Engineering Council UK

The Engineering Council is the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession. It holds the national registers of over 222,000 Engineering Technicians (EngTech), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), Chartered Engineers (CEng) and Information and Communications Technology Technicians (ICTTech).

In addition, the Engineering Council sets and maintains the internationally recognised standards of professional competence and ethics that govern the award and retention of the titles. This ensures that employers, government and wider society - both in the UK and overseas - can have confidence in the knowledge, experience and commitment of professionally registered engineers and technicians.

The CIPHE as a licensed professional body

The Engineering Council has granted the Chartered Institute of Plumbing & Heating Engineering a licence to register suitably qualified CIPHE members at Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng) levels.

The levels:

Professional registration with the Engineering Council is based on demonstration of competence and commitment. The UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) describes the requirements that must be met for registration as an EngTech, IEng or CEng. It’s the first port of call for those wanting to find out more on registration as it includes examples of activities and / or qualifications needed to meet the competence requirements.

For those without formal qualifications at the desired level, the great news is there are other ways of demonstrating achievement and commitment. The even better news is that CIPHE members can access help and support - for all the routes to registration - via the CIPHE membership team.

But before you download the UK-SPEC and get in touch, here’s a quick breakdown of the registration levels:

Engineering Technician (EngTech)

Engineering Technicians are one of the CIPHEs most widely awarded accreditations. For those not already acquainted with the registration, Engineering Technicians apply proven techniques and procedures to the solution of practical engineering problems.

Furthermore, EngTech’s are required to apply safe systems of work and can demonstrate:

• Evidence of their contribution to either the design, development, manufacture, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, processes or services
• Supervisory or technical responsibility
• Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters
• Commitment to professional engineering values.

Routes to EngTech are available to all - even those with grandfather rights - via either the academic or assessment route.

Academic Route - The applicant should hold either N/SVQ Level 3, City & Guilds Advanced Craft Certificate, City & Guilds Licentiateship Award (in a suitable engineering discipline), National Certificate/Diploma (in a suitable engineering discipline) or equivalent.

Assessment Route - If the applicant holds City & Guilds Craft Certificate or NVQ Level 2 with suitable Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and experience they can apply for registration as an EngTech through an assessment paper. The assessment is to be conducted by either an Engineering Technician, Incorporated or Chartered Engineer.

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

The next level up from EngTech is Incorporated Engineer. Once again you can apply for this registration without exemplifying qualifications, but you will need to demonstrate you have achieved the same level of knowledge and understanding as those with exemplifying qualifications.

Those at IEng level are expected to maintain and manage applications of current and developing technology, and may undertake engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation.

At this level, candidates must demonstrate:

• The theoretical knowledge to solve problems in developed technologies using well proven analytical techniques
• Successful application of their knowledge to deliver engineering projects or services using established technologies and methods
• Responsibility for project and financial planning and management together with some responsibility for leading and developing other professional staff
• Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters
• Commitment to professional engineering values.

Depending on which route applied for, CIPHE members will need to demonstrate the following:

Academic route: Applicants are to hold an accredited bachelors or honours degree in engineering or technology, or a higher national certificate or diploma or a foundation degree, plus further learning to bachelors level.

Assessment route: You can still become an Incorporated Engineer without the above academic qualifications. Further information about the individual, work-based, assessment process can be found in UK-SPEC or by contacting the CIPHE directly at membership@ciphe.org.uk

Chartered Engineer (CEng)

Those at CEng level demonstrate the highest level of engineering excellence. Chartered Engineers develop solutions to engineering problems using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change and/or they may have technical accountability for complex systems with significant levels of risk.

To be considered for this status, applicants must demonstrate:

• The theoretical knowledge to solve problems in new technologies and develop new analytical techniques
• Successful application of the knowledge to deliver innovative products and services and/or take technical responsibility for complex engineering systems
• Accountability for project, finance and personnel management and managing trade-offs between technical and socio-economic factors
• Skill sets necessary to develop other technical staff
• Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters.

Candidates can apply for CEng status without exemplifying qualifications, but you will need to demonstrate you have achieved the same level of knowledge and understanding as those who hold them.

Depending on which route applied for, CIPHE members will need to demonstrate the following:

Academic Route: Applicants are to hold an accredited Bachelors degree with Honours in engineering or technology, plus an appropriate and accredited Masters degree or Engineering Doctorate (EngD), or appropriate further learning to Masters level, OR an accredited integrated MEng degree.

Assessment route: You can still become a Chartered Engineer without these academic qualifications. Further information about the individual, work-based, assessment process can be found in UK-SPEC or contact the CIPHE direct at membership@ciphe.org.uk

Are you interested in finding out more? Contact the CIPHE on 01708 463116 or email membership@ciphe.org.uk.