Benefits Conditions Apply Now FAQ

CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONALS ERGONOMIST

A Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) is a credential for ergonomics practitioners who have demonstrated advanced expertise and a comprehensive understanding of the discipline. This includes proficiency in analyzing human interaction with products, tasks, and environments to enhance performance, safety, and well-being.

Malaysia Board of Certification of
Professional Ergonomist (MCPE)

MCPE functions as the national certification body for professional ergonomist in Malaysia and was established in 2024 by Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Malaysia. Certification through the MCPE is voluntary and provides candidates with the designation CPE (Certified Professional Ergonomist) or APE (Associate Professional Ergonomist).

The MCPE consists of board members through Malaysia who have knowledge and experience in ergonomics/human factors across various sectors. These Board members volunteer their time to promote certification and to review applications for certification to ensure that applicants meet a consistent set of standards in education, professional competencies, and work experience across the full scope of ergonomics and human factors practice.

Benefits of CPE Certification

Obtaining the CPE certification offers numerous benefits to professionals in the field of ergonomics:
Recognition of Expertise: The CPE certification is a mark of excellence, recognizing the holder's expertise and adherence to high professional standards.
Career Advancement: Certified professional ergonomists may have better job prospects, higher earning potential, and opportunities for career advancement.
Networking Opportunities: Certification provides access to a network of certified professionals, industry experts, and opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Contribution to the Field: Certified professional ergonomists contribute to the advancement of the field by promoting best practices and improving occupational health and safety.

Become a Certified Professional Ergonomist

The General Conditions

You are practicing human factors/ergonomics in the broad ‘systems’ sense of the definition, and in fields that may include engineering, OSH, physiology, biomechanics, psychology and work organisation
You have a shared perspective with other human factors professionals/ergonomists that is demonstrated via active and ongoing participation in a variety of HFE-specific activities such as professional development meetings, conferences, publication and study
You are practising human factors /ergonomics at a level equivalent to that of a university graduated professional
You are practicing human factors/ergonomics as an intrinsic part of design activities.

Two Pathways for Attaining Certification:

Route A: ASSOCIATE PROFESSIONAL ERGONOMIST (APE)

The Associate Professional is an intermediate pathway which provides applicants who fulfilled the education in HF/E knowledge area and supervised training requirement but lack the necessary work experiences such as a fresh graduate.

Academic requirement
A minimum of 3 years of full-time equivalent tertiary academic formation (Certificate, Diploma or Bachelor degree) in any field.
OR
Take accredited HF/E courses within Core Competencies category

AND

Pass written examination
Knowledge requirement
Possess the essential scope of ¹HF/E Areas of Knowledge as provided in Appendix 1.


Experiences/ Supervised training
Had less than 3 years of working experiences; 1 year of which is in the home country.
OR
Completed a minimum of 1 year of supervised training in HF/E (under a Certified Professional)

Route B: CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL ERGONOMIST (CPE)

The Certified Professional is the full certification award which consists of a diversified options for the applicant to fulfil the educational and knowledge requirement, demonstrate competency and showcase the experiences requirement.

Academic requirement
A minimum of a Master's degree in any field.
OR

Take accredited HF/E courses within Core Competencies

AND

Pass written examinations

Knowledge requirement
Possess the essential scope of knowledge within HF/E Knowledge Areas as provided in Appendix 1.

Demonstrate Competence
Achieve/demonstrate understanding and/or ability in which the essential core competency knowledge and skills attained are utilized and/or practiced in his/her profession as provided in Appendix 2  (via oral examination).
OR
Pass written AND oral examination.
Experiences/ Supervised training
Had more than 5 years of working experiences; 2 years of which are in the home country.
OR
Completed a minimum of 3 years of supervised training in HF/E (under a Certified Professional).
Clicking here to APPLY
Route A
Route B
(for more info refer to
handbook
)

FAQs

Based on the information from the handbook, here are 10 potential FAQs:

CPE certification is designed to validate the expertise and skills of professionals in human factors and ergonomics. It provides an endorsement of their professional knowledge, ensuring they meet the standards expected by the International Ergonomics Association (IEA).

MyCPE offers two certification levels: Associate Professional Ergonomist (APE) for those who meet educational requirements but have less experience, and Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) for individuals with advanced education and experience in the field.

Applicants need a minimum of three years of tertiary education in any field or have knowledge in HF/E, and pass a written exam. They must also have less than three years of experience or complete one year of supervised training.

CPE certification requires a master’s degree or equivalent knowledge in HF/E, proven competency through experience or examinations, and at least five years of relevant work experience, including two years in the home country.

The application includes providing personal, employment, and educational information; fulfilling knowledge and experience requirements; and submitting supporting documents. Applicants must also pass examinations if they do not meet knowledge requirements.

Examinations include both written (multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions) and oral components for CPE applicants. Written exams cover core competencies in HF/E, while oral exams assess competency and application in real-world scenarios.

Recertification is required every three years to ensure professionals maintain their knowledge and skills. Applicants need to accumulate points through professional activities, such as contributions, practice, education, and publications.

Certification may be suspended for failing to meet professional requirements or maintaining ongoing education. Withdrawal typically follows suspension if corrective actions are not taken or for severe ethical violations.

If an applicant disagrees with a certification decision, they can file an appeal in writing within 10 working days. The appeal is reviewed by an Appeals Committee, and the final decision is provided within a set timeline.

For assistance, applicants can contact the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society of Malaysia at president@hfem.org or visit the official website at hfem.org.