Can an engineer be held liable if a design later fails?

Yes, genuinely — a registered engineer carries real professional liability for their certified designs, which is exactly part of why certification is a meaningful, accountable process rather than just a formality.

This liability is why registered engineers carry professional indemnity insurance, and why genuine registration (checkable via the Victorian Building Authority) matters when choosing who certifies your project.

This professional accountability is one of the real, substantive reasons engineering certification exists — it’s not just about compliance paperwork, but genuine, accountable professional responsibility for the design’s safety.

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