推動技師資格國際互認：邁向技術輸出與全球接軌的新里程Advancing Mutual Recognition: Integrating Taiwan’s Engineering Talent with the Global Market
在全球經貿競爭日益激烈、專業服務流通趨勢明確的背景下，推動我國技師資格制度的國際相互認許，已成為不可迴避的重要課題。技師國際化不僅是提升我國工程顧問產業競爭力的關鍵，更是技師制度邁向現代化、專業化與國際接軌的重要指標。
一、技師法修正：建立相互認許之法制基礎
行政院公共工程委員會早於 107 年即完成《技師法》修正草案，為我國未來與他國技師資格互認提供法源依據。修正案核心內容包括：
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職稱與登記： 明訂外國技師以「認許技師」為稱謂，並採行臨時登記制度。
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共同執業： 規定外籍技師須與國內技師共同簽證執業。
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國際友善： 首度開放外籍技師應試時得以英文作答。 此修正案是推動工程服務國際化的制度基石，實應加速審議與通過。
二、深化台澳協議：啟動國際互認實質合作
我國與澳洲之技師相互認許協議雖協商多年，惟礙於國內法制尚未完備，遲未簽署生效。
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重啟協商： 建議參考 APEC 建築師中央監督委員會與澳洲合作模式，透過《條約締結法》機制重新啟動協商。
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實質交流： 本年度規劃赴澳洲坎培拉與**澳洲工程師協會（Engineers Australia, EA）**會面，進行後續實質磋商，協助主管機關推動正式簽署互認協議。
三、擴大國際對話：評估台英互認可行性
配合政府於 112 年底簽署「提升貿易夥伴關係協議（ETP）」及 113 年展開「台英經貿夥伴協議（ETF）」談判之契機，英方已表示願將「國際工程師相互認許制度」納入議題。 本會將蒐集**英國工程師協會（Engineering Council UK, ECUK）**之制度資料，釐清資格標準與監理機制，專業評估英台工程師資格互認的可行性與時機。
四、回應 CPTPP 自由貿易談判：提供政策支援
我國申請加入《跨太平洋夥伴全面進步協定》（CPTPP），其中第十章《跨境服務貿易》附件 10-A 明確鼓勵推動亞太工程師與建築師相互認證。這印證了推動技師資格互認的急迫性。本會將持續提供相關技術諮詢，協助政府在多邊談判中爭取有利於我國技師的制度安排。
五、了解實務障礙：為互認談判建言
為使協議切合需求，我們將持續調查技師於海外執業遭遇之證照取得、實務限制、語言規範等障礙，並結合 MRA（相互認許協議）案例，建立國際談判參考資料庫。
六、預期效益與未來展望
推動技師資格國際相互認許，將帶來多重效益：
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促進技術輸出： 助攻臺灣技師進軍國際，提升工程顧問業出口值。
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強化國際合作： 深化與英、澳及 CPTPP 成員國的人才流動。
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支持經貿政策： 結合工程專業與國家經貿策略，打造有利談判空間。
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提升競爭力： 擴展海外執業管道，增進專業實務與國際地位。
結語
技師資格的國際相互認許，不僅是制度改革，更是臺灣工程產業升級轉型的關鍵。我們將持續扮演技師與政府、國際社會間的橋樑，積極為國內技師開創走向國際的嶄新未來。
Against the backdrop of intensifying global economic competition and the clear trend towards the mobility of professional services, promoting the international mutual recognition of Taiwan’s professional engineering qualifications has become an imperative task. Internationalization is not only key to enhancing the competitiveness of our engineering consulting industry but also a vital indicator of our system’s modernization, professionalism, and alignment with global standards.
1. Amendment of the Professional Engineers Act: Establishing the Legal Foundation
The Public Construction Commission of the Executive Yuan completed the draft amendment to the Professional Engineers Act as early as 2018. This amendment serves as the legal basis for future mutual recognition and includes:
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Designation & Registration: Defining foreign engineers as "Recognized Professional Engineers" and adopting a temporary registration system.
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Joint Practice: Stipulating that foreign engineers must practice and sign off on projects jointly with domestic engineers.
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International Friendliness: Allowing foreign engineers to answer examination questions in English for the first time. This bill is the institutional cornerstone for internationalizing engineering services and should be accelerated for review and passage.
2. Deepening Taiwan-Australia Relations: Activating Substantial Cooperation
Although the mutual recognition agreement between Taiwan and Australia has been negotiated for years, it has not yet been signed due to incomplete domestic legislation.
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Restarting Negotiations: We suggest referencing the cooperation model between the APEC Architect Central Monitoring Committee and Australia to restart the negotiation process via the Treaty Conclusion Act.
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Substantial Dialogue: This year, we plan to visit Canberra to meet with Engineers Australia (EA) for substantive consultations, assisting competent authorities in pushing for the formal signing of a mutual recognition agreement.
3. Expanding International Dialogue: Assessing Taiwan-UK Mutual Recognition
Leveraging the "Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETP)" signed in late 2023 and the "Enhanced Trade Partnership (ETF)" negotiations starting in 2024, the UK has expressed willingness to include "International Engineer Mutual Recognition" in the agenda. We will gather data on the Engineering Council UK (ECUK) system to clarify qualification standards and regulatory mechanisms, providing professional analysis on the feasibility and timing of mutual recognition between UK and Taiwanese engineers.
4. Responding to CPTPP Negotiations: Providing Policy Support
Taiwan applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2021. Annex 10-A of Chapter 10 (Cross-Border Trade in Services) explicitly encourages member countries to promote mutual certification for APEC engineers and architects. We will continue to provide technical consultation and industry feedback to assist the government in securing favorable institutional arrangements for our engineers in multilateral negotiations.
5. Understanding Practical Barriers: Advising on Negotiations
To ensure agreements meet the practical needs of Taiwanese engineers, we will continue to survey barriers encountered in overseas practice—such as licensure acquisition, practice restrictions, and language requirements. Combined with MRA (Mutual Recognition Agreement) case studies, this will establish a reference database for international negotiations.
6. Expected Benefits and Future Outlook
Promoting international mutual recognition will deliver multiple benefits:
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Promoting Tech Export: Helping Taiwanese engineers enter international markets and increasing the export value of the engineering consulting industry.
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Strengthening Cooperation: Deepening technical cooperation and talent mobility with the UK, Australia, and CPTPP members.
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Supporting Trade Policy: Combining engineering expertise with international trade strategy to create favorable negotiation leverage for the government.
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Enhancing Competitiveness: Expanding overseas practice channels and elevating professional status globally.
Conclusion
The international mutual recognition of engineering qualifications is not just an institutional reform; it is a critical step in the upgrading and transformation of Taiwan's engineering industry. We will continue to serve as a bridge between engineers, the government, and the international community, actively creating a new future for domestic engineers to go global.
