The engineering profession in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Engineering Council through professional engineering institutions (PEIs) who are licensed to put suitably qualified members on the Register. The Register has three sections: Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician. These titles, which may only be used by Registrants, are at levels E, D and C of Directive 2005/36.

In general there is no restriction on the right to practice as an engineer in the UK. Although there are a small number of areas of work, generally safety related, which are reserved by Statute to licensed or otherwise approved persons.

Registration - renewable annually on payment of a fee, provided that there has been no violation of codes of professional conduct - is recognised as desirable in many fields of engineering employment and provision of engineering services. However, it is not mandatory. To register with the Engineering Council, you must also be a member one of the Council's licensed PEIs. Registration will enable a suitably qualified member of a PEI to gain the protected title which is appropriate to the nature of engineering work undertaken by the individual.

Under the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive someone who is recognised as an engineer or a technician in another EU/EEA country may apply to the relevant UK PEI for membership and registration with the Engineering Council. The PEI to which you apply will offer you an application processing route which complies with the Directive and will provide the information which you need to make the application.

The Directive does not guarantee automatic recognition (although this is usually the case), as there may be significant differences between the qualifications and experience of the applicant and those required for recognition by the PEI. In the event of this, you will be requested to complete either a period of adaptation or an aptitude test. You will be asked to choose which you wish to undertake. You may appeal against this decision and there are conciliation services available.

Note that if you are only coming into the UK on a temporary basis to provide services, for example consultancy, then there is no requirement for engineers or engineering technicians to obtain temporary registration and this facility is not available from the Engineering Council.