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In Issue 6, 2022, reader Simon Cotton asked: "As an unchartered engineer who has moved into a relatively senior management position within an engineering function, what routes exist for professional registration?"
It really depends what field your company specialises in. The Engineering Council includes a lot of institutions covering all aspects of engineering. I actually switched from the IMechE to the IE with a more renewable-focused role. You can also do an experience checker to see at what level you can register for. Maybe IEng is very achievable for you. Good luck.
Simon
The IMechE have various routes towards professional registration, the Monitored Professional Development Scheme, the Supported Registration Scheme, or through the Developing Engineers Programme. There is also the Career Learning Assessment option for those with many years of relevant experience but maybe not the academic requirements.
Allan Wilson
I highly recommend speaking with our Institution’s advisers, as the routes evolve over time. Certainly, be prepared to record and eventually submit your career history, particularly your time in management and related responsibilities. And get along to a Routes to Registration presentation within your local region’s lecture programme.
Ian Weslake-Hill
Carefully consider which professional registration is right for you – it may well be IMechE but there are other routes which may be more relevant for management roles – APM chartered project professional as an example.
If you have the right experience, it may be possible to go through a report and interview route rather than a full application – I’m sure Birdcage Walk can advise!
Richard Haydock
It will depend on the level of professional registration you wish to attain and your academic and engineering application background. I would suggest starting on the IMechE web page where there is a wealth of info about membership and registration, and you can start with the academic checks required to set your starting point.
Robert Davidson
I think people need to decide if they want to be engineers or managers. Good managers are not often “grown-up engineers”. Companies that plot a career path for engineers which turns them into managers tend to promote people to the limit of their (managerial) incompetence (the Peter Principle)
and block the path for others.
Andy Brown
If the IMechE website does not help, find your local or relevant specialist group(s) and start attending their meetings. This will help to build up contacts that will hopefully enable you to get the help and support that you need.
Richard Bossom
If your career is moving in a non-technical direction and you are happy with this, look to alternative qualifications such as chartered project professional.
Chris Elliott
If you have several years’ experience then apply via a standard route of application (online) and professional review. Look to see if your local IMechE division runs any Get Chartered event as they will guide you through the application system.
Ken
It all depends on what responsibility for engineering the manager has. If the individual can provide evidence that they have acquired a level of expertise equivalent to someone having gained chartered status they could seek registration via an individual mature candidate route.
Gabriel Izienicki
I have to ask how you got to that level without being professionally qualified? There’s something wrong with the company standards. Follow the normal application process if you can find suitably qualified proposers and seconders.
Nick Schulkins
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.