International Recognition of Accredited Qualifications
The Engineering Council is signatory to three agreements with
overseas engineering organisations, which provide mutual
recognition of accredited academic programmes.
This enables recognition of UK qualifications for engineers
wishing to work in other signatory countries. Similarly, it makes
Engineering Council registration easier for applicants whose
qualifications are accredited by the partner organisations in other
countries.
The three agreements operate at globally recognised levels of
professional qualification, and provide the mechanism for mutual
recognition between signatory bodies of:
- Washington Accord - engineering education
accreditation processes at Chartered /Professional Engineer
level.
- Sydney Accord - engineering education
accreditation processes at Incorporated Engineer/Engineering
Technologist level
- Dublin Accord - qualifications which underpin
the granting of Engineering Technician titles
Each member organisation has expressed its confidence in the
quality assurance processes of the others. This leads to mutual
recognition of accredited engineering qualifications and,
generally, to exemption from the education requirement for practice
in each of the signatory countries.
The Engineering Council accepts Washington Accord, Sydney Accord
and Dublin Accord qualifications as fully meeting the education
requirements for registration as Chartered Engineer, Incorporated
Engineer and Engineering Technician respectively.
The Accords are coordinated by the International Engineering
Alliance (IEA) of which the Engineering Council is a leading
member. Details of countries signatory to these Accords can be
found on the IEA website.
How to apply
Engineers with UK qualifications
Before applying for immigration or membership of overseas
engineering organisations, applicants for the Washington or Sydney
Accords holding a UK qualification can check whether it is
accredited by using our accredited course search.
If you are applying under the Dublin Accord or cannot find your
qualification through the course search please contact us at international@engc.org.uk.
Holders of Higher National level qualifications (HNC, HND, HC,
HD) not listed in the course search, who wish to utilise the Sydney
Accord, should submit a Qualification Assessment Request Form. This
can be downloaded on the right. The service is free of charge to
registered Incorporated Engineers, but is available to all other
applicants at the cost of £58.75.
Engineers with qualifications from outside the
UK
Applications for registration in the UK under the Washington,
Sydney or Dublin Accords should be made through one of the
professional engineering institutions. They will be able to
supply all necessary details.
Mutual recognition of professional titles
There is currently no agreement directly giving mutual recognition
of professional titles. However, the International Registers
provide certain benefits and there are discipline specific
exemption agreements. Further information can be found on our
International Professional Engineer and International Engineering
Technologist pages.