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Employer professional development schemes

An accredited initial professional development scheme provides a quality assured pathway for individuals who want to become qualified and registered as professional engineers.

two men shaking hands

The aim

Employer accreditation demonstrates that an employer’s initial professional development scheme meets the standard requirements for a candidate to register as a professional engineer with the Engineering Council(UK). This standard was devised to meet the needs of employers, and industry has welcomed the flexibility that it affords.

Why seek employer accreditation?

  • Aids organisations in the recruitment and retention of graduates and professional engineers
  • Is promoted as a fast track route to CEng / IEng / EngTech
  • Provides a route for developing senior engineering staff of the future
  • Develops critically important engineering capabilities and secures the continued well being of the organisation
  • Demonstrates to customers that the organisation employs the right calibre of staff
  • Provides access to a body of knowledge outside of the organisation, and keeps a meaningful dialogue between the organisation and the IET
  • The IET is one of Europe's leading engineering institutions and accreditation is recognised as a high quality seal of approval

What you get

  • Globally recognised certification of your commitment to professional development
  • Inclusion in the list of IET accredited professional development schemes - UK and International
  • Evidence of "Quality Assured" engineer training
  • Access to engineering professionals worldwide (IET members)
  • Networking with HR professionals (courses, workshops etc)
  • Use of the IET's accredited scheme logo

How to get your company accredited

Any organisation which meets the requirements outlined in the accreditation guidelines may apply for IET accreditation using the professional development scheme application form PDS.

Professional development accreditation (PDA) staff offer assistance on accreditation matters to employers, and the process below is usually followed:

  • After an initial enquiry, an accreditation pack containing further information and application form PDS and accreditation guidelines are sent to the employer
  • Arrangements for an informal advisory session are made and conducted either at the IET offices or at the employer’s premises. This typically consists of a half day meeting, and a member of the employer accreditation team will advise the relevant company representatives
  • This advisory session ensures that the organisation understands the basic requirements for gaining IET accreditation
  • An accreditation visit date is agreed and confirmed

In order for an organisation to gain IET accreditation, the following attributes should be evident in the professional development scheme for engineers:

  • Commitment to high quality professional engineer development, to meet business needs
  • Development opportunities that will enable your engineers to develop the UK-SPEC competences
  • Performance review / appraisal system for professional staff, based on proven principles of objective measurement, which identifies individuals' development needs.
  • Company support systems, which ensure that your engineers receive the advice and help needed, when and where required.
  • Individual records of professional development, which will assist your engineers in demonstrating competence at the professional review interview.
  • Quality assurance procedures to ensure that your scheme continues to deliver world-class professional engineers.

The IET requires a suitable monitoring plan to be in place. This may take the form of an annual self assessment report (form SAR) to be completed on the anniversary of the accreditation, to provide information about recommendations addressed and changes that have occurred which affect the running of the scheme, together with a plan for improvements during the coming year. Alternatively, it may be more appropriate to hold a monitoring visit during the period of accreditation.