Engineering Council
How to register
Professional registration is open to all practising engineers and technicians who can demonstrate the required standard of competence and commitment for the title they are applying for.
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How to register
The requirements for EngTech, IEng and CEng can be found in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). Those for ICTTech are in the ICTTech Standard. The different routes available are also explained in these documents.
Whichever route you take to professional registration, here are the steps you will need to follow:
1. Join a professional engineering institution
The first step for engineers and technicians wishing to apply for registration is to join a professional engineering institution licensed to assess candidates for professional engineering registration. Alternatively you may choose to join a Professional Affiliate of the Engineering Council. Some of these organisations have agreements to register their members through a licensed institution. Among the many benefits of joining is the support that the institutions offer to help you in working towards registration.
2. Tell your institution that you're aiming for a professional title
Let your institution know that you wish to apply for professional registration with the Engineering Council. Their staff will be able to look at your qualifications, training and experience and advise you which title you might be eligible for and whether any further learning or experience is required. Many may also be able to help you to find a mentor.
3. Record your professional development
To gain and maintain professional registration with the Engineering Council you need to record your professional development. This provides a body of evidence on your qualifications, activities and experience for you to draw on when you are ready to apply for your chosen title.
4. Assessment - the professional review
The assessment process for registration is known as the professional review. This starts with a written application, which may vary depending on the requirements of your institution. Your institution will provide you with everything you need to know. For IEng and CEng registration there is also a professional review interview.
Once your institution has verified that you meet the criteria, they will submit a registration form to the Engineering Council on your behalf.
5. Certification
Upon receipt of your registration form from your institution the Engineering Council will verify and process your application and you will be added to the national register. This normally takes between one to three weeks. You will then receive your registration pack, which includes a certificate showing your new title. You can then start to use your post-nominal letters to emphasise your professional status.
At this time, you can also download the relevant registrant logo for use on your business cards, email signature and stationery.
Download our pocket guide to professional registration for more information.
Interim Registration
Interim registration is a useful start to your journey towards gaining professional registration. It can give you an edge over other recently graduated engineers when applying for jobs.
Interim registration is available to aspiring engineers and technicians in the initial professional development stage of a career in engineering. It demonstrates your enthusiasm, drive and commitment to your career and the profession and to developing the professional competence required for full registration. Interim registration confirms that you have completed learning that provides the underpinning knowledge and understanding for your chosen professional title.
To attain interim registration, you will need to:
- Join a licensed professional engineering institution or Professional Affiliate with a registration agreement that is relevant to your engineering discipline and which offers interim registration
- Undertake an assessment by that professional engineering institution to ensure you have acquired the underpinning knowledge and understanding required for your chosen professional title.
Following successful assessment, your institution will make an interim registration application to the Engineering Council, who will issue you with an interim registration certificate for the relevant professional title.
Learning includes formal qualifications that have been accredited or approved by the Engineering Council, or are recognised under one of the international engineering education Accords, as well as individually assessed learning.
If you hold a formal qualification in engineering, you can check whether it is approved or accredited by the Engineering Council by checking one of our databases of engineering degrees or technicians apprenticeships or qualifications. These can be found here.
Please note that not all institutions offer interim registration. If you are interested in becoming an interim registrant please contact your institution to check whether they offer this option.
What next?
Having demonstrated that you have the underpinning knowledge and understanding, achieving full professional registration will involve development of your knowledge, competence and understanding of engineering principles through work experience.
Further information about what is required can be found in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).
Registration Fees
Registration fees are paid annually to the professional engineering institution through which you are registered with the Engineering Council.
Visit our page on registration fees for more information.
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