As an experienced engineer or technician, do you know what value professional registration with the Engineering Council has to offer you?
Professional registration demonstrates to your employers, colleagues, customers and the wider engineering profession that you meet the globally recognised standards of competence and commitment in your field of engineering. These profession-wide standards are set out by the Engineering Council in the UK Standard of Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC) and the ICTTech Standard.
The four professional titles are:
Professional registration offers you and your employer many benefits. A growing number of employers pay the fees associated with membership and registration for their employees as they understand the value in employing a professionally registered workforce. Do ask if yours is among these.
Eligibility
A common misconception is that you will only be eligible for professional registration if you have an accredited engineering degree.
Professional registration is open to anyone who can:
- Demonstrate competence to perform professional work to the necessary standards, and commitment to maintain their competence
- Work within the professional codes
- Participate actively within the profession
Academic and vocational qualifications can provide an indication of eligibility for the different titles, because they demonstrate your level of knowledge and understanding.
However, all round professional competence will be the deciding factor. There are several other ways in which the required knowledge, understanding and skills can be demonstrated if you don’t have relevant qualifications. These can be found in UK-SPEC for EngTech, IEng or CEng and in the ICTTech Standard for ICTTech.
Your Licensed Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) can advise you further once they have assessed your qualifications, training and experience.
Whichever route you take to professional registration, here are the steps you will need to follow:
Join a Licensee or Professional Affiliate
The first step for engineers and technicians wishing to apply for registration is to join a Licensed PEI to assess candidates for professional engineering registration. Some of these organisations have agreements to register their members through a Licensed PEI. Among the many benefits of joining is the support that the institutions offer to help you in working towards registration.
The Registration Process
The assessment process for registration is known as the professional review. This starts with a written application, which may vary depending on the requirements of your institution. Your institution will provide you with everything you need to know. For IEng and CEng registration there is also a professional review interview. Once your Licensed PEI has verified that you meet the criteria, they will submit a registration form to the Engineering Council on your behalf.
To prepare for the professional review you will need to record your professional development. This provides a body of evidence on your understanding, qualifications, skills and experience for the assessors to review. The sooner in your career you start to record this information, the easier it will make it for you to apply.
Tell your Licensed PEI that you're aiming for a professional title
Let your Licensed PEI know that you wish to apply for professional registration with the Engineering Council. Their staff will be able to look at your qualifications, training and experience and advise you which title you might be eligible for and whether any further learning or experience is required. Many may also be able to help you to find a mentor.
Record your professional development
To gain and maintain professional registration with the Engineering Council you need to record your professional development. This provides a body of evidence on your qualifications, activities and experience for you to draw on when you are ready to apply for your chosen title.
Assessment - the professional review
The assessment process for registration is known as the professional review. This starts with a written application, which may vary depending on the requirements of your Licensed PEI.
Your Licensed PEI will provide you with everything you need to know. For IEng and CEng registration there is also a professional review interview.
Once your Licensed PEI has verified that you meet the criteria, they will submit a registration form to the Engineering Council on your behalf.
Certification
Upon receipt of your registration form from your Licensed PEI, the Engineering Council will verify and process your application. Following this, you will be added to the national register; this normally takes place within five working days of receiving your registration form. You will then receive your registration pack, which includes a certificate showing your new title and your post-nominal letters which you can begin using to emphasise your professional status.
At this time, you can also download the relevant registrant logo for use on your business cards, email signature and stationery.