Formal qualifications

Formal qualifications and learning programmes

This may apply to you if you have not yet had the opportunity to develop and expand aspects of your competence through your work.

If you fall into this group you are unlikely to be ready to apply for professional registration, eg you have not yet had the opportunity to acquire sufficient evidence from your work-based learning to demonstrate underpinning knowledge and understanding to the benchmark standard.

The IET supports and encourages a wide range of learning programmes. Many degree qualifications are fully accredited and formal education is one of the ways of demonstrating the necessary knowledge and understanding for professional registration:

• List of IET accredited degrees;
• List of Engineering Council accredited degrees.

These lists include many Master's degrees.

Work-based route to professional qualification

The IET supports the recently introduced work-based learning professional engineering programmes offered by a number of UK universities for CEng and IEng. These programmes allow for work-based activities to contribute to the academic award.

 

Academic route to professional qualification

The IET has identified a range of named degrees and modules, offered by the Open University in the technology and engineering disciplines, which are suitable for developing the knowledge and understanding to underpin the competences for professional registration.

 

Employer professional development schemes

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. This standard was devised to meet the needs of employers, and industry has welcomed the flexibility that it affords.

How do you select the right programme for your needs?

The IET can provide advice but the final decision should be made with the help of your employer and advisors.

Continuing professional development

Short courses, continuing professional development (CPD) seminars or vocational qualifications may provide valuable career development. As evidence of further learning these would be better considered as a component of work-based learning.

Ready to apply?

If you feel able to demonstrate the appropriate level of competence, download a professional registration application pack.

Need help?

You may find answers to some of your questions in the professional registration frequently asked questions.

We will do as much as we can to support you with any aspect of your application, so please get in touch if you need help or advice.