You, engineering student, You've probably heard of the industry council — also known as the Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy (CREA).

Some people question the existence of these professional councils, while others vehemently defend the ideas and practices they propose. Ultimately, what purpose do they serve?

In this post, we'll explain what CREA is in Engineering, how it influences the lives of professionals, the advantages of registering, and how to complete the registration process. Read on.

What is CREA?

The Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy (CREA) is a public body whose main objective is to oversee professionals in the field. technological areas.

Each state has a CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy), and together they act as the "arms" of the Federal Council of Engineering and Agronomy (CFE).CONFEA), a national-level entity.

The councils are made up of professionals from these fields of study, who register engineers and define technical standards. In addition, they oversee the work of their colleagues to ensure that truly qualified people work in this area, which is so important to society.

All professionals in Engineering and Agronomy are required to register with CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) to practice their profession. If they practice activities related to this career without registration, they will be subject to the penalties provided by law and may even lose their diploma.

And that's not what you want after dedicating so much time to your education, right?

Speaking of which, when registering, the professional also proves that they attended and completed a course. higher education Recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC).

Regarding mid-level industrial technicians, the CONFEA/CREA System is no longer mandatory. Now, these professionals are governed by the Federal Council of Industrial Technicians (CFT), created in March 2018 by... Law No. 13,639.

These technicians are those from the Engineering group, such as Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical and Metallurgical, Civil, Geological, Surveying and Mining. Mid-level technicians from the Agronomy group, and those belonging to the special group (such as Occupational Safety technicians), remain within the CONFEA/CREA System.

How does the CONFEA/CREA System work for Engineering?

This system is comprised of CONFEA and the CREAs, which work towards a common goal: defending the interests of society and ensuring the sustainable development of the country, while considering professional ethical values.

These oversight bodies—each with its own legal character—work collaboratively to maximize their services to citizens. The system's operation is guided by the following thematic areas:

• professional training;
• professional practice;
• system organization;
• social and professional integration.

What are the main functions of the Engineering Council?

Do you understand what CREA is and how it differs from CONFEA? This information is very important for your training in the field of Engineering, as are many other things that will set you apart in the market.

With that in mind, we've listed the main activities of CREA below. Keep reading to learn more.

Supervision of professionals

The Council's main function is to oversee professionals to ensure that their duties are performed ethically. Through visits and data collection, inspectors from each regional entity check for irregularities in works and other services carried out in the fields of Engineering and Agronomy — such as quality control inspections in factories, for example.

Guidance and standardization of the profession

In addition to oversight, the Engineering Council is responsible for drafting the profession's code of ethics and developing guidelines. This practice prioritizes excellence in the work of these professionals, issuing registrations for engineers and agronomists. This allows them to know what actions are appropriate when facing the challenges of their work.

Defense of professionals

Although unions have a more explicit role in defending engineers' rights, the Council also plays an important role in ensuring the well-being of professionals. Since service providers in the field must adhere to the entity's regulations, the category has greater protection and market share.

Professional development

The Council also helps to enhance the value of professionals, not only indirectly through oversight, but also by promoting lectures, courses, congresses, debates, and other events.

Thus, it encourages improvements and continuous development for the profession, bringing workers closer to schools and public administration.

These events are also a way to promote networking among professionals. In this way, they can develop in order to improve their performance in society.

What is the role of CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) in society?

Through its oversight role, the Engineering Council helps protect society from individuals who lack the ethics or adequate knowledge to work in the field.

This role is very important, since mistakes in the construction of a building, for example, can cause irreparable damage.

In this sense, CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) is essential to ensure that only qualified people practice the profession and to repress harmful conduct in the workplace.

What are the benefits of having Council certification?

Professional registrations for engineers and agronomists are documents issued by the Regional and Federal Councils. They certify that the person is sufficiently qualified to work in the field.

Having the certification means that the professional has assumed the duty to comply with the Council's regulations and is aware of the code of ethics in their field of practice.

Furthermore, registered individuals have more credibility in the job market and may even earn above-average salaries for their category.

Among the benefits of having a license issued by CREA are:

• To demonstrate knowledge in order to work in the field;
• To practice the profession legally;
• to stand out when companies are applying for jobs;
• to take office in public service positions that require this prerequisite;
• to be able to sign off on projects as the technical lead;
• to have advantages with Council partners — such as discounts on access to ABNT technical standards for active registered members.

If applicable, professionals can request a Technical Responsibility Annotation to ensure they have the knowledge and skills to operate construction projects and other services with quality and responsibility.

Do you want to know what this means and the importance of the document for project completion? That's what we'll see in the next topic.

What is ART and what is it used for?

The Technical Responsibility Annotation (ART) is a legal document that serves to define the technical professional responsible for a completed project or a service provided. It is used by various professionals, in addition to engineers, such as agronomists, geologists, and meteorologists.

As you can imagine, construction works and services require extra care to ensure everything is in order, from the materials used to the conduct of those working on the construction site. The creation of the ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate) reinforces the importance of this concern, which involves so many people.

According to Law No. 6,496/77, The lack of an ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate) imposes a fine on the professional or company responsible for executing the project – and may even lead to the work being halted until the registration is completed. If the project has already been completed, there is even a chance that its use could be blocked and sales interrupted.

Registration is fundamental to ensuring the duties and rights of both parties in a contract. For the client, the document guarantees that the hired professional is qualified to perform the assigned duties. For the contractor, the ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate) proves their skills in the field, strengthening their portfolio, providing due credit, and ensuring security in future hiring.

How is it classified?

There are three types of ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate), according to the definitions of CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy). They are classified as follows:

• type: with the function of work or service, routine work or service and position or function;
• Registration method: initial, supplementary, or replacement;
• Technical participation: individual, co-authored, jointly responsible, or as part of a team.

The company usually covers the registration costs. However, the technician is responsible for completing the documentation. It's also important to remember that the ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate) includes the start and end dates of the contract.

After this period, it is necessary to request the termination of the contract so that the professional is no longer responsible for the project without providing any further services.

How do I request an ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate)?

Given the importance of this document, you must want to know how to request it, right?

Keep in mind that the certificate must be issued by professionals from the CONFEA/CREA System, who must register online. Due to the sensitive nature of this matter, changes to the issuance rules may occur.

Here are some items that must be completed by the person in charge:

• co-author, co-responsible party, and team;
• company that was hired;
• Information regarding the contract and the contracting party;
• registration method;
• information about the work;
• statements;
• payment method.

When should I request the ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate)?

To ensure that the work complies with the law, guaranteeing quality and regularity in its execution, the ART (Technical Responsibility Certificate) should be requested at the very beginning of the project – ideally, it should be available on the first day of work. Since it can be requested online, it only takes a few minutes of the responsible party's time.

How do I register with CREA?

In order to combat this illegal practice, the CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) of each state is responsible for granting registrations to professionals who have graduated from colleges, universities, and other educational centers that are recognized by the MEC (Ministry of Education).

There are also registrations available for companies operating in the field, upon presentation of their staff roster and the names of their technical managers.

Remember that professionals not registered with CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) may be prevented from practicing their profession. Therefore, recent graduates should seek registration to enter the job market. Below, you can understand the step-by-step process.

Where do I begin?

Ideally, you should visit the website of the CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) in your region. That's where you'll find the information and documents needed to apply for professional registration.

Recent graduates and people who have not yet received their diploma can apply, even if it is for provisional registration, which is valid for one year.

What documents are needed?

To apply for registration, the professional must fill out a CREA form and bring the following documents (originals and copies):

• Identity card or foreign identity card;
• Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF);
• diploma or certificate from the course;
• Academic transcript, including subjects and course hours completed;
• Voter registration card and proof of electoral compliance;
• Proof of completion of military service, for men;
• Proof of residence;
• two 3x4 photographs.

If the person has performed the graduation Abroad, the diploma must be validated by a Brazilian educational institution.

In addition, it is necessary to present the course syllabus for the subjects taken. The professional can also include their blood type on their professional card, if they bring a specific laboratory test result.

How do I register?

With the original documents and certified copies, the professional must go to the service centers or CREA units in their area of practice to register. After the Council analyzes the documentation, a fee must be paid.

Once the registration is granted, the engineer can begin working. If they need to work in an area under the jurisdiction of another unit, they must update their registration.

Is there an annual fee?

To maintain its services, the CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) in each state charges professionals an annual fee, with amounts adjusted according to the law. These payments allow the Council to continue operating.

Is it possible to get discounts?

There are some cases outlined in specific resolutions that provide discounts on professional annual fees. This may be updated annually by the Federal Council.

It's important to check the rules in your state, but some cases where discounts are currently granted by CREA are:

• Disability due to serious illness — grants a 90% discount to the professional, provided they prove their condition through documentation;
• Professional owner of a Sole Proprietorship — guarantees an 80% discount to the professional;
• Senior professionals receive a 90% discount, subject to the conditions of each state.

What to do after provisional registration?

When your provisional registration period ends, it's important to transition to permanent registration. Therefore, when the diploma that was being processed by the educational institution is issued, duly qualified professionals working in the field should request the transition.

To make the change, simply contact the CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) in your state with the necessary documentation. In some cases, an online application is required. It is also possible to request an extension of the provisional registration for one more year from the expiration date.

As we have seen, CREA plays a fundamental role in protecting society in Engineering and is a key element in valuing careers in these fields. 

Therefore, professionals should not ignore registration before seeking a position in the best companies in the job market.

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