For years, there have been two ways to qualify. First is proof of a relevant, accredited engineering degree at the right level: BSc for IEng, MSc for CEng. Second is completing a technical report, 8,000-10,000 words that dive deep into engineering knowledge.
However, neither takes into account an applicant’s experience gained through work. As Society professional standards manager Robin Bates observes: “You shouldn’t have to ask company directors to have to prove their knowledge by doing a technical report.”
A third option is now available for IEng and CEng. This so-called ‘experiential route’ requires applicants to map their on-the-job experience over the last five years, in an engineering context, against a set of standard learning outcomes. Although definitely not the easy option, its report is shorter: a maximum of 500 words are required for self-reflective statements in each of six different learning categories (3,000 words in total, plus up to eight pages of supporting evidence in an appendix). Costs are the same: £250 for the initial application, then £150 for IEng or £250 for CEng at the interview stage.
Once either report is submitted, an academic panel reviews the candidate’s qualifications and sends the application to a team of assessors for review. They then invite the applicant to an interview (currently being conducted digitally). Experiential and technical report applicants both sit a professional review interview, but the latter also do a second interview about the technical report. Once those are completed, the assessor makes a recommendation for final ratification by a Society committee. Ratified names are sent to the Engineering Council, which registers them and sends a certificate. After that, candidates can use their awarded postnominal (IEng or CEng).
WHO MIGHT BENEFIT
The experiential route would be appropriate, for example, for IRTE members who did an apprenticeship at the start of their career, followed by years of engineering development in employment, whether or not they had moved into management (see also p5). In fact there are two types of experiential route. The technical version maps users’ experiences against six core engineering skills. The managerial route is intended for people further progressed in their careers, and focuses more on leadership and managerial skills in terms of safety, commercial, legal and social areas, as well as evidence of CPD.
Bates assures that the traditional routes to higher-level qualifications will continue to be offered. And those that do not meet the criteria for an IEng application may be suited to the popular EngTech qualification, which is available to qualified ex-apprentices (at Level 3) with recent work experience. Others without that qualification can apply through a career-based learning pathway that involves an at-work assessment. In both cases, candidates need to demonstrate in a short written report that they are meeting all UK spec competences.
Interested candidates at any level are advised to submit a CV and details of their qualifications by email to registration@soe.org.uk in the first instance. A recently-formed academic panel will then review their application to determine which qualification suits them best. While candidates with accredited degrees are the simplest cases to judge, every application will be judged on its own merits.