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My degree hasn't been accredited by IET have I joined the wrong Institution?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
I am looking to start applying for CEng and joined the IET as my work place is advising on this institution. But when I searched for my MEng degree it doesn't appear to have been accredited by IET. However other institutions IMechE, RAeS and IEE have accredited it for CEng.

Does this mean that I need to leave IET and join on of these three institutions instead?


Finally I am confused on what exemplifying qualification means. In the UK SPEC, the competency and commitment for CEng A to E. Does the MEng exemplify an applicant from any of these or does it just give you the ability to simply apply?


Thanks
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Andy Millar:

    Hi Roy,


    My degree shows on the current link (under Mehmood's post above) as accredited by the IEE. I assume that if a degree programme ceased to exist before the IET was created then that's all the EC can show as the accreditation. So it's quite likely the OP is in the same position.




    The History of the IET shows that it was established in 1871. But in 1871 they were established as 'The Society of Telegraph Engineers'. So therefore the IET has 'taken responsibility' for its history dating back to 1871, and that includes the existence of the former IEE. Any degrees that were accredited by the former IEE, should therefore be recognised as being accredited by the IET without any question.


  • I'd assume you're right, but as the EC website doesn't say that on their degree search page I can see that potential applicants could be concerned (as this one was).


    Unfortunately the undergrad environment does often promote the attitude that the world has a strict set of rules with pass/fail criteria, and I don't think the PEIs are always very good at getting it across that for Professional Registration generally "the code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules"!


    Cheers,


    Andy


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Andy Millar:

    I'd assume you're right, but as the EC website doesn't say that on their degree search page I can see that potential applicants could be concerned (as this one was).

     




    Well let's hope someone in the IET responsible for registration can raise the matter higher up the ladder so that the IET can start work with the EC to amend the database to reflect that former IEE accredited degrees are under the responsibility of the IET. The database should replace IEE with:


    IET (formerly IEE)


    That way the IET are accepting responsibility for maintaining the historical accreditation of degrees when the IET was operating as the IEE.


  • MBirdi, 

    That doesn't follow.  When registration requirements are changed,  you can't say that all previous requirements should continue to be met.  Like many of us older members, the institution was still the IEE when I joined and became C.Eng. At that time, membership and registration were inextricably linked,  you couldn't be a member without also becoming C.Eng. Furthermore,  I.Eng was not an option,  that was only available via the IIE. The whole scenario has completely changed since then and what may have constituted an exemplifying qualification then may might do so now. 


    Although this could be looked at closely to examine whether this particular degree could be accepted as an exemplifying qualification,  I'm really not convinced that it's a worthwhile exercise from either the IET's perspective or that of the OP. I strongly doubt that it will be difficult for the OP to demonstrate k&u by other means.  I feel certain that the pre interview assessor would happily accept the degree as s starting point and seek some supporting detail to confirm k&u has been confirmed. 


  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Hi Roy,


    It's only a simple matter about an administrative anomaly found on the EC database with regard to IEE accreditation of degrees.


    When the IEE changed its name to the IET, all MIEE, FIEE,and HonFIEE - as well as MIIE, FIIE, and HonFIIE - transferred over to MIET, FIET, and HonFIET respectively. In addition responsibility for degree accreditation and EC registration under the IEE (and IIE) as well as the annual payment of membership and EC registration fees would have transferred over to the IET. In another words, Andy Millar's degree accreditation and CEng registration can be traced back to the IET, (and not the IEE). I know that to be true, because he (or his company) pays his membership and CEng subscription directly to the IET (and not the IEE).


    The only thing that requires change is to the EC database to reflect the fact that the IET, (and not the IEE) is the responsible administrative body for degree accreditation and CEng registration by the former IEE (and IIE), as well as under the IET.


    Amending to 'IET (formally IEE)' simply provides traceability back to the IET (and not the IEE) for degree accreditation, and CEng registration. You cannot have a non-existent body (IEE) stated as the responsible body for accreditation, because then traceability is broken.
  • Ah, ik, fair comment.  Thanks fire clarifying. 

    Roy
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Cheers!


    Mehmood
  • Well that's been (relatively) interesting - I've just been trying to find out whether it makes any difference at all which EC institute accredited the degree, and as far as I can see in all the IET guidance I can find it doesn't make any difference at all. I can't find anything that says "an IET accredited degree is an exemplifying qualification".


    So this discussion all seems to be a moot point. Unless anyone can point me to anything different it appears that as long as it's on the EC list it's accredited for IET registration purposes. Even if it was accredited by, for example, the Institute of Fuel *.


    Cheers,


    Andy


    * I don't suppose the IoF ever did accredit degrees, I just chose that as a) an extreme example of a long gone institute name and b) the one my dad was registered through so I thought it deserved a mention!
  • Andy, 

    in honesty,  I did think, when I saw the OP's original question,  that I recalled that the exemplifying qualification was  EC-wide rather than individual institutions,  even if the accreditation was undertaken for the EC by an individual institution. I was very close to making that my response initially,  but wasn't certain of my facts,  even after a brief internet search on it,  so didn't say it. Clearly,  your search was more thorough than mine.  Good to hear that,  based on your investigation,  it would seem my memory was still serving me well, something that's increasingly good to find out as the aging process moves rapidly on! Thanks for that.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    The title of the thread as set out by the OP indicated their understanding that the EC database showed that their MEng degree was accredited by three PEIs  (IMechE. RAeS, and IEE); and this meant that the IET (their preferred choice) wasn't included; and therefore asked if they needed to join the IMechE or RAeS (since the IEE nolonger existed) to register as CEng? The answer is no. They can register through the IET as it is responsible for all of the previous IEE administrative decisions made, including degree accreditation. If the EC database were amended to replace IEE with IET, then other engineers who find themselves in a similar situation to the OP, won't have to go through the same situation, unless of course experienced members here prefer to be asked such questions on a repeated occurrence, perhaps in order to keep their minds active?


    With regards to EC wide accreditation, they should clarify this on their website so that potential registration candidates have a clear understanding of the opportunities available to them.