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Chartered Engineer (UK)
Encyclopedia
In the United Kingdom
, a Chartered Engineer is an engineer
registered with Engineering Council UK
(the British
regulatory body for engineer
s). Contemporary Chartered Engineers are master's degree-qualified and have gained professional competencies through training and experience. The formation process (academic + internship / apprenticeship / graduate training + peer reviewed professional practice) of a Chartered Engineer spans 8–12 years. The title Chartered Engineer is protected by civil law but the practice of engineering has no legal restrictions in the UK. With over 180,000 registrants, it is one of the most recognizable international engineering qualifications with registrants in many countries.
, Chartered Engineers "are characterised by their ability to develop appropriate solutions to engineering problems, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change. They might develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs and design methods, introduce new and more efficient production techniques, marketing and construction concepts, pioneer new engineering services and management methods. Chartered Engineers are variously engaged in technical and commercial leadership and possess interpersonal skills."
For registration, it is necessary for candidates to demonstrate that they are professionally competent through education, training and professional practice. Although many Chartered Engineers have honours degrees in engineering, science or mathematics, since 1997 it has been necessary to demonstrate undergraduate masters level knowledge and understanding, most commonly by completion of the four-year undergraduate integrated MEng degree, or by gaining an appropriate masters degree following completion of a three-year bachelor degree in engineering or a cognate subject. Candidates are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of professional competence to practice, through evidence gained from records of initial professional development, and by professional review followed by Interview and Technical Presentation in front of a Professional Board. The final stage of assessment is a "professional review" (interview) conducted by two Chartered Engineers and a Chairperson at which the candidate's competence will be assessed. A full description of the requirements for registration appears at the Engineering Council's website . Overall it usually takes a minimum of 8 years but usually 10 years of university education and post graduate training to achieve the Chartered Engineer qualification.
Chartered Engineers are recognised as professional engineers.
Other professional engineers registered by the Engineering Council are Incorporated Engineers.
Chartered and Incorporated Engineers are recognised in Europe as regulated professions by the Directive 2005/36.
CEng after names as a means of emphasising their status with the Engineering Council. They can also make use of a logo, which is intended primarily for use in correspondence and on business cards. This is restricted to use by Engineering Council Registrants only, through approval by the Patent Office for its registration as a Certification Mark. This is written after honours, decorations and university degrees
but before letters denoting membership of professional engineering institutions.
When a Chartered Engineer has more than one institution membership conferring designatory letters
, the institution through which the holder is registered as a Chartered Engineer appears immediately after CEng, with other memberships following in order of the institutions' foundation dates. Engineers with "chartered" titles awarded by professional institutions (such as Chartered Electrical Engineer, awarded by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
prior to 2002) are only entitled to call themselves chartered engineers and use the CEng suffix if they are registered accordingly with Engineering Council Any IEE member who prior to 2002 was entitled to be called a Chartered Electrical Engineer can still do so if still a member of the IEE, now the IET.(see IET website)
qualification required for registration, there have been inconsistencies in the Washington Accord
agreement on the recognition of academic qualifications.
Although the Engineering Council (UK) now requires a master's-level
qualification for Chartered Engineer registration, the other Washington Accord
signatories have not raised the level of qualification (it remains at the bachelor's degree-level see Engineers Australia
. A recent International Engineering Alliance (IEA) meeting brought forth these issues regarding the Washington Accord. It was unanimously agreed that all Washington Accord countries will look to follow the path taken by the UK and raise the requirement for professional engineer
registration to the master's degree-level
. This will mean that the UK will require a 6 year masters course to be equivalent to a North American Masters degree. In the meantime, the Engineering Council (UK) can restrict registration to those that hold bachelor's degree qualifications from Washington Accord countries. And reciprocally many current UK qualified Chartered Engineers are not eligible for licensing as Professional Engineer
s in Australia, Canada and the United States since they do not have accredited engineering degree level education. Licensing bodies in North America assess each Chartered Engineers application for P.E / P.Eng on a case by case basis. Licensing rigour in North America exists because of state and provincial law and legal liability requirements.
Chartered Engineers are entitled to register through the European Federation of National Engineering Associations
as a European Engineer
and use the pre-nominal of Eur Ing.
register of Chartered Engineers is Engineering Council UK
. Authority to register Chartered Engineers is delegated to licenced member institutions:
Some of these institutions also register Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians. There are other Engineering Council UK
licensed member institutions that register Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians but do not register Chartered Engineers.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a Chartered Engineer is an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
registered with Engineering Council UK
Engineering Council UK
The Engineering Council is Britain's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and technicians, holding a register of these and providing advice to students, engineers, employers and academic institutions on the standards for registration and procedures for...
(the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
regulatory body for engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s). Contemporary Chartered Engineers are master's degree-qualified and have gained professional competencies through training and experience. The formation process (academic + internship / apprenticeship / graduate training + peer reviewed professional practice) of a Chartered Engineer spans 8–12 years. The title Chartered Engineer is protected by civil law but the practice of engineering has no legal restrictions in the UK. With over 180,000 registrants, it is one of the most recognizable international engineering qualifications with registrants in many countries.
Qualifications required for registration
According to Engineering Council UKEngineering Council UK
The Engineering Council is Britain's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and technicians, holding a register of these and providing advice to students, engineers, employers and academic institutions on the standards for registration and procedures for...
, Chartered Engineers "are characterised by their ability to develop appropriate solutions to engineering problems, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change. They might develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs and design methods, introduce new and more efficient production techniques, marketing and construction concepts, pioneer new engineering services and management methods. Chartered Engineers are variously engaged in technical and commercial leadership and possess interpersonal skills."
For registration, it is necessary for candidates to demonstrate that they are professionally competent through education, training and professional practice. Although many Chartered Engineers have honours degrees in engineering, science or mathematics, since 1997 it has been necessary to demonstrate undergraduate masters level knowledge and understanding, most commonly by completion of the four-year undergraduate integrated MEng degree, or by gaining an appropriate masters degree following completion of a three-year bachelor degree in engineering or a cognate subject. Candidates are also required to demonstrate an appropriate level of professional competence to practice, through evidence gained from records of initial professional development, and by professional review followed by Interview and Technical Presentation in front of a Professional Board. The final stage of assessment is a "professional review" (interview) conducted by two Chartered Engineers and a Chairperson at which the candidate's competence will be assessed. A full description of the requirements for registration appears at the Engineering Council's website . Overall it usually takes a minimum of 8 years but usually 10 years of university education and post graduate training to achieve the Chartered Engineer qualification.
Chartered Engineers are recognised as professional engineers.
Other professional engineers registered by the Engineering Council are Incorporated Engineers.
Chartered and Incorporated Engineers are recognised in Europe as regulated professions by the Directive 2005/36.
Designatory lettering
Chartered Engineers are entitled to use the suffixPost-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
CEng after names as a means of emphasising their status with the Engineering Council. They can also make use of a logo, which is intended primarily for use in correspondence and on business cards. This is restricted to use by Engineering Council Registrants only, through approval by the Patent Office for its registration as a Certification Mark. This is written after honours, decorations and university degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
but before letters denoting membership of professional engineering institutions.
When a Chartered Engineer has more than one institution membership conferring designatory letters
Post-nominal letters
Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles or designatory letters, are letters placed after the name of a person to indicate that the individual holds a position, educational degree, accreditation, office, or honour. An individual may use several different sets of...
, the institution through which the holder is registered as a Chartered Engineer appears immediately after CEng, with other memberships following in order of the institutions' foundation dates. Engineers with "chartered" titles awarded by professional institutions (such as Chartered Electrical Engineer, awarded by the Institution of Electrical Engineers
Institution of Electrical Engineers
The Institution of Electrical Engineers was a British professional organisation of electronics, electrical, manufacturing, and Information Technology professionals, especially electrical engineers. The I.E.E...
prior to 2002) are only entitled to call themselves chartered engineers and use the CEng suffix if they are registered accordingly with Engineering Council Any IEE member who prior to 2002 was entitled to be called a Chartered Electrical Engineer can still do so if still a member of the IEE, now the IET.(see IET website)
International equivalence
The level of competence required for registration as a Chartered Engineer in the UK is equivalent to 4 year Bachelor degrees in Canada and the USA. It is also comparable, to many continental European countries that require master's-level education for registration as a professional engineer. Since the Engineering Council (UK) moved to the M-LevelMaster of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
qualification required for registration, there have been inconsistencies in the Washington Accord
Washington Accord
The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries...
agreement on the recognition of academic qualifications.
Although the Engineering Council (UK) now requires a master's-level
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
qualification for Chartered Engineer registration, the other Washington Accord
Washington Accord
The Washington Accord is an international accreditation agreement for professional engineering academic degrees, between the bodies responsible for accreditation in its signatory countries...
signatories have not raised the level of qualification (it remains at the bachelor's degree-level see Engineers Australia
Engineers Australia
The Institution of Engineers Australia, often shortened to IEAust and trading as Engineers Australia, is a professional body and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to being the national forum for the advancement of the engineering field within Australia...
. A recent International Engineering Alliance (IEA) meeting brought forth these issues regarding the Washington Accord. It was unanimously agreed that all Washington Accord countries will look to follow the path taken by the UK and raise the requirement for professional engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
registration to the master's degree-level
Master of Engineering
A Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
. This will mean that the UK will require a 6 year masters course to be equivalent to a North American Masters degree. In the meantime, the Engineering Council (UK) can restrict registration to those that hold bachelor's degree qualifications from Washington Accord countries. And reciprocally many current UK qualified Chartered Engineers are not eligible for licensing as Professional Engineer
Professional Engineer
Regulation of the engineering profession is established by various jurisdictions of the world to protect the safety, well-being and other interests of the general public, and to define the licensure process through which an engineer becomes authorized to provide professional services to the...
s in Australia, Canada and the United States since they do not have accredited engineering degree level education. Licensing bodies in North America assess each Chartered Engineers application for P.E / P.Eng on a case by case basis. Licensing rigour in North America exists because of state and provincial law and legal liability requirements.
Chartered Engineers are entitled to register through the European Federation of National Engineering Associations
European Federation of National Engineering Associations
FEANI is a federation of national professional bodies representing engineering in European countries. Founded in 1951, it aims to promote the recognition, mobility and interests of Europe's engineering profession...
as a European Engineer
European Engineer
European Engineer is an international professional qualification for engineers used in over 30 European countries. The title is granted after successful application to a national member of the European Federation of National Engineering Associations which includes representation from many...
and use the pre-nominal of Eur Ing.
Bodies qualified to register Chartered Engineers
The body that maintains the UK'sUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
register of Chartered Engineers is Engineering Council UK
Engineering Council UK
The Engineering Council is Britain's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and technicians, holding a register of these and providing advice to students, engineers, employers and academic institutions on the standards for registration and procedures for...
. Authority to register Chartered Engineers is delegated to licenced member institutions:
- Institute of AcousticsInstitute of AcousticsThe Institute of Acoustics is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1974. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers. The Institute's address is 77A St Peters Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3BN,...
- Royal Aeronautical SocietyRoyal Aeronautical SocietyThe Royal Aeronautical Society, also known as the RAeS, is a multidisciplinary professional institution dedicated to the global aerospace community.-Function:...
- Institution of Agricultural EngineersInstitution of Agricultural EngineersThe Institution of Agricultural Engineers is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1938. It is licenced by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers and Technicians.-Function:As a founding Constituent Body of...
- British Computer SocietyBritish Computer SocietyThe British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
- Chartered Institution of Building Services EngineersChartered Institution of Building Services EngineersThe Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers is a British professional engineering body based in London, England that represents building services engineers...
- Chartered Institution of Highways and TransportationChartered Institution of Highways and TransportationThe Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation is a learned society concerned specifically with the planning, design, construction, maintenance and operation of land-based transport systems and infrastructure.With over 11,500 members, the CIHT offers routes to qualifications such as...
- Institute of Cast Metals EngineersInstitute of Cast Metals EngineersThe Institute of Cast Metals Engineers is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1904.-History:It was founded as the British Foundrymen’s Association in 1904. It was given a Royal Charter on 25 November 1921...
- Institution of Chemical EngineersInstitution of Chemical EngineersThe Institution of Chemical Engineers is a global professional engineering institution with over 33,000 members in over 120 countries worldwide, founded in 1922, and awarded a Royal Charter in 1957.-Structure:...
- Institution of Civil EngineersInstitution of Civil EngineersFounded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
- Energy InstituteEnergy InstituteThe Energy Institute, commonly referred to as EI, is the main professional organization for the energy industry within the UK that promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications...
- Institution of Engineering and TechnologyInstitution of Engineering and TechnologyThe Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
- Institution of Engineering DesignersInstitution of Engineering DesignersThe Institution of Engineering Designers is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1945. The IED is the UK’s only professional body representing those working in the fields of Engineering and Technological Product Design...
- Society of Environmental EngineersSociety of Environmental EngineersThe Society of Environmental Engineers is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1959. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of Professional Engineers and Technicians. The Society publishes the quarterly journal...
- Institute of Explosive Engineers (IExpE)
- Institution of Fire EngineersInstitution of Fire EngineersThe Institution of Fire Engineers is a worldwide body that provides research, training, conferences and professional qualifications for firefighters and civilians who work in fields related to fire fighting, the science of fire fighting and prevention, and related technology.-Structure:Founded in...
- Institution of Gas Engineers and ManagersInstitution of Gas Engineers and ManagersThe Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers is a British professional engineering institution founded in 1863. It is licenced by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers and Technicians...
- Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate ManagementInstitute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate ManagementThe Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management is the UK's largest specialist Institute for the Healthcare Estates Sector; devoted to developing careers, provision of education and training and registering engineers as Eng Tech, IEng and CEng.The Institute was founded in 1943 and...
- Institution of Lighting Engineers
- Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and TechnologyInstitute of Marine Engineering, Science and TechnologyThe Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology is the international membership body and learned society for all marine professionals, operating in the spheres of marine engineering, science, or technology. It has registered charity status in the U.K...
- Institute of Materials, Minerals and MiningInstitute of Materials, Minerals and MiningThe Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining is a major UK engineering institution whose activities encompass the whole materials cycle, from exploration and extraction, through characterisation, processing, forming, finishing and application, to product recycling and land reuse...
- Institute of Measurement and ControlInstitute of Measurement and ControlThe Institute of Measurement and Control is a British learned society. It began in the 1940s as the Society of Instrument Technology. It is a licensed member of Engineering Council UK, registering candidates as chartered engineers, incorporated engineers and engineering technicians.- References...
- Institution of Mechanical EngineersInstitution of Mechanical EngineersThe Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
- Royal Institution of Naval ArchitectsRoyal Institution of Naval ArchitectsThe Royal Institution of Naval Architects is an international organisation representing naval architects. It is an international professional institution whose members are involved world-wide at all levels in the design, construction, repair and operation of ships, boats and marine...
- British Institute of Non-Destructive TestingBritish Institute of Non-Destructive TestingThe British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing or BINDT is a professional body for engineers and other technical professionals involved in non-destructive testing and condition monitoring in the United Kingdom...
- Institution of Nuclear Engineers
- Society of Operations EngineersSociety of Operations EngineersThe Society of Operations Engineers is an engineering professional organization in the United Kingdom, formed by the merger of following three bodies in 2000: Institute of Road Transport Engineers , Institution of Plant Engineers , and Bureau of Engineer Surveyors .-Professional accreditation:The...
- Institute of PhysicsInstitute of PhysicsThe Institute of Physics is a scientific charity devoted to increasing the practice, understanding and application of physics. It has a worldwide membership of around 40,000....
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in MedicineInstitute of Physics and Engineering in MedicineThe Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine is the United Kingdom's professional body and learned society for physicists and engineers within the field of medicine...
- Institution of Railway Signal Engineers
- Institution of Royal Engineers
- Institution of Structural EngineersInstitution of Structural EngineersThe Institution of Structural Engineers is a professional body for structural engineering based in the United Kingdom. It has 27,000 members in 105 countries. The Institution provides professional accreditation for structural engineers...
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental ManagementChartered Institution of Water and Environmental ManagementThe Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world....
- Institution of Water Officers
- The Welding InstituteThe Welding InstituteThe Welding Institute or TWI is a research and technology organisation with a specialty in welding. The Welding Institute is based in Cambridgeshire, England, since 1946, and has several offices around the world....
Some of these institutions also register Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians. There are other Engineering Council UK
Engineering Council UK
The Engineering Council is Britain's regulatory authority for registration of Chartered and Incorporated engineers and technicians, holding a register of these and providing advice to students, engineers, employers and academic institutions on the standards for registration and procedures for...
licensed member institutions that register Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians but do not register Chartered Engineers.
See also
- Chartered EnvironmentalistChartered EnvironmentalistThe status of Chartered Environmentalist is a professional qualification that is awarded by the Society for the Environment , a UK professional institution whose members are a number of well-respected and established professional institutions across the environmental sector...
- SQEPSQEPSQEP is an acronym, standing for Suitably Qualified and Experienced Person. It is usually used to designate:-* a professionally qualified person *who has several years as a practitioner,...
- Chartered ChemistChartered ChemistChartered Chemist is a chartered status awarded by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom and by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute in Australia....
- Chartered IT ProfessionalChartered IT professionalChartered IT Professional denoted by CITP is a professional certification awarded under Royal Charter to IT professionals who satisfy strict criteria set by the British Computer Society , which is the professional body for IT in the United Kingdom...
- Chartered PhysicistChartered PhysicistChartered Physicist is a chartered status and a professional qualification awarded by the Institute of Physics.Achieving chartered status in any profession denotes to the wider community a high level of specialised subject knowledge and professional competence...
- Chartered ScientistChartered scientistChartered Scientist is a professional qualification in the United Kingdom that is awarded by the Science Council through its Licensed member organisations...
- Master of EngineeringMaster of EngineeringA Master of Engineering or Master of Technology or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in Ingeniaria) (abbreviated M.Eng., ME or MEng) or Master of Technology (abbreviated M.Tech. or MTech) or Master of Science in Engineering A Master of Engineering (Magister in...
- Master of Science in EngineeringMaster of Science in EngineeringA Master of Science in Engineering or Master of Science is an academic degree to be differentiated from a Master of Engineering....
External links
- A. & C. Black Staff. (2002). Titles and Forms of Address, 21st edition. A. & C. Black. ISBN 0-7136-6265-4
- Engineering Council UK. ECUK Institution Details. Retrieved 13 July 2007
- Engineering Council UK. FEANI Registration and the EurIng Title. Retrieved 13 July 2007
- Engineering Council UK. Register Sections. Retrieved 13 July 2007
- Institution of Engineering and Technology. Use of designatory letters. Retrieved 13 July 2007
- Institution of Engineering and Technology. The Chartered Engineer Qualification. Retrieved 13 July 2007