Working toward registration

Initial Professional Development (IPD) is the period of development that builds upon your academic skills in the workplace.  Successful completion of this period will place you in prime position for professional registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng) or Incorporated Engineer (IEng). IPD can be undertaken prior to, during, or after the completion of a course of academic study.

Find your route

Chartered or Incorporated Engineer

Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS)

The Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS) is the Institution of Mechanical Engineers preferred, approved and quality controlled route for graduate engineers to complete their initial professional development, become corporate members of the Institution and register with the Engineering Council as a Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer.

MPDS has been designed in conjunction with industry to ensure graduate engineers have the opportunity to develop the necessary competence and commitment required of a Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer.

Supported Registration Scheme (SRS)

If you are not registered on MPDS, or if you are working at an organisation that is not accredited by IMechE, you can still use our online reporting system to upload your plans, evidence submissions and reports. To be eligible for this pathway you will need to have identified a mentor who is willing to mentor you throughout your professional development.

Your mentor will need to be registered with us and will need to be trained in EC UK-SPEC.

When your mentor agrees that you have reached the appropriate level of competence you should apply for professional registration.

Register now for the Supported Registration Scheme

 

Working without a mentor?

Simply collate and record all the evidence you need to demonstrate that you meet the requirements of EC UK-SPEC and compile your application form. Apply for professional registration when you feel that you are ready. 

Your application for professional registration

When you have completed your IPD you will be in a position to apply for professional registration.  At your Professional Review Interview you will be assessed on your competence in five key areas. The competences for Incorporated and Chartered Engineers are defined by the Engineering Council in The UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). The Institution has interpreted these competences in relation to mechanical engineering.

Further Learning

If you are required to undertake a period of Further Learning, you can do this at the same time as your Initial Professional Development. However, please note that Further Learning is additional study rather than professional competence and is measured via Learning Outcomes rather than competence achieved.

To find out if you need to complete Further Learning try our Qualification Checker pro forma.