The findings of a consultation into proposed changes to the professional recognition and qualifications afforded to UK engineers, including the replacement of the current title of Incorporated Engineer, will be reported to IHEEM members “as soon as they are available”.
Last summer an Engineering Council UK (ECUK) review group made the following recommendations on registered status and IEng in particular:
- There should continue to be three categories of registration.
- The current distinction between CEng and IEng roles should be maintained, unless consultation with employers and their representatives indicated otherwise.
- ECUK should consult with Licensed Members on repositioning IEng within a progressive registration structure, in which the opportunities for moving between registration categories are clear.
- ECUK’s Registration Standards committee should clarify how holders of qualifications such as Higher Nationals or Foundation Degrees may demonstrate the necessary additional knowledge and understanding for IEng registration.
- ECUK and licensed Members should maintain dialogue with employers and Sector Skills Councils to fully exploit opportunities for work-based learning and for relating membership and registration requirements to programmes such as Higher Apprenticeships.
- The Incorporated Engineer title should be replaced, and market research undertaken into the acceptability of Registered Engineer or Registered Professional Engineer.
The review group indicated in its first report that it believed that the title of Incorporated Engineer had no particular significance for individuals or employers, and favoured the alternative of Registered Engineer. This attracted a reasonable degree of support. However the Royal Academy of Engineering expressed concern over possible confusion caused by use of a post-nominal of REng. The group thus consulted again on a wider range of titles as follows: Engineer Practitioner (EngP); Incorporated Engineer (IEng); Registered Engineer (REng); Chartered Certified Engineer (CCE); Associate Chartered Engineer (ACE).
Further information on the benefits of, and application details for, professional registration with the Engineering Council can be found on IHEEM’s website.
Alternatively contact Chris Parker, recruitment and membership manager. Tel: 02392 823186; Email: chris.parker@iheem.org.uk
