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The IET is offering employers a fast-track route for their apprentices and technicians to obtain the internationally recognised professional qualification, Engineering Technician (EngTech). 

IET calls on employers and their apprentices to take up internationally recognised qualifications

The IET is calling on companies and technicians to recognise the value of professional registration and sign up to the scheme, which provides better career opportunities and ensures that industry standards are maintained to the highest level.

Unilever was one of the first companies to have their scheme approved by the IET.  Stephen Fletcher, European Director Of Engineering, said “Unilever is committed to ensuring that its employees receive the best possible training and qualification opportunities. We are delighted to be working closely with the IET to offer staff professional registration. EngTech is incredibly important for our apprentices and technicians, who value the qualification as an indicator of their expertise and professionalism as well as providing greater status with their colleagues and others.”

EngTech is an important career marker as it differentiates those with the qualification as highly skilled and experienced and demonstrates a commitment to a professional approach. EngTech registration adds impressive credentials to a technician’s CV, providing enhanced career opportunities. The qualification also demonstrates that an individual has reached the benchmark set by the Engineering Council (UK) and guarantees customers of a consistent and quality service, which ensures the valuable skills of a technician are always in high demand.

As a portable, internationally recognised qualification, EngTech will serve a technician well throughout their career and can also act as a stepping-stone towards other professional engineering qualifications such as Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).

To enable companies to take up the fast-track route, the IET must first complete a detailed assessment of an organisation’s apprenticeship scheme. The company’s scheme must be approved by the IET, and meet the EngTech qualification criteria, in order to qualify for the fast-track route.  If the company scheme has not been approved then an apprentice can still become EngTech registered through the normal routes, but the application process requires a greater amount of evidence to demonstrate competence.

The scheme, which is co-funded by the IET, the Engineering Technology Board and the Department of Trade and Industry, is based on working closely with the Engineering Council (UK) and Sectors Skills Councils such as SEMTA. 

Those who have successfully completed an IET approved Apprentice Scheme are eligible to apply for membership of the IET and registration as an Engineering Technician (recognised by the Engineering Council UK) which entitles them to use the post-nominals TMIET EngTech after their name. 

Dr Alf Roberts, the former chief executive of the IET said “The Institution is committed to encouraging employers to recognise the benefits of professional registration in order to ensure that knowledge, expertise and standards in engineering are kept to a high level. The EngTech qualification is something that all apprentices and technicians should consider in order to further advance their career opportunities, keep up to date with the latest developments within the industry and to acquire valuable key skills. We hope that the new fast-track scheme will make it easier for more companies to sponsor their staff to become professionally registered and demonstrate to their clients and customers that they are committed to maintaining standards and the continued development of their staff.”