Discussion
Don’t expect CEng to directly lead to any more money. It might make you more attractive to a new employer (if individuals there care about such things) but I’m still waiting for anyone to explain a real material benefit (as an employee) to get chartered status after 30 years in engineering.
I know a number of engineers that have gone for it but I would regard it as a personal development goal for self satisfaction rather than a benefit professionally. And then you have to pay the IMechE annually for the privilege of using the letters!
I know a number of engineers that have gone for it but I would regard it as a personal development goal for self satisfaction rather than a benefit professionally. And then you have to pay the IMechE annually for the privilege of using the letters!
It hasn't led me to being paid more, but I took the decision to become chartered for employability reasons (possibly later in my career). Most employers (as mine does) will pay the profession subcription to one institution.
BEng vs MEng depends on what you want to do later. If that is chartered, MEng gets you past the 'masters level learning' requirement most cleanly in my view. It is what I did, although I graduated in 2012 so your experience may vary.
BEng vs MEng depends on what you want to do later. If that is chartered, MEng gets you past the 'masters level learning' requirement most cleanly in my view. It is what I did, although I graduated in 2012 so your experience may vary.
1. Good for moving between companies, especially if you're an outside IR35 contractor. Probably only the direct connection to more money.
2. Great when working in bids/consultancy, everyone loves to fluff up the project team with a few CEng and some frameworks will score the delivery team on IEng/CEng count. Good if that's the kind of work you want to do
3. Good leverage for Grad engineers trying not to be squeezed into a crap role. Gives a strong justification for increased responsibilities and broader tasking than just engineering. And maybe a few training/development jollies...
2. Great when working in bids/consultancy, everyone loves to fluff up the project team with a few CEng and some frameworks will score the delivery team on IEng/CEng count. Good if that's the kind of work you want to do
3. Good leverage for Grad engineers trying not to be squeezed into a crap role. Gives a strong justification for increased responsibilities and broader tasking than just engineering. And maybe a few training/development jollies...
We (engineering consultancy) wouldn’t even consider a BEng graduate, MEng has been the basic standard for at least 20 years now unless you are going abroad or not going to work in engineering. Sure it will get you into some roles but those roles are likely to not require a decent engineering degree.
If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
pghstochaj said:
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
To get CEng from IMechE/IET in 2 years work experience would be nearly impossible in the framework unless you went straight into a budget-holding and leadership position.All Engineering Council bodies have the same CEng requirements, the only difference is the technical competency element which varies.
For example, a Systems Engineer applying to IMechE will be deemed a weak generalist, but when applied to IET or IfSE they would be assessed on their merits as a SE.
I've just put in an application to become a Fellow and that takes pointlessness to a new level I think but I only have a few years to go and am now in a technical position where I want to reinforce that but I'm still not really convinced if I'm honest. As others have said don't expect any more money all of a sudden but it might be the little extra that gets you a new/different role or project. It's also worth sharing on LinkedIn and similar as a "I'm still here and my career is progressing as you would expect" type reminder.
pghstochaj said:
We (engineering consultancy) wouldn t even consider a BEng graduate, MEng has been the basic standard for at least 20 years now unless you are going abroad or not going to work in engineering. Sure it will get you into some roles but those roles are likely to not require a decent engineering degree.
If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
And what salary do you offer to these graduates with such demands on them?If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
Evanivitch said:
pghstochaj said:
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
To get CEng from IMechE/IET in 2 years work experience would be nearly impossible in the framework unless you went straight into a budget-holding and leadership position.All Engineering Council bodies have the same CEng requirements, the only difference is the technical competency element which varies.
For example, a Systems Engineer applying to IMechE will be deemed a weak generalist, but when applied to IET or IfSE they would be assessed on their merits as a SE.
I just checked, the example I provided graduated 2023 so would have started with us in September 2023, applied for IMechE chartership in December 2025, awarded May 2026 (at 25 years old). So I was exaggerating, the application was made after 2 years and 3 months. He didn't do a sandwich year and whilst he is good, he is not remarkable. As consultants we do a lot of commercial work but he doesn't.
Conversely, we then have exceptional structural engineers that have failed the IStructE exam twice before passing despite putting in months of preparation - our civil/structural team is small but most are put off even applying.
I am IChemE and advised that he was unable to apply for chartership because he has not yet shown that he is working at the level of a chartered mechanical engineer and specifically had very limited evidence of mechanical engineering. It turns out that the IMechE application doesn't require mechanical engineering, just engineering in general, and he easily made it through.
HJG said:
pghstochaj said:
We (engineering consultancy) wouldn t even consider a BEng graduate, MEng has been the basic standard for at least 20 years now unless you are going abroad or not going to work in engineering. Sure it will get you into some roles but those roles are likely to not require a decent engineering degree.
If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
And what salary do you offer to these graduates with such demands on them?If somebody had lots of experience in our field but just a BEng then we would interview them, but definitely not graduates.
Chartered, depends on the discipline, but we push everybody to do it as it looks good in proposals. There is a huge difference between a chartered structural engineer (very difficult exam) versus a chartered mechanical engineer (we have people that have got this after two years of work experience which is completely unacceptable in my view).
Pay is good but nowhere near what it was in 2008 which is sad. We are lucky enough to be a company that people want to work for because of the roles we have (and the fact that (if they are good), young people get into senior positions on projects within the first two years). We find it very easy to recruit mainly Cambridge, Imperial and Manchester (the latter because of our location) despite low pay in engineering.
My own experience is that the importance of qualifications and chartership can sometimes be overstated.
Earlier in my career I was told first that I would need a postgraduate degree to progress, and later that I would need to become Chartered. In reality neither turned out to be true. They can certainly help, but experience, track record and the roles you have actually delivered have mattered far more in my career.
The academic benchmark for the straightforward CEng route moved towards Masters level learning, which is one reason integrated MEng courses became the obvious route for many students. A BEng certainly doesn’t close the door on chartership though, as there are other ways of demonstrating the required learning and competence.
I’ve mentored a number of people through chartership and have also gone through Fellowship myself. I still think experience is everything, particularly once you are well into your career. I’m now fairly far removed from day to day engineering as such and nobody has ever suggested my progression should be limited by the letters after my name.
That said, CEng can give useful professional credibility, particularly with clients, regulators and in more traditional or safety critical engineering sectors.
Interestingly, a new Chief Engineer was recently appointed within our wider organisation and the regulator questioned the appointment because he didn’t have an engineering qualification, never mind chartership. So there are definitely roles where formal engineering credentials still matter.
I also think engineering has a wider issue in the UK in that the title itself isn’t protected and gets used very broadly. You have Sky engineers, hearing engineers and plenty of other roles using the term. That’s not to devalue those jobs at all, but it probably doesn’t help engineering carry the same professional identity here that it does in some other countries.
So my view would be that if CEng is reasonably achievable through the work you are already doing, it is worth getting. I just wouldn’t expect it to automatically increase your salary or transform your career. The experience you build along the way will probably matter more.
Earlier in my career I was told first that I would need a postgraduate degree to progress, and later that I would need to become Chartered. In reality neither turned out to be true. They can certainly help, but experience, track record and the roles you have actually delivered have mattered far more in my career.
The academic benchmark for the straightforward CEng route moved towards Masters level learning, which is one reason integrated MEng courses became the obvious route for many students. A BEng certainly doesn’t close the door on chartership though, as there are other ways of demonstrating the required learning and competence.
I’ve mentored a number of people through chartership and have also gone through Fellowship myself. I still think experience is everything, particularly once you are well into your career. I’m now fairly far removed from day to day engineering as such and nobody has ever suggested my progression should be limited by the letters after my name.
That said, CEng can give useful professional credibility, particularly with clients, regulators and in more traditional or safety critical engineering sectors.
Interestingly, a new Chief Engineer was recently appointed within our wider organisation and the regulator questioned the appointment because he didn’t have an engineering qualification, never mind chartership. So there are definitely roles where formal engineering credentials still matter.
I also think engineering has a wider issue in the UK in that the title itself isn’t protected and gets used very broadly. You have Sky engineers, hearing engineers and plenty of other roles using the term. That’s not to devalue those jobs at all, but it probably doesn’t help engineering carry the same professional identity here that it does in some other countries.
So my view would be that if CEng is reasonably achievable through the work you are already doing, it is worth getting. I just wouldn’t expect it to automatically increase your salary or transform your career. The experience you build along the way will probably matter more.
pghstochaj said:
. We are lucky enough to be a company that people want to work for because of the roles we have (and the fact that (if they are good), young people get into senior positions on projects within the first two years). We find it very easy to recruit mainly Cambridge, Imperial and Manchester (the latter because of our location) despite low pay in engineering.
Is this for an engineering consultancy ?Most formal qualifications and chartership support continuous professional development to help any professional remain current, and build credibility and confidence among those they may be privileged to lead. They also provide a stronger foundation for progressing from technical competence to effective leadership and influence. Having been involved in the leadership development of engineers through a professional governing body, I often found that the depth of understanding, professional judgement and confidence demonstrated by those who had completed an MEng and achieved chartered status was particularly evident in their performance.
pghstochaj said:
They might have the same "requirements" from the Engineering Council but how each institute interprets or implements those requirements varies significantly. For example, IStructE's 7 hour exam versus most (all?) other institutes just requiring evidence of an appropriate qualification (or equivalent), sponsorship from chartered engineers plus a competence and commitment style report (and verification interview). We have an ACTS scheme for IChemE which people follow and typically apply after four years which I still think it too short.
Structural engineering is pretty copy and paste so I can understand why they think there's one exam that is applicable to all their applicants. It's not really true of aerospace, systems and mechanical who have significantly greater variation in their taskings.pghstochaj said:
I just checked, the example I provided graduated 2023 so would have started with us in September 2023, applied for IMechE chartership in December 2025, awarded May 2026 (at 25 years old). So I was exaggerating, the application was made after 2 years and 3 months. He didn't do a sandwich year and whilst he is good, he is not remarkable. As consultants we do a lot of commercial work but he doesn't.
Again, the engineering council framework is pretty clear across all the institutions, so unless he's completely lied on their form (and someone within your organisation has endorsed it...) there's no way to really cheat the process.2 years is quick, sure. Most engineers on a grad scheme would struggle on the technical depth in that time because they would rotate through roles.
pghstochaj said:
Conversely, we then have exceptional structural engineers that have failed the IStructE exam twice before passing despite putting in months of preparation - our civil/structural team is small but most are put off even applying.
Probably best your company addresses that poor resit rate.pghstochaj said:
I am IChemE and advised that he was unable to apply for chartership because he has not yet shown that he is working at the level of a chartered mechanical engineer and specifically had very limited evidence of mechanical engineering. It turns out that the IMechE application doesn't require mechanical engineering, just engineering in general, and he easily made it through.
Again, the engineering council all have the same assessment criteria. IMechE will only bring you to interview if they have appropriate people in place to review your experience.a311 said:
Earlier in my career I was told first that I would need a postgraduate degree to progress, and later that I would need to become Chartered. In reality neither turned out to be true. They can certainly help, but experience, track record and the roles you have actually delivered have mattered far more in my career.
Same! But I do think it's dependent on the institution you work in. My first engineering employer was really, really poor on pushing CEng because most the senior leadership team either didn't have it or didn't care for it, yet they were leading a multi £Bn programme!If you want to work outside the UK, it’s accepted internationally, when we need to sign things off overseas, we usually need to get a Chartered Engineer to join that countries register, anything less is a waste of time.
Although it doesn’t give you a fast track up the ladder, it can remove barriers to promotion.
I’m not chartered, although most people assume I am. I am a frequent expert witness in court cases, my qualifications are never challenged, they look at your experience, so I would say if you already have 15 years post grad experience, that it’s a waste of time.
For those of us in the game, we know it’s absolutely no guarantee that you are any the better for it, many of the better older guys only have an HNC, not even a degree and were all the better for being a trainee whilst they studied, that’s a route that’s making a comeback with a degree, but way too slowly.
Although it doesn’t give you a fast track up the ladder, it can remove barriers to promotion.
I’m not chartered, although most people assume I am. I am a frequent expert witness in court cases, my qualifications are never challenged, they look at your experience, so I would say if you already have 15 years post grad experience, that it’s a waste of time.
For those of us in the game, we know it’s absolutely no guarantee that you are any the better for it, many of the better older guys only have an HNC, not even a degree and were all the better for being a trainee whilst they studied, that’s a route that’s making a comeback with a degree, but way too slowly.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff