Engineering Council
European Recognition
From 1 January 2021, the EU Directive on the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications no longer applies to the UK. UK professionals seeking recognition in EU/EEA countries are now treated as third country nationals and recognition is based on the applicable rules of each individual EU/EEA country. The scope of regulation and details of activities which may require registration can found in the EU Single Market Regulated Professions Database. In many EU/EEA countries, registration is not compulsory in order to work as an engineer, although some areas of work may be restricted and there may be legislation on the use of professional titles. Rules concerning travel, visas and residency may have changed and the professionals providing services should check with the relevant government websites.
Previous recognition decisions concerning UK professionals, that were made when the UK was a member of the EU, continue to be valid. This means that engineers who were awarded an EU/EEA professional title before 1 January 2021 are still entitled to use that title.
For applications for recognition that are in progress but were not concluded by 1 January 2021, EU regulators will take into consideration that the application was made when the UK was a member of the EU.
The Engineering Council is the United Kingdom National Member of ENGINEERS EUROPE (formerly FEANI). The Engineering Council can submit accredited engineering education programmes to the European Engineering Education Database (EEED, previously the FEANI INDEX) and receive applications from individuals seeking European Engineer registration.
The Engineering Council is an authorised agency of the European Network for the Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE) , which confirms that our accreditation standards are aligned to the EUR-ACE® Framework. Engineering Council accredited programmes are eligible for award of the EUR-ACE® label, which is increasingly recognised within and beyond Europe.
Working in the UK
The engineering profession in the UK is self-regulated through the use of legally protected professional titles.
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EUR ING
ENGINEERS EUROPE (formerly FEANI) brings together representative bodies from over 30 European countries. The Engineering Council is the British national member of ENGINEERS EUROPE.
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The Bologna Declaration
The Bologna Declaration was initially signed by the Higher Education Ministers of 29 European countries in June 1999
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Mutual Recognition Agreement - Engineers Ireland
On 28 September 2018 the Engineering Council signed an agreement with Engineers Ireland, the registration body for engineers on the island of Ireland, to facilitate the mobility of engineering professionals between the UK and Ireland.
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Mutual Recognition Agreement - Portugal
In November 2018 the Engineering Council signed a cooperation agreement with the Ordem dos Engenheiros (OE, the Order of Engineers) to facilitate the mobility of engineering professionals between the UK and Portugal.
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Mutual Recognition Agreement - AIPE and AQPE (Spain)
On 20 October 2022 the Engineering Council signed Admissions Pathways Agreements (APA) with Spanish professional bodies Asociación de Ingenieros Profesionales de España (AIPE) and Agency for Qualification of Professional Engineers (AQPE), which will facilitate the mobility and recognition of engineering professionals between the UK and Spain.
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Mutual Recognition Agreement - KIVI (The Netherlands)
In May 2023 KIVI (The Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers) signed an agreement with the Engineering Council to facilitate the mobility of UK Chartered Engineers (CEng) or Incorporated Engineers (IEng) in The Netherlands
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