CEng is Chartered Engineer, IEng is Incorporated Engineer. Both basically require a degree, 2 years further training, and at-least 2 years practice. The difference really is in the level of degree - BEng(Hons), BSc(Hons) or MEng for CEng; BEng, BSc or Btech for IEng. Both have non-degree routes through considerably greater experience and a minimum level of academics.
Normal practice is to apply through one of the institutions, such as RAeS or IMechE, which is where the money really goes. I pay about £140pa to the RAeS but I do have the right if I wish to just pay the Engineering Council (or whatever they're called this week) fees to keep the qualification, which run to about £30pa.
It sounds to me that CEng and IEng are equivalent to what you refer to as "professional engineer".
Incidentally, you generally tell somebody's discipline by membership of institutions. For example, I'm CEng MRAeS MIMechE - or in other words qualified as an aeronautical and mechanical Engineer. Civil would be MICE (Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers, one might argue they could have thought of a better acronym).
Having said that, I'd also prefer to see fees being waived, or at-least reduced to the level of the £40 every 5 years I pay FEANI to maintain my Eur.Ing. qualification.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 28th February 2003 at 21:15.