Become a Member

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

Incorporated Engineers maintain and manage applications of current and developing technology, and may undertake engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation. Their academic knowledge is at bachelor's level or equivalent.


If you are seeking professional registration you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.

Use our Route to membership tool to find out if this is the right level of membership for you.

Why become an Incorporated Engineer?

Recognition:

  • Be recognised as a professional and competent engineer
  • Improve your long term earning potential
  • Increase your exposure to new career opportunities
  • Benefit from an internationally recognised qualification

Build new relationships:

  • Connect with members of the Institution worldwide
  • Build profitable working relationships with other specialists in your field
  • Help influence and support younger members
  • Volunteer to help us – in your company, region, your industry group

Access our resources:

  • Access our online and offline resources and information through training and events
  • Receive email updates from your region or industry or interest group
  • Access to a world-class engineering library
  • Read Member-only specialist engineering news, features and expert comment by PE
  • Access financial and practical support through our benevolent fund – Support Network
See all Member benefits

Who is it for?

Education and knowledge

Your academic knowledge will be at bachelor's degree level. This may be from:

  • A three-year accredited BEng degree
  • A degree in a relevant subject
  • Learning on the job via short courses, private study, part time study or other routes
Use our Qualifications checker to find out if your qualifications meet the academic requirement.

Formal academic requirements are not the only way to demonstrate your level of knowledge and understanding. Find out more about academic requirements.

Don't worry if your qualifications don't appear to meet the requirements, you may be able to undertake a period of Further learning to top up your formal qualifications or there may be another appropriate route for you.

Professional experience and competence

Able to demonstrate your ability to maintain, manage and apply current and developing technology in fields like engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation.

Download our application guidance.

You will need to demonstrate your ability to meet competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC. 

We welcome engineers from a very comprehensive base of experience and disciplines. Read our definition of mechanical engineering to find out more.

How much does it cost?

New registrants pay an application fee and an annual subscription.

If you're not professionally active or your annual income is below £18,000 you may qualify for a reduced subscription.

Fees and charges in UK pounds

View our application and subscription fees in UK pounds.

Fees and charges in India

View our application and subscription fees in India.

Application process

Check your qualifications

We need to check your academic profile to ensure that it meets the benchmark for registration. You can use our Qualifications checker or contact our Membership team to check your qualifications.

Complete the application form

If you have used our Qualifications checker to confirm you meet the academic requirements for registration as an Incorporated Engineer and you haven't already registered with the Engineering Council as an IEng, you can apply online, or submit a paper-based application (editable PDF). Read our Chartered and Incorporated Engineers Application Guidance.

If you are on our Monitored Professional Development Schemes (MPDS), you should submit an application via the MPDS route. Find out how to apply using the MPDS route.

If you are already professionally registered with another institution, find out how you can join us using a very straightforward process.

Get support from two sponsors

You will need two sponsors to agree to sponsor your application and provide their contact details.

Applicants for IEng must be sponsored by either an Incorporated Engineer, or a Chartered Engineer. Sponsors can be registered with any Engineering Council-listed professional engineering institution; they don’t have to be one of our Members. Your second sponsor could be another registered engineer, or your line manager. Your sponsor can’t be a direct family member.

Submit your application

Once you have completed and proof read your application form, you will need to submit it to us with any application fees and any supporting documents required.

If you are on our Monitored Professional Development Schemes (MPDS), you should submit an application via the MPDS route.

Professional review interview

Once we have processed your papers, we will invite you to attend a professional review interview, you can select your preferred interview location on your application form, virtual, face-to-face, Armed Forces or internationally.

You will need to contact us to confirm your availability for interview. If you don’t, your application may be delayed.

The professional review interview is a mandatory part of the membership process. Every Incorporated Engineer, regardless of their discipline, has to attend an interview.

The interviewers will focus on your most recent and relevant experience. They will make their judgements based solely on the information provided in your application and your performance during the interview.

The interview will take approximately 45 minutes.

What happens next?

Once you have completed your interview, your assessors will make one of two recommendations, elect to membership or not.

If you are successful, you will receive a letter and a certificate from our President and Chief Executive confirming your achievement. Your name will then be forwarded to the Engineering Council for Registration.

Your name will appear on the Engineering Council website on the first Thursday of the following March, June, September or December.

If your application is not successful, we will write to you and explain the reason for the decision. You will also be given some guidance as to how you may wish to address the concerns raised, in order to resubmit your papers at a later date.

Any applicant can request a copy of their interview paperwork, scores and feedback.

We have an arbitration and appeals process, whereby applicants who are dissatisfied with the process may appeal within a given timeframe.

Become a member

Contact our Membership team if you have any questions about joining us:

  • membership@imeche.org
  • +44 (0)20 7304 6999

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    UK-SPEC 4th Edition

    All applicants for registration and membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are assessed against the standards as defined by the Engineering Council (EngC) in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). The 4th edition of the UK-SPEC was published on 1 September 2020, for implementation across the sector by 31 December 2021. The 4th edition is available here, with a summary of the key changes.

    Because of this required change, the competence statements within the MPDS/SRS tools will be amended to reflect UK-SPEC 4 on 6 September 2021. This should not affect those who have already completed MPDS/SRS and have submitted their membership applications.

    UK-SPEC has not changed structurally: the amendments to the templates are small textual changes, so should not impact evidence or plans lodged against current MPDS reports. When applying for membership, you should review text taken from reports to ensure your responses align with the amended wording of UK-SPEC4.

    Dan Bunfield

    Meet our Members

    Find out more about members of IMechE and how professional registration helps their careers

    Member of another professional engineering institution?

    Find out how to join us

    Alastair cooper - award winner 310

    Armed Forces and MOD

    Serving in the Armed Forces or the Ministry of Defence (MoD)? You may be eligible to use a simplified route to professional registration.

    Find out about our Armed Forces route to professional registration

    Start your application

    Your first step should be to use our Qualification checker to find out if your qualifications meet the academic requirement. You should then read our Incorporated Engineer application guidance. 

    If you're confident that you have the necessary qualifications, knowledge and experience to become an Incorporated Engineer and you haven't already registered with the Engineering Council as an IEng, you can apply online.

    Apply online

    PDF application

    You can complete a PDF application instead of applying online if you prefer.

    Download a PDF application form

     

    Existing registrants

    If you're already registered and with another institution, you can join us at the same registration level.

    Find out how to join us

    Support for your application

    We can help you find out if you have the qualifications and experience necessary to apply be an Incorporated Engineer and are here to help you during the application process.


    The application process includes the requirement for a peer-to-peer interview. Interviews are currently being conducted entirely online using MS Teams. If you have any disabilities and require reasonable adjustments for your interview, please do not book an interview slot; please email the Membership Applications team to explain your requirements, and we will assist you as appropriate.