6 months.

(c)

relevant training/work experience other than in 2.9 (a) & (b) above may be considered as acceptable for exemption from Scheme "A" Training.

For Training Exemption based on Work Experience Obtained by Trainee Prior to Gaining the HKIE Recognized Academic Award (e.g. Pre-degree Work Experience):

(i)	A nominal maximum duration of exemption of 6 and 4 months for 3 and 2 years Scheme "A" training respectively.
(ii)	Applications for exemption would be considered on an individual case-by-case basis by Training Review Sub-committees with reference to (i) above by the Training Committee.

3.

Procedure

Requests for Exemption are only accepted from approved Scheme "A" companies (not from individual trainees). A company wishing to claim exemption for a trainee should base their proposal on discussions between the trainee and the designated Engineering Supervisor. In this matter the Engineering Supervisor is considered the final arbiter of what should be claimed. It is expected that the exemption claimed will be based on the company needs/activities and the Training Objectives that the trainee can show have already been met.

Exemption proposals should be agreed within the company/organisation and proposed by the company/organisation to the HKIE. For each exemption request the endorsement of Engineering Supervisor is required, and the request should forward to the Training Manager of the HKIE for consideration by the relevant Training Review Sub-Committee a proposal as follows:-

Approval on Exemption application would not necessarily include exemption on CPD hours. A separate request on exemption of CPD hours is requested if applicable. The amount to be claimed will be at the Engineering Supervisor's discretion, subject to the corresponding CPD hours required for the exemption period.

The HKIE will notify the Engineering Supervisor in writing, as to the result of the application and give details of the consequent amended Training Completion Date.

* 'Approved Centre' means the Industrial Centre of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, or The University of Hong Kong or the VTC Training Centre offering EGTS training and or The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. Exemption for training provided by 'Centres' other than the above may be considered on an individual case basis.