Per-Section Word Count
Every Career Episode is counted separately against the 1,000 to 2,500 word limit, because EA assesses each episode on its own, not as a combined total.
CDR Word Count Checker
Check your Career Episodes, Summary Statement, and CPD log against Engineers Australia word count limits in seconds. Add each section, run the check, and get instant counts plus first person language analysis so your CDR is ready before you submit.
Check Your CDR Word Counts
Add your Career Episodes one at a time, paste the optional sections, then run the check to see your status against the Engineers Australia limits.
For guidance only. This tool counts words as whitespace separated tokens and estimates first person usage with simple pattern matching. Your word processor or the Engineers Australia submission portal may use a different counting method. Always verify final word counts in Microsoft Word or the EA portal before submission.
Understand Your Results
Each section card and analysis panel tells you whether that part of your CDR meets the Engineers Australia guideline and what to fix before you submit.
Status and Progress Bar
Green means within range, amber means close to the limit, and red means too short or too long. The bar shows how far you are toward the 2,500 word ceiling.
First-Person Analysis
The tool counts I versus we, our, and us across your episodes so you can spot team focused writing that hides your personal engineering role.
Summary Statement
There is no strict word limit because it is a cross referencing table. The checker counts it for reference, but the priority is covering every competency element.
CPD Log
No word limit applies. The real requirement is about 150 hours of CPD over three years with clear dates, activities, and links to engineering practice.
Total CDR Volume
The dashboard adds up your narrative word count so you can sanity check overall length and balance across your Career Episodes.
EA Word Count Guidelines at a Glance
Use this reference for the recommended length of each CDR component before submitting to Engineers Australia. Career Episode limits are firm, while the Summary Statement and CPD log are governed by content requirements rather than word counts.
CDR Component Reference
| Component | Minimum | Maximum | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Episode 1 | 1,000 | 2,500 | Numbered paragraphs, first person, individual engineering detail |
| Career Episode 2 | 1,000 | 2,500 | Your contribution, not the team's, so avoid we and our |
| Career Episode 3 | 1,000 | 2,500 | Clear problem solving narrative with measurable outcomes |
| Summary Statement | No limit | No limit | Must reference every competency element by paragraph |
| CPD Log | ~150 hrs / 3 yrs | No limit | Dated entries linked to engineering practice |
| CV / Résumé | No limit | No limit | Cover full education and engineering experience |
Before You Submit: Word Count Checklist
Run through these four checks once your counts are inside the limits to make sure each section is genuinely assessment ready.
Each Episode In Range
Confirm all your Career Episodes sit between 1,000 and 2,500 words, ideally 1,500 to 2,000, with balanced length across the three.
First Person Throughout
Reduce we, our, and us to near zero in your episodes. Rewrite team statements as specific I statements that show your own engineering decisions.
Trim Off-Topic Content
If an episode is over the limit, cut company background, generic context, and repeated descriptions that do not demonstrate your competency.
Expand Thin Episodes
If an episode is under 1,000 words, add design decisions, calculations, problem solving steps, tools used, and the outcomes you achieved.
Need Help Meeting EA Word Count Requirements?
Our CDR writers craft EA compliant Career Episodes, Summary Statements, and full CDR packages with word count, structure, first person language, and competency alignment checked at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about CDR word counts, Career Episode length, the Summary Statement, first person writing, and CPD log expectations.
Engineers Australia requires each Career Episode to be between 1,000 and 2,500 words. A practical sweet spot is 1,500 to 2,000 words, which gives enough depth to demonstrate your competencies without padding that risks pushing you over the 2,500 word ceiling.
Assessors may stop reading at the 2,500 word limit, so any competency element you demonstrate beyond that point can be missed entirely. Trim by removing company background, generic context, and narrative that does not directly show your engineering work, until each episode is back within the limit.
No. Engineers Australia does not publish a strict word count for the Summary Statement. It is a cross referencing table that must address every competency element with a paragraph reference back to your Career Episodes. Focus on completeness and clarity rather than hitting a word target, and this tool counts it for reference only.
Career Episodes must be written in the first person to show your individual engineering contribution. Frequent use of we, our, or us makes it hard for assessors to separate your work from the team. The first person analysis flags these so you can rewrite them as specific I statements before you submit.
There is no strict word count for the CPD log. The requirement is a minimum of around 150 hours of continuing professional development over the three years before you apply, recorded with clear dates, activity descriptions, hours, and links to your engineering practice.
This tool counts whitespace separated words, the same method most word processors use. The EA portal or your version of Microsoft Word may count slightly differently due to headings, numbering, or hyphenation. Leave a small margin under each limit and confirm the final count in Word before lodging your application.
