What is the average age for IEng and CEng qualification?

I posted these comments in an earlier thread May 2011 which I have updated and added to.

Looking at data for last year the average new IEng was over 35 and older than the average new CEng. When I was registered as IEng 25 -30 was nearer the average with a lower limit of 23. Based on the principle of qualification + training time + responsibility time. The downside of this was fairly rigid streaming based on initial education.

The competency based approach of UK-SPEC means that the most appropriate registration at any particular time is more dependent on career achievements. Naturally such achievements are underpinned by technical knowledge, applied in different ways on a continuum from practical "know how" to "rigorous analysis".

My view is that people should ideally be registering during their 20s once they have demonstrated competent fully responsible practice for a year or two. I have sometimes used the phrase "first career milestone" to describe this. The context as I see it is of a long journey with many possible alternative routes. For the majority the first milestone is likely to be Eng Tech, ICT Tech or IEng. For a minority employed in suitable roles and typically prepared by strong academic foundations and good training, CEng is the most appropriate first target.

It is not unusual to find many early registrants (IEng & CEng) migrating into various types of managerial roles by their mid 30s. In fact some experienced applicants find difficulty because they have become increasingly distant from the specialist engineering focus of their earlier career.

For people who retain a strong technical focus then continuous learning is essential to maintain their competence and employability. For some people this may lead to a step-change in technical leadership and responsibility, making transfer to another type of registration appropriate. However a long professional career as a Technician for example, is not necessarily less valuable (either to society or in economic terms) than the leadership role.

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Roy Bowdler IEng FIET FCIPD
IET Registration & Standards

Thanks for the reply. I didn't see this before!

Anyone else want to offer their age and level at the date of qualification?

I can now say 26- IEng

IEng acknowledgement received last week, I am 41.

Regards

I received my EngTech qualification at the age of 25.

I applied for IEng at 30, but if you look at the other thread you can see how that went!

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Richard Middleton BSc (Open) EngTech TMIET LCGI

IEng at 33, hopfeully through appeal or through additional experience I'd expect to be CEng by 35. Like raflad1982 see other thread.

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mmarkey

CEng at 37. A few years ago now!

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David Parr BSc.CEng MIET
PRA

Joined IET (as now named) 22, IEng 27, Fellow 35 - via Apprenticeship, HNC & Certificate in Industrial Management.

Joined CIPD (as now named) 26, full corporate (now chartered) 34, Fellow 40 - via teaching certificate, training diploma, MSc & MBA.

Temporary excursion now lapsed, MIIRSM - via Diploma in Safety Management & experience - late 30s

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Roy Bowdler IEng FIET FCIPD
IET Registration & Standards

CEng at 31, roughly 10 years' post-grad experience, but worth remembering that first 3-4 years' of my post-grad experience was more EngTech/IEng type of experience by my choice. Earlier on in my career, I was aiming more at MIEEIE / IEng than MIEE / CEng that actually transpired, because I wanted to do more direct hands-on work. Over time, I "fell into" a different role, where unfortunately (in one way) the opportunities to "get my hands dirty" are now relatively few.

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Eur Ing Graham Kenyon CEng MIET

what about the experience, which is required to achieve CEng/IEng ?

what is the minimum requirement of experience in terms of number of years.

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Bilal, BSc, MSc, MIET

IEng last year at 30 (I didn't move into engineering until I was in my mid-20s), with roughly four/five years relevant work experience.

CEng expected this year or next - whenever I get round to finishing my MSc.

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JBB IEng MIET

I joined IET as Member at 27. I received my IEng at 31. Will plan for CEng application in near future.

Regards,
YungYaw Lai
BEng(Hons) GCGI HNDip IEng MIET MIEEE