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Getting started for professional registration

Have you recently started out in your career or changed direction and want to work towards professional registration?

If you are starting out in your career or have recently moved in to a responsible role, below is a summary of the initial professional development process.

  1. Just started
  2. Check your education
  3. Starting development action plans
  4. How to record your professional development
  5. Almost ready to apply
  6. Ready to submit an application

Just started

Candidates can register their intention to work towards professional registration by submitting a registration of professional development (RPD) form. Submitting an RPD form is free and can be done using our online professional development system, Career Manager. You can also send us a paper copy of the form. 

Once we have received your RPD form we will send you an information pack on professional development and you will receive regular email bulletins detailing how we can support you whilst you work towards professional registration.

Check your education

Under the current EC(UK) UK-SPEC regulations, the key to registration (CEng, IEng or EngTech) is demonstration of competence; that competence has to be underpinned by the appropriate technical knowledge and understanding.

There are exemplifying qualifications that meet the underpinning knowledge and understanding component and candidates who do not have exemplifying qualifications can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in alternative ways. Candidates may want to have their profile individually assessed to see if further learning may be needed in line with competence and commitment statements.

Starting your development action plan

A development action plan should be produced to cover the period immediately ahead and agreed with a line manager. The duration will vary with circumstances but it is likely to cover any period up to a year. A review date should be agreed. Development action plans should be maintained throughout a candidates career, with  regular updates and reviews. 

How to record your professional development

Records of learning and competence gained should be kept. The professional development how to (PD How-2) guide contains information and guidance on how to structure and undertake your development plans plus downloadable forms to use where the employer does not have a suggested format. You can also manage your professional development online using Career Manager. 

Evidence of development and work activities that may be suitable to meet the competence and commitment requirements should be stored and indexed. Verifying signatures should be obtained from assessors as necessary.

Almost ready to apply

Eventually the candidate will be working, unsupervised, at the appropriate level and will have gathered enough evidence to cover all of the competence and commitment statements. Discussions with supporters, particularly the sponsor will confirm that a candidate is ready to submit an application.

Ready to submit an application

Once it is clear that a sufficient case can be made, the candidate should prepare their application and the supporters should sign it. 

It is recommended that candidates discuss their application with a professional registration advisor before sending it to us. Once everybody is happy with the application, it should be sent to the registration and standards department.