Qualified Person Singapore: QPs and Accredited Checkers

Almost every building project in Singapore that needs approval runs through a small number of named professionals. The most important of these is the Qualified Person. A qualified person in Singapore, or QP, is a registered architect or Professional Engineer with a valid practising certificate, appointed by the owner or developer to prepare and submit plans and to supervise the works under the Building Control Act. For larger and more complex structures, an Accredited Checker provides an independent second review of the structural design.

This article explains who these people are, what the law asks of them, how their roles divide between design and supervision, and what owners should look for when appointing them. It is written by a practising structural engineer, and it focuses on the structure of accountability rather than on individual forms.

What makes someone a qualified person in Singapore

The Building Control framework defines a Qualified Person as someone registered as an architect under the Architects Act, or as a Professional Engineer under the Professional Engineers Act, who holds a practising certificate in force. Registration alone is not enough; the practising certificate is what allows the professional to take statutory responsibility for work.

The regulations match the type of QP to the type of work. Architectural building plans are generally prepared by a registered architect, or in some cases by a Professional Engineer in the civil or structural discipline. Structural plans must be prepared and submitted by a registered Professional Engineer in the civil or structural discipline. Specialist systems have their own requirements. The point is that the person signing a plan must be qualified in the discipline the plan covers.

If you are unsure whether your project needs one at all, our guides on whether you need a structural engineer and when you need a Professional Engineer work through the common scenarios.

QP for design and QP for supervision

The Building Control Act distinguishes between appointing a QP to prepare the plans and appointing a QP to supervise the works. In many projects the same person or firm does both, but the roles are legally separate, and it helps owners to understand each.

The design QP

The design QP prepares the plans, ensures they comply with the Building Control Regulations and the applicable codes, and submits them for approval. For structural work, this means the Professional Engineer designs the foundations, frame and other structural elements, prepares the calculations and drawings, and endorses them. Their signature is a statement that the design is adequate and compliant.

The supervising QP

The supervising QP is responsible for ensuring that the works are carried out in accordance with the approved plans. In practice, this involves inspections at critical stages, review of materials and test results, and, on larger projects, the deployment of full-time site supervisors such as resident engineers or resident technical officers who work under the QP’s direction. At completion, it is the supervising QP who issues the certificates of supervision that feed into the Temporary Occupation Permit and the Certificate of Statutory Completion.

The separation matters because it places a named, registered professional between the approved design and the finished building. If something on site departs from the approved plans, the supervising QP is expected to identify it and require either correction or a properly approved amendment.

What an Accredited Checker does

For certain building works, approval of the structural plans also requires a certificate from an Accredited Checker (AC). An AC is an experienced Professional Engineer accredited under the Building Control framework to check structural designs independently. The AC is appointed by the owner or developer but must be independent of the design: the regulations prohibit an AC from certifying plans in which they have a professional or financial interest.

The AC’s task is not to supervise construction but to review the structural design. Under the regulations, this involves evaluating and reviewing the structural design shown in the plans and performing original calculations to establish whether the key structural elements are adequate. The AC then issues a certificate stating whether any inadequacy has been found. Both the QP and the AC endorse the structural plans where an AC is required.

The requirement applies to what the legislation calls major building works, a category defined in the regulations by the nature and scale of the project. Where building works include significant underground elements, a specialist Accredited Checker in geotechnical engineering may also be required to check the geotechnical aspects. Your QP will confirm which checks your project needs; the thresholds are set in the regulations and should be read from the current version rather than assumed.

Accredited Checking Organisations

Accredited Checkers can also practise within Accredited Checking Organisations, which are firms accredited to provide checking services. BCA’s guidance allows ACs within such organisations to make structural plan submissions for projects of any value. For an owner, the practical consequence is the same: the structural design is reviewed by a second, independent and suitably senior engineer before it is approved.

Why the system is built this way

Singapore’s building control system relies heavily on professional accountability. The Commissioner of Building Control may approve structural plans for major works on the basis of an AC’s certificate, without re-checking every calculation. That efficiency depends entirely on the integrity of the professionals involved.

From the engineer’s side of the table, the system works well because responsibility is clear. The design QP owns the design. The AC owns the independent check. The supervising QP owns the link between drawings and construction. When something goes wrong, there is no doubt about who was responsible for which part, and the professional registration of each person is at stake. That clarity is, in our experience, one of the reasons the Singapore framework produces consistently safe buildings.

Appointing a QP: what owners should consider

The owner or developer is responsible for appointing the QP, and the choice has consequences well beyond the approval stage. A few practical considerations help.

Discipline and experience. Make sure the QP is registered in the right discipline and has experience with your type of building, whether that is a landed house rebuild, a commercial fit-out with structural alterations or a multi-storey development.
Scope of appointment. Be clear whether the appointment covers design only, supervision only or both, and what level of site supervision is included.
Coordination. The architectural QP and the structural QP must work to the same scheme. Late architectural changes force structural redesign and re-endorsement.
Fees. Professional fees reflect scope, complexity and risk. Our guides to architect and structural engineer fees and PE endorsement costs explain what drives the numbers.

Owners should also check the professional’s registration through the relevant board’s public register. A legitimate QP will expect this and will have no difficulty providing their registration details.

When a QP changes during a project

Sometimes a QP has to be replaced mid-project, because of a dispute, a change of firm or a professional’s unavailability. The Building Control Act requires the owner to appoint a replacement and notify BCA, and the incoming QP must be comfortable taking responsibility for work already done. That usually means reviewing the design and site records before accepting the appointment, and it can take time.

The lesson for owners is to treat the QP relationship as a long-term one, set out clear terms at the start and keep records accessible. A change of QP is manageable, but it is never free.

Frequently asked questions

Who is a qualified person in Singapore?

A Qualified Person is a registered architect or Professional Engineer holding a valid practising certificate, appointed by the owner or developer under the Building Control Act to prepare and submit plans and to supervise building works in the discipline for which they are registered.

What is the difference between a QP and an Accredited Checker?

The QP designs the works and submits the plans, or supervises construction. The Accredited Checker is an independent senior Professional Engineer who reviews the structural design and performs original calculations to confirm that key structural elements are adequate, without supervising construction.

Does every project need an Accredited Checker?

No. An Accredited Checker is required for major building works as defined in the Building Control Regulations, and a specialist geotechnical checker may be needed for significant underground works. Smaller projects such as many landed house works are approved on the QP’s submission alone.

Can the same person be the design QP and the supervising QP?

Yes, and on many projects the same professional or firm takes both roles. The appointments remain legally distinct, so the owner should be clear about which roles are covered and what level of site supervision is included.

Can an Accredited Checker work for the designer’s firm?

No. The regulations prohibit an Accredited Checker from certifying plans in which they have a professional or financial interest, so the checker must be independent of the design team for that project.

Looking for a Professional Engineer to act as QP for structural design or supervision? Talk to our consultancy or get in touch.