Aerospace Engineers & Profesional Accreditation
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: UK
Aerospace Engineers & Profesional Accreditation
I was wondering, how many Aerospace Engineers seek professional accreditation?
As someone who is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) degree in Aerospace Engineering, and as part of that working towards a B1 (and also, seperatly, B2) licences, I am interested in it for the future.
I plan to join the RAeS when I graduate and start work, and I know they can help with CEng/IEng status....but I was wondering how many do apply.
http://www.raes.org.uk/raes/professi...es/SUMMARY.htm
Unfortunatly the Licenced Aircraft Engineers document linked on that page isn't working, though I imagine it contains the criteria I'd need to be looking at meeting.
Anyone got any comments?
As someone who is currently studying for a BSc (Hons) degree in Aerospace Engineering, and as part of that working towards a B1 (and also, seperatly, B2) licences, I am interested in it for the future.
I plan to join the RAeS when I graduate and start work, and I know they can help with CEng/IEng status....but I was wondering how many do apply.
http://www.raes.org.uk/raes/professi...es/SUMMARY.htm
Unfortunatly the Licenced Aircraft Engineers document linked on that page isn't working, though I imagine it contains the criteria I'd need to be looking at meeting.
Anyone got any comments?
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 14,480
Likes: 178
From: UK
I became CEng MRAeS about ten years ago. It's a moot point whether the actual qualification has done me that much good in itself, but without doubt the membership of the society, and access to the great and good of the industry have made a big difference.
On net - I'd recommend going for it, but don't expect it to open a great many doors that hard work and ability wouldn't have opened already.
G
On net - I'd recommend going for it, but don't expect it to open a great many doors that hard work and ability wouldn't have opened already.
G
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: East Midlands
Although not qualified in an Aeronautical discipline, I am a CEng through the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Like you say, it may not open many doors but it will certainly not close them. I also think the recording of training and responsible experience plus the fact you have to pass an interview is not a bad thing in terms of professional development.
Like you say, it may not open many doors but it will certainly not close them. I also think the recording of training and responsible experience plus the fact you have to pass an interview is not a bad thing in terms of professional development.
Guest
Posts: n/a
I would just like to add to what G has said. I've been working in aero industry now for 4 months (graduated with B.Eng in Avionics in July this year). Joined the RAeS as Associate and already been to a particular annual conference. The best advice to give, is make sure the company you gain employment with support your needs to work towards chartership if that's what you want to do. I've made lots of contacts already. In saying that, the majority of engineers I work with do not have CEng status.
Check out UKSPEC for more information.
Check out UKSPEC for more information.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: UK
PhilM,
My advise to you is to join the RAeS as a student before you graduate!
As Genghis said the networking opportunities in the Society are pretty good and might even help land you that first job.
Student membership of the society isn't expensive and you can always think about chartership further down the road if you want to.
Also, something i only recently found out (and not something widely publicised) is that as a student you can attend almost any of the RAeS conferences FREE OF CHARGE. You'd have to reimburse your own travel costs if you wanted to go to any of the conferences but the conference fees themselves can be a fair wad. Opportunity to meet some interesting people and get more current on the industry.
My advise to you is to join the RAeS as a student before you graduate!
As Genghis said the networking opportunities in the Society are pretty good and might even help land you that first job.
Student membership of the society isn't expensive and you can always think about chartership further down the road if you want to.
Also, something i only recently found out (and not something widely publicised) is that as a student you can attend almost any of the RAeS conferences FREE OF CHARGE. You'd have to reimburse your own travel costs if you wanted to go to any of the conferences but the conference fees themselves can be a fair wad. Opportunity to meet some interesting people and get more current on the industry.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: UK
Thanks for the advice!
I have heard back from the RAeS, they sent me a copy of the "missing" IEng for Licensed Engineers document, very helpful!
I shall join the RAeS as a student I think, its only been down to pure lazyness and not wanting to make my huge student loan any worse that I havent! (Mind you £30 for 3years isn't bad!)
Hopefully I will sucessfully complete my degree, licenses, and I can when the time comes (2years experiance, holding Type Ratings/Company approvals), apply for IEng. Look to the future then, would like to do an MSc and persue CEng, not that useful for a line maintenance engineer, but professional development!
Been looking at MSc, can't really see a suitable one right now! I'd liek to do it distance learning/part time, as being 22 now, and still not earning, I need to get on the property ladder etc! Seen a few good FT ones, MSc in Turbomachinery for example
I have heard back from the RAeS, they sent me a copy of the "missing" IEng for Licensed Engineers document, very helpful!
I shall join the RAeS as a student I think, its only been down to pure lazyness and not wanting to make my huge student loan any worse that I havent! (Mind you £30 for 3years isn't bad!)
Hopefully I will sucessfully complete my degree, licenses, and I can when the time comes (2years experiance, holding Type Ratings/Company approvals), apply for IEng. Look to the future then, would like to do an MSc and persue CEng, not that useful for a line maintenance engineer, but professional development!
Been looking at MSc, can't really see a suitable one right now! I'd liek to do it distance learning/part time, as being 22 now, and still not earning, I need to get on the property ladder etc! Seen a few good FT ones, MSc in Turbomachinery for example
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,447
Likes: 310
From: various places .....
Be aware that, in some jurisdictions, one is required by Statute to hold a particular accreditation or registration.
So, for instance, I got MRAeS, MIEAust, CEng, CPEng, RPEQ accreditations around 20-25 years or so ago. As a consequence of the MIEAust, CPEng, I am registered at Stage Three on the Professional Engineers Register in Australia which allows me access to a range of work which has such registration as a notional prerequisite. In addition, in the State of Queensland there is legislation which requires the performance of professional engineering work to be done by folk who are registered in an appropriate category by the Board of Professional Engineers in that State... hence RPEQ.
Further most of the learned societies (in my case the IEAust) have a CPD requirement. Therefore, the accreditation provides something in the way of a third party accreditation regarding the up to date-ness of one's knowledge.
Overall, if you want to play in the consulting engineering sandpit, you need to pony up for the post nominals ... At some stage you might then up the registration levels for whatever reason motivates you. So, for example, I have been toying with moving to FRAeS, FIEAust for some years ... might even get around to filling in the paperwork one of these days ... unless retirement overtakes the interest ... in which case it will be upping my sailing capabilities ..
So, for instance, I got MRAeS, MIEAust, CEng, CPEng, RPEQ accreditations around 20-25 years or so ago. As a consequence of the MIEAust, CPEng, I am registered at Stage Three on the Professional Engineers Register in Australia which allows me access to a range of work which has such registration as a notional prerequisite. In addition, in the State of Queensland there is legislation which requires the performance of professional engineering work to be done by folk who are registered in an appropriate category by the Board of Professional Engineers in that State... hence RPEQ.
Further most of the learned societies (in my case the IEAust) have a CPD requirement. Therefore, the accreditation provides something in the way of a third party accreditation regarding the up to date-ness of one's knowledge.
Overall, if you want to play in the consulting engineering sandpit, you need to pony up for the post nominals ... At some stage you might then up the registration levels for whatever reason motivates you. So, for example, I have been toying with moving to FRAeS, FIEAust for some years ... might even get around to filling in the paperwork one of these days ... unless retirement overtakes the interest ... in which case it will be upping my sailing capabilities ..
Last edited by john_tullamarine; 29th November 2005 at 21:12.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: lots of different places....
I know this is probably coming too late but I thought I would add to the topic anyway...
I've been in the industry for about 9 years now, started out as a Student member of the RAeS then became graduate member and now i've dropped membership.
I always wanted to be chartered when I started the career, so pursued the RAeS route. Looking back I found them vaguely useful, the company I started in gave out professional development folders that helped log all of my work experience in order to make the step to chartership easier. This folder was from the IMechE. I found the RAeS quite vague in how to get chartership through them, they just said apply after a couple of years of experience and we'll see. No guidelines, no thoughts, no baseline to see whether I was on track or anything. Yes, I understand that professional development is a large general arena, very unique to each individual, but it would have been nice to at least see something to point me in the right direction.
I agree with the sentiments above, it's great for networking. It didn't help my career one bit, hard work did that. The resources can be very useful, and some of the lectures can be very interesting.
I dropped my membership when I decided that I wanted to be a pilot. I'm still an engineer at the moment and don't miss the membership. I know that the only practical career progress that being chartered produced from the jobs I've had in the past is the ability to sign Airform 100A's (certificate to allow flight trials)and to sign off designs. Other than that I didn't notice anything else.
It has it's uses, whether they are for you is something you'll learn overtime. It won't hurt to get in and see. Rather than never knowing.
Bear in mind the advice to join before you graduate, it is much easier to get in as a student than after you graduate.
I've been in the industry for about 9 years now, started out as a Student member of the RAeS then became graduate member and now i've dropped membership.
I always wanted to be chartered when I started the career, so pursued the RAeS route. Looking back I found them vaguely useful, the company I started in gave out professional development folders that helped log all of my work experience in order to make the step to chartership easier. This folder was from the IMechE. I found the RAeS quite vague in how to get chartership through them, they just said apply after a couple of years of experience and we'll see. No guidelines, no thoughts, no baseline to see whether I was on track or anything. Yes, I understand that professional development is a large general arena, very unique to each individual, but it would have been nice to at least see something to point me in the right direction.
I agree with the sentiments above, it's great for networking. It didn't help my career one bit, hard work did that. The resources can be very useful, and some of the lectures can be very interesting.
I dropped my membership when I decided that I wanted to be a pilot. I'm still an engineer at the moment and don't miss the membership. I know that the only practical career progress that being chartered produced from the jobs I've had in the past is the ability to sign Airform 100A's (certificate to allow flight trials)and to sign off designs. Other than that I didn't notice anything else.
It has it's uses, whether they are for you is something you'll learn overtime. It won't hurt to get in and see. Rather than never knowing.
Bear in mind the advice to join before you graduate, it is much easier to get in as a student than after you graduate.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: UK
Cheers lads
Well, I joined as a student member a week or two ago now, £30 till I graduate isn't bad. I'll be persueing IEng as soon as I can (as a Licensed Engineer, when Type Rated + 2yrs experiance), maybe CEng in the future. Not really after it for any other reason than to have another few goals to work towards.
Thanks!
Well, I joined as a student member a week or two ago now, £30 till I graduate isn't bad. I'll be persueing IEng as soon as I can (as a Licensed Engineer, when Type Rated + 2yrs experiance), maybe CEng in the future. Not really after it for any other reason than to have another few goals to work towards.
Thanks!
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: OVER THE RAINBOW
I was a student member when I was studying in the UK and became a graduate member. The conferences where good and free, the library was good for some project I did.
Must admit I have membership lapse, as outside of UK nobody asked me for it and only thing that got me up the management ladder is hard work and grabbing opportunities. Actually you get to a stage where they do not look at you BEng(Aero), your reputation gets you the positions (or is that because I am in the maintenance field)
I suppose membership might help if you want to work for one of the old UK coporates and also as mentioned if you are a consultant
Must admit I have membership lapse, as outside of UK nobody asked me for it and only thing that got me up the management ladder is hard work and grabbing opportunities. Actually you get to a stage where they do not look at you BEng(Aero), your reputation gets you the positions (or is that because I am in the maintenance field)
I suppose membership might help if you want to work for one of the old UK coporates and also as mentioned if you are a consultant
