There are four stages of the application process for companies to become fully accredited. If you have any questions or would like to book an advisory visit with a Professional Development Consultant please contact  ipd@imeche.org

Stage one

Submit three hard copies of the application form and relevant supporting material e.g training policy, competence criteria, recruitment literature to the professional development department at the IMechE.

Companies are invited to send in draft applications for feedback before submitting their final submission. To use this service, please email your draft form to ipd@imeche.org

Stage two

Once your application has been received it will be reviewed by a Professionally Registered Engineer, experienced in reviewing professional development programmes. After your application had been accepted, it will be registered with a unique company Professional Development Scheme reference number. At this point young engineers may be registered on the Monitored Professional Development Scheme (MPDS). 

All graduates who wish to register on MPDS must hold current associate membership with IMechE.  If you want to make a one-off payment for your graduates' associate membership application fees, plus their MPDS registration fees, please send both sets of forms with the accompanying Purchase Order or company card details to Membership Applications at IMechE.  To ensure that these forms are processed as a priority please include a full list of all those graduates who are covered by your payment.

Stage three

An accreditation visit will be arranged, normally within six to nine months from registration, provided there are young engineers registered on the scheme. The accreditation visit will last a full day (normally between 10am - 4pm) and will aim to assess the following:

• Evidence of High level support and commitment
• Access to and support for Developing Engineers’ whose academic portfolios require a Further Learning plan
• Sufficient challenges for Developing Engineers’ to meet the Engineering Council UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence within the workplace 
• Support for mentor training
• Ensure that e-MPDS records are up to date 
• The level of  internal support for the scheme (ie. scheme co-ordinator, line mangers, industry liaison officers and mentors)

Further guidance on the format of the visit day can be found from the accreditation visit agenda

There is no charge for IMechE accreditation visits 

Stage four   

Following the visit, the visiting team’s report is sent to members of the Professional Development Standards Committee (PDSC) for review. The decision by the Committee to accredit a company is based on the application, the accreditation visit and report. If successful the period of accreditation will be granted from the date of the accreditation visit.

You will be formally notified in writing of the success of your accreditation and of any recommendations made by the Committee. If you would like to order a certificate of your accreditation please complete a certificate registration form and return to the IMechE.

If accreditation is not recommended, full support and advice will be provided, highlighting areas that need to be modified to achieve accreditation.

Overseas Applications

Companies operating outside the UK mainland must meet the total costs of an accreditation visit, including administration costs, travel, accommodation and all other relevant expenses.

Joint Accreditation Visits

Joint accreditation visits can be arranged with other Institutions. Please be aware that other institutions may charge a fee for accreditation visits. Accreditation decisions are reached independently by each institution and may differ.