To become a fire protection engineer you need a Bachelor of Engineering and a Masters in Fire Engineering.

Bursary or NCEA equivalent maths with statistics, maths with calculus, and science (especially physics and chemistry) are required to enter tertiary training.

More information about studying engineering and technology at secondary school is available in the following publication from the Institute of Professional Engineers New Zealand:

•  Information about technology education for parents

Skills are gained on the job. Fire protection engineers may attend courses, seminars, workshops and conferences to keep their skills up to date and to learn about new products. They are also expected to read journals and the engineering standard requirements for local authorities to keep up with trends in the industry.

After completing qualifications, gaining appropriate work experience (usually four to five years) and completing a practical competency assessment fire protection engineers may apply to the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ) to become a chartered professional engineer (CPEng).

To maintain registration chartered engineers need to demonstrate their ability to practise and display evidence of undertaking professional development at least every five years.

Useful experience for fire protection engineers includes:

• work on a building site
• any work involving building engineering, architecture or the building construction industry
• work with architects
• work in the petrochemical industry
• work associated with manufacturing and industrial processes
• work for a fire protection organisation
• work for an insurance company
• community safety projects
• fire-fighting or work in the NZ Fire Service.