Working towards professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) is an important career goal for any graduate engineer. Once you have gained some work experience this should be the next achievement you work towards.
Achieving professional registration shows employers and wider society, in the UK and abroad, that you have the knowledge, competence, skills and attitude they value. It demonstrates that your understanding of engineering principles and competence have been independently assessed and that you have shown a commitment to keeping them up to date.
As IEng and CEng are defined by the globally recognised UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC), becoming registered can be a huge advantage if you are looking to work overseas or for a company that operates internationally.
Licensed Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) membership
The first step towards becoming professionally registered is to join a Licensed PEI so you should stay in touch with any institutions you belong to when you graduate. If you didn’t join while at university, now is a good time to do so. Several of these Licensed PEI offer reduced membership rate for graduates.
Licensed PEI membership can provide significant support through your early career, including professional development opportunities, mentoring and an invitation to register your intention to work towards professional registration.
By registering your interest, your Licensed PEI will be able to guide you on how to build up your competence portfolio and advise you when you are ready to apply for professional registration.
As a graduate, Interim Registration is also an option.
Which Professional Title can I choose?
As an engineering graduate you should consider three options:
CEng, IEng and EngTech are well-recognised titles that demonstrate your achievements publicly.
Many engineers follow a career path that sees them using the EngTech or IEng skill set, while others acquire the skills and competence required for CEng registration.
If you were thinking of working towards CEng status, an option to consider is going for IEng first. You could find that you are eligible for this several years earlier than CEng. It provides you with all the benefits of professional registration, but sooner!