knowledge.experience.

commitment

IEngCEng

AN ENGINEERING STUDENT’S GUIDE

TO PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION
Making the transition
from graduate to professional

www.engc.org.uk
WHY SHOULD I BECOME PROFESSIONALLY WHICH TITLE SHOULD I AIM FOR?
REGISTERED?
Although your immediate focus will no doubt be working hard to As an engineering graduate, you have two options:
finish your engineering studies, it’s never too early to start to think Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng)1.
about ‘what next?’
If you are looking to pursue a career in engineering the next important step should
be achieving professional registration. This is the best way to show employers that
IEng and CEng are both well-recognised
titles that provide public demonstration IEng
you have made the transition from graduate to professional! of your achievements. The title you Incorporated Engineer
apply for will depend on a number of
Gaining professional registration gives you a title to show employers and wider factors.
society, in the UK and abroad, that you have the knowledge, skills and attitude they
Many engineers follow a career path
CEng
value. It demonstrates that your competence and understanding of engineering
principles have been independently assessed and that you have shown a that sees them using the IEng skill set,
commitment to keeping them up-to-date. while others acquire the additional skills Chartered Engineer
and competences required for CEng
registration.
Whichever title you apply for, the benefits of professional registration
are the same: If you were thinking of working directly
towards CEng status, you could

Improved career prospects 
Demonstration of work ethic valued find that you are eligible for IEng
and employability by employers and customers IEng:
registration several years earlier than

Higher earning potential

International recognition of your

Evidence of your expertise and
hard work
CEng. It is well worth going for the
IEng title as it provides you with all the
90%
agreed that they would
competence and commitment 
Enhanced status leading to higher benefits of professional registration, recommend to other
but sooner! engineers that they
self esteem

Greater influence within your become professionally
organisation and industry The next pages outline what registered
Incorporated and Chartered Engineers
typically do, alongside a flowchart to IEng:
Employers value professional registration show the academic qualifications that
88%
‘‘ ‘‘
count towards each title. If you are still
CEng: valued their
unsure, don’t worry, as you will be given
Professional Thales maintains its
93%
professional
lots of help and advice when you apply. registration highly
registration is now reputation delivering significant
a stipulation by and complex transportation agreed that they would
recommend to other
our customers for projects in challenging engineers that they
key personnel environments ensuring that its CEng: become professionally

85%
registered
for our top engineers are professionally

’’ ’’
projects. Bill Hewlett registered.
CEng FICE Source: Engineering Council
Paul Maynard valued their
2013 registrant survey
Technical Director Operations & professional
Costain Group PLC Transformation Director registration highly
Thales Ground
Transportation Systems
1
The other titles are Engineering Technician (EngTech) and ICT Technician (ICTTech)
2 3
 INCORPORATED ENGINEER CHARTERED ENGINEER
IEng CEng
Incorporated Engineers maintain and manage applications of current Chartered Engineers develop solutions to engineering problems
and developing technology, and may undertake engineering design, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity
development, manufacture, construction and operation. and change and/or they may have technical accountability for
complex systems with significant levels of risk.

They are able to demonstrate: They are able to demonstrate:

The theoretical knowledge to solve
problems in developed technologies
Is my degree accredited?
To take a ‘standard route’ to professional
UK-SPEC The theoretical knowledge to solve
problems in new technologies and
registration you should have an The UK Standard for Professional
using well proven analytical techniques accredited degree. You can check develop new analytical techniques
Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC)
Successful application of their whether your course is accredited describes the requirements that have Successful application of the
knowledge to deliver engineering and learn more at www.engc.org.uk/ to be met for professional registration knowledge to deliver innovative
courses. If it is not accredited, your as an EngTech, IEng or CEng and gives
projects or services using established engineering institution can carry out an examples of ways to do this. products and services and/or take
technologies and methods individual assessment of your education
Visit www.engc.org.uk/ukspec
technical responsibility for complex
and experience and advise whether you engineering systems
Responsibility for project and need to do more.
financial planning and management Accountability for project, finance and
together with some responsibility personnel management and managing
for leading and developing other trade-offs between technical and socio-
professional staff Standard Routes to Professional Registration economic factors
Effective interpersonal skills in  tandard route applications provide the simplest
S  lements here are not necessarily sequential and some
E Skill sets necessary to develop other
path to registration, but you can opt for an individual may be undertaken concurrently.
communicating technical matters assessment of your knowledge and understanding. technical staff
Commitment to professional Effective interpersonal skills in
engineering values. Bachelors Degree or Professional Professional communicating technical matters.
Bachelors (Honours) Development and review for
Degree accredited Work Experience
Stephen Carr for IEng registration to IEng Standard IEng

‘‘
IEng CITP
MBCS MACS Although I have attained a

‘‘
Further Learning As your career
number of high level academic
Bachelors (Honours)
For me, to be an Degree accredited as
to Masters Level progresses it is possible qualifications I feel that CEng
or Accredited to develop your
IEng was the completion partially meeting the
educational requirement
Masters Degree competences and move provides a benchmark of my
or Accredited
of a journey started for CEng
Engineering Doctorate
from one title to another competence, providing me
during formal education with a stronger CV
– whilst creating fresh when applying for

’’
Dr Caroline Lowe
paths to develop future vacancies.

’’
Professional Professional BSc MSc PhD
Accredited
myself along. Integrated Masters
Development and review for CEng MIExpE
Work Experience
(MEng) Degree
to CEng Standard CEng
IEng case studies are at: CEng case studies are at:
www.engc.org.uk/case-studies-ieng www.engc.org.uk/case-studies-ceng

4 5
WHAT CAN I DO NOW TOWARDS WHAT WILL I NEED TO DO WHEN
BECOMING PROFESSIONALLY REGISTERED? I FINISH UNIVERSITY?
In your first year - join a professional
engineering institution
Join one or more of the 36 professional
engineering institutions as soon as you can.
‘‘ It is definitely worth
the effort of going
through the application
Once graduated -
develop your competence
This generally involves workplace experience and
some further training (also known as professional
‘‘ CEng has
allowed me
to progress
beyond contract
The earlier you join the sooner you can start process, as being an development) - see UK-SPEC for more information management
to benefit from the support offered. The IEng demonstrates (link on page 5). You will need evidence from your and into strategic
engineering institution(s) you choose may that you are a valued employer’s training and development scheme or leadership
have accredited your degree and should professional engineer from a personal record of how you gained your
of technical

’’
relate to your area of study. Many offer student professional competences. Your engineering
within the industry. management. I am
membership at little or no cost and signing institution can assist so let them know you’re aiming
up will make sure that you keep up with what’s for professional registration - they could even help currently on the
happening in your field. The job market is Michael Clifford you find a mentor. Executive Board of
BEng (Hons) IEng
tough and every little helps. Refer to the rear my company and
FIFireE
cover for more information about membership I don’t feel I would
benefits and a link to a list of engineering Once experienced -
have achieved
institutions. professional review
this without CEng

’’
As soon as you feel that you have built your
In your second/third year - keep registration.

‘‘
competence to a level where you meet the
a record of your professional requirements for IEng or CEng, your institution
Now I am consulting, Greg Markham
development will help you to prepare for the final stage of your
being professionally registration application: the professional review. CEng FIHEEM
Start to record your professional development
registered as a CEng MIET MBIFM
as soon as possible – your institution can
means I can work at a

‘‘
provide guidelines and many have online
tools to help you to do this. Part of your higher pay scale and on Anyone looking to pursue a career in
professional development could take place projects where clients engineering should seriously consider professional
while at university, including through industrial require the consulting registration.  From our clients’ point of view, it provides
placements. If you haven’t already, start to capability of people an independent endorsement that the people working
make the most of the activities run by your that are at the top

’’
on their projects have the necessary skills and that they
engineering institution. of their profession. follow a professional code that endorses high levels
In your final year - stay in touch of accountability. From an employer’s perspective, it
Nikki Barker gives us increased confidence that the individuals can
Don’t forget to let your institution know CEng MIMechE
your new contact details when you graduate MIGEM successfully manage the higher levels of risk that are
to avoid losing touch and missing out on demanded by our most technically challenging and

’’
membership benefits! Remember that complex projects.
your engineering institution may be able
Mark Jones
to help you with job hunting and that your Director of Learning
membership will show potential employers & Development
that you are serious about your career. Atkins

6 7
WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE?

IEng CEng
www.engc.org.uk/ebook-ieng www.engc.org.uk/ebook-ceng

Joining a professional engineering institution is your first step

towards professional registration. Membership benefits that will help
you with your studies and professional development include:
Careers advice and access Networking opportunities where
to lifelong learning you could meet future employers
Support for professional Website access to ‘members
development and registration only area’
Access to technical events, seminars  Professional status, which may
and conferences include letters after your name
Journals, newsletters, technical Institutions are listed at
publications and other study resources www.engc.org.uk/institutions

What does the Engineering Council do?

As the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession, and in consultation
with the profession, the Engineering Council sets and maintains internationally
recognised standards of professional competence and ethics. It also sets the
standards for accredited engineering degrees.
The organisation holds the national register of professional engineers and
technicians, with over 235,000 individuals currently registered. Licences are granted
by the Engineering Council to professional engineering institutions, allowing them to
assess candidates for inclusion on the register and to accredit degree programmes.

Follow us on
@ EngCouncil
recognising professional excellence

Find us on
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Registered Charity: 286142 Published July 2014