Engineering Council

The focus is on outcomes rather than inputs and learning outcomes are set out in the Approval and Accreditation of Qualifications and Apprenticeships (AAQA). Focusing on outcomes means that a range of diverse and innovative provision can be approved, whilst still meeting the requirements for knowledge, understanding and skills that tomorrow’s engineers and technicians will need.

The approval process looks at the overall design, coverage and assessment strategy and seeks evidence that satisfactory quality assurance arrangements are in place.  This is central to ensuring that qualifications and apprenticeships meet the needs of individuals, their employers and society.

For further details of what professional engineering institutions look at when approving qualifications, see the AAQA.​

Approval is a mark of assurance that the standards set by the engineering profession are met. It provides clear and transparent evidence to government, funders, aspiring technicians and engineers, and others of real engagement with the engineering profession.

Why approval is important to education and apprenticeship providers:

• It offers a structured way to assess, evaluate and improve the quality of their provision
• It provides the opportunity for ongoing communication between providers and the profession
• The qualification or apprenticeship programme will count towards professional registration, attracting prospective students and employers
• Approval is accepted as a rigorous process by several international accords, allowing international recognition of approved qualifications.

Why approval is important to individuals:

• By choosing an ‘approved’ qualification or apprenticeship, individuals are on a structured pathway to professional registration as an EngTech, ICTTech or IEng
• Having completed an approved qualification or apprenticeship, application for registration is more straightforward
• The benefits of registration to an individual are set out here.

Qualifications or apprenticeships may focus on education (i.e. the underpinning knowledge and understanding) or the development of competence to meet the requirements for professional registration as EngTech, ICTTech or IEng, or on both education and competence. 

The level of output required for approval
To be approved, a technician related qualification or apprenticeship must meet or exceed one or more of the following:

• Level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) or the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) in England and Northern Ireland
• Level 6 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
• Level 3 of the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales.

For IEng, to meet the requirements in full, the level of underpinning knowledge and understanding is higher (level 6 RQF or level 9 in Scotland).

These are listed on the Engineering Council’s public searchable Recognised course search.

Providers might also display the Engineering Council Approved Qualification or Approved Apprenticeship logo.  So when looking for an approved qualification or apprenticeship do look out for this.