Refer to UK-SPEC to know the requirements for professional registration as an Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer, or Chartered Engineer (CEng). It also includes activity examples that demonstrate the needed competence and commitment.
Each of the UK-SPEC registration titles we mentioned above requires a demonstration of five broad areas of competence and commitment:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Design, develop, and solve engineering problems
- Responsibility, management, and leadership
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Professional Commitment
Engineer Technician:
Engineering Technicians utilize proven techniques and procedures to the solution of practical engineering issues.
They must apply safe systems of work and can demonstrate the following:
- Proof of their contribution to either the design, development, manufacture, commissioning, operation, or decommissioning. Besides that, evidence of maintenance of products, processes, equipment, or services.
- Technical or supervisory responsibility
- Commitment to professional engineering values
- Effective interpersonal skills for communication about technical matters
Eligibility criteria:
Anyone can apply for EngTech registration provided that they must demonstrate the needed professional competences and commitment.
Usually, an applicant will have successfully completed a Modern/Advanced Apprenticeship or other work-based learning programme. This programme is approved by their professional engineering institution. It can result directly in Engineering Technician registration.
Or, alongside appropriate work experience, they will hold:
A qualification with approval from a licensed professional engineering institution in engineering or construction set at level 3 (or above). It is in the Qualifications and Credit Framework/National Qualifications Framework for England and Northern Ireland.
Or, at level 6 (or higher) in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework;
Or at level 3 (or higher) in the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales;
Or equivalent qualifications with approval from a licensed professional engineering institution.
Incorporated Engineer (IEng):
Incorporated Engineers maintain and handle applications of current and developing technology. In addition, they may take up engineering design, development, manufacture, construction, and operation.
Incorporated Engineers can demonstrate:
- The theoretical knowledge to sort out problems in developed technologies with well-proven analytical techniques.
- Successful use of their knowledge to deliver engineering services or projects with set methods and technologies.
- Accountability for the project and financial planning and management together with some responsibility to lead and develop other professional staff.
- Influential interpersonal skills to communicate technical matters
- Commitment to professional engineering values
Eligibility criteria:
Anybody capable of demonstrating the necessary UK-SPEC professional competences and commitment can apply for the IEng title. An individual generally develops this by means of education and working experience.
The application process for IEng registration is very simple for those ones who have exemplifying academic qualifications. This is one of the following for the title of IEng:
A recognized bachelor’s or honours degree in technology or engineering
An accredited HND or HNC in engineering or technology (for programmes that began before Sept 1999)
An HNC or HND began after Sept 1999 (but before Sept 2010 in the case of the HNC). Or, a Foundation Degree in engineering or technology, plus appropriate further learning to the degree level.
An NVQ4 or SVQ4 with approval for the purpose by a licensed engineering institution. In addition, appropriate further learning to degree level.
Chartered Engineer (CEng):
A Chartered Engineer develops solutions to engineering problems. They do so by using new or existing technology, through innovation, creativity, and change. Besides that, they may have technical accountability for complex systems with significant levels of risk.
A Chartered Engineer can demonstrate the following:
- The theoretical knowledge to sort out problems in new technologies and develop new analytical techniques.
- Successful use of the knowledge to deliver innovative services or/and products. In addition, they must be able to take up technical responsibility for complex engineering systems.
- Responsibility for project, finance, and personnel management and managing trade-offs between technical and socio-economic factors.
- Required skills to other technical staff
- Influential interpersonal skills to communicate technical subjects
Eligibility criteria:
The CEng title is for anybody capable of demonstrating the necessary professional competencies and commitment. A professional usually develops these by virtue of education and work experience.
The CEng registration application process is very simple for those ones who have exemplifying academic qualifications. This is one of the following for the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and commitment, UK-SPEC CEng:
A bachelor’s degree with honours in engineering or technology with accreditation for CEng. Plus, an appropriate and accredited master’s degree or Engineering Doctorate (EngD), or appropriate further learning to the Master’s level.
A recognized integrated MEng degree
To be kept in mind: If gained academic qualifications that are recognized as the exemplifying qualifications for CEng, these are still considered to be so. However, these qualifications must be recognized when you gained them.
If having the exemplifying qualifications, then you are automatically eligible for interim registration.
