Chartership....
 

Hiya, just got a wee question about being a chartered engineer. I've done a search and couldn't find much, surprisingly.

Personally it would be a great achievement to get to chartered level and I hope to do this in the next 18months - 2 years through the RAeS. However, is it really as great as it's made out to be? More and more graduates leaving university are going down this road and as this happens, is the CEng essentially being de-valued?

Also, I'm interested as to what doors having CEng after my name might open. Is there a greater freedom to cross-over into other areas of engineering outside of aerospace? Or does it make prospective employers in all industries (not just engineering) really sit up and take notice......

Many thanks.
Yours, as always,

Mc

Hi McAero,
You don't say if you are a graduate or have other industry qualifications, I see that you are 23. Now if you look at the RAeS website, under membership, you can link to GTRO for details of registering with the Engineering Council, broadly it is as follows,
join the RAeS in the grade of Associate Member (AMRAeS) or Member (MRAeS) and apply for registration with the EC, in the grade of Engineering Technician, Incorporated Engineer ( I.ENG ) or Chartered Engineer ( C. ENG).

Assuming that you are not a graduate, and have EASA B1/B2/C licences, then a typical grading would be,
30-40 years old, B1/B2/C licence, employed as a Supervisor or Manager level, this would be AMRAeS and I ENG.
40+ holding a very senior position, say CEO, MD then MRAeS and C ENG via the Technical Report Option.

The method of TRO is a personel review by the RAeS, and submission of an Enginering Paper. The synopsis will be assessed by two RAeS assessors, and if suitable the paper can be submitted, and if satisfactory, this is followed by an interview with the assessors. The RAeS will assist this by supplying a Mentor to help you prepare the paper by advising you on the rules and standards required.

The above is a rough guide, C ENG is a necessary qualification in some fields, if you wish to be an AAIB Inspector for example, as this is a qualification recognised by the Courts for example. In general aviation it is not so necessary, however it is considered to be a highly regarded level of achievement.
As an indication , the TRO has been running for 2 years, 23 Applicants have applied for registration in this time, and 1 person has completed the course, not so many you may think, this gives an idea of the standards set.

I would certainly advise anyone to look at the I ENG and C ENG route, it won't be easy or quick, and you will have to work hard, have a look at the website, if you need more gen give me a PM.
Once registered as C ENG it costs £26 per year for continuing registration.
Best regards,
om15

From your profile I see that you hold a BEng, the requirements post 1999, now require four years of academic study rather than three for chartership, in other words to meet the Engineering council academic requirements you will require a MSc, or sit the equivalent level Engineering council exams. I forget the experience requirements, but it use to be either 2 years on a structured graduate training scheme, or 5 to 8 years experience with a position of supervisory responsibility. To be truthful although OM15 stated some examples it is not really that important to gain chartership, I have fared quite happily without it; but most contractors (including myself) have never needed chartership. £26 a year, OM15 I may be wrong but I thought it was more like £260 a year.
Depends if you want to climb up the corporate ladder then it may be necessary, but if you wish to remain a technical specialist and proceed down the contract route ,your experience is the thing that will count, having CEng wont really make that much difference.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the information, however I've ticked quite a few of the boxes already. I'm an ARAeS, with 18 months experience in a RAeS accredited company which runs a structured graduate programme. I've got a mentor within the company too, and my B.Eng was 4 years (as it was in Scotland), however I will be submitting a proposal to the further learning council in the next month or two regarding my "work based learning to masters level" which hopefully will be accepted and clear the way for my application for CEng in 2 years time.

I was just curious as to how being a CEng would affect my career in the next 10 years as opposed to just remaining the same B.Eng.

Thanks

Mc

Mc Aero,
I can't think of a specific material benefit of C ENG registration, other than if you were looking at a new job and promotion then it may tip the balance in your favour, however, it is a highly regarded qualification in the industry, and is a personal achievement, plus is recognised overseas.
Certainly have a look, and if I can help get in touch.

Clarify the fees,
Annual subscription is,
Membership of RAeS as Member is £177.00
EC (UK) C Eng fees is £26.00
Gross amount £203.00

Best regards,
om15

Does your monthly pay go up ?

Thanks om15.

Om25, thanks for clarifying the fees.
Mcaero the biggest influence on your career is if you choose to remain permanent staff or become a contractor rather than if you obtain chartership or not.

My experience if you want to stay dealing with the technical side of things and not progress into management then in ten years time if you remain permanent staff then your career will hit a ceiling, including your pay; this is the reason many of us choose the contracting route (at least get paid decent money to do a frustrating job).

Middle management looked a complete nightmare, getting all the flak from above with all the hassle organising those below, plus having to deal with company politics.

Interesting point about that your BEng course was four years, in England three year Batchelors are still offered, but the four year courses lead to an award of an MEng, so I am intrigued to hear how the "Scottish" system is structured.