Hi Matthew,

There is no fixed period, but I'd guess that typically it takes engineers about 5 years' after graduation to meet the competences? But some do it quicker (particularly if they've worked through their education). And for some it will take longer to get to the appropriate level, maybe 10 years.

Thanks,

Andy

With 26 years of dedicated experience in my field since completing my education with a Level 4/5 HNC, I have continuously honed my expertise. Despite the financial commitment of securing a loan to cover annual fees of £3,000 and the unforeseen circumstance that led to my withdrawal from the final year of my course, I have remained actively engaged in both hands-on work and office responsibilities. My role encompasses a broad spectrum of activities including enquiries, estimating, costing, invoicing, design, installation, and certification of intricate systems.
In my progressive career journey, I have ascended to the position of Director at the company where my professional path began, now overseeing a team of 10 employees. My commitment to professional development was marked by attaining MIET status in 2015. Last year, I pursued the IEng qualification, not out of necessity, but to formalize my status as an Engineer. After a rigorous 22-week preparation, I presented and engaged in the interview process. Despite the setback of receiving a request for additional evidence of competencies E1 and E5, and the subsequent need to restart the application process, I remain steadfast in my pursuit of excellence.
Reflecting on the journey, I acknowledge the challenges faced due to financial constraints during my younger years, which precluded the opportunity for university education. Nevertheless, my professional experiences have shaped a comprehensive skill set that continues to drive the success of my company and my personal growth within the industry.

Hi Andy. I am reaching out to seek your perspective on a matter concerning the IEng qualification process. Specifically, I am curious about the rationale behind the requirement for candidates who do not achieve the necessary benchmarks in certain competencies, for example E1 and E5 in my situation to undergo the full application procedure. Would it not be more efficient to permit the submission of supplementary evidence pertaining solely to the competencies that were found lacking? Such a targeted reassessment method could not only expedite the process but also promote more focused enhancement of the applicant’s professional engineering skills. For context, I was unsuccessful in meeting the standards for 2 out of the 17 competencies.

Additionally, on a personal note, I am intrigued to know which musical instruments you play. Having read your other post, I am eager to learn more. 

Being professionally registered, I won't vote, but thinking back about my own experience, I put it off for years because it was very daunting, even though I had been working in responsible positions with complex systems in some of the country's leading infrastructure projects leading to that point. The IEE was a very different place to the IET, but I guess it still looks like a big hill to climb.

The best advice I can give to anyone thinking of starting the process is speak to a Professional Registration Advisor, who will help take the veil of the mystical process, tell you what to expect based on your experience, and hopefully give you some advice on how to prepare for the interview.

Could you share whether attaining the status of Chartered Engineer has provided tangible benefits in your career , or was it primarily pursued as a personal achievement akin to my own aspirations.

I inquire for the benefit of those contemplating the extensive journey toward professional registration. As for myself, I have decided not to pursue reapplication. Should my current qualifications not suffice for recognition as an engineer, I am content to continue my career as an ECS Installation Technician. Upon considered reflection, I question the necessity of maintaining membership with the IET, particularly in light of the annual dues, given my current registration with ECS and IHEEM, which align closely with my specialisation in health and hospital installations. I wonder,  does the IET membership confer any additional professional advantages that would justify the expense? My career trajectory has many parallels with that of Michael Peace. Despite these similarities, he has attained the status of Chartered Engineer ? Although I continue to  practice in the field of electrical installation 

There is a prevailing sentiment within the profession that it systematically marginalizes the blue-collar practitioner. The encouragement to pursue an EngTech designation, rather than being recognized as an engineer, perpetuates the notion that the title of ‘engineer’ is exclusively reserved for those with an academic background

Forgive me but engineer is like leader. An unprotected title.

I know many people who really do push boundaries and I consider to be engineers in full no matter their background qualifications, yet all too often the vending machine breaks and an 'engineer' is called to fix it - and that's in an engineering company.

At the end of the day, it's your call my friend. I am chartered purely because it adds another string to my skills and qualifications bow and if that's what makes me stand out when interviewing for my next role - so be it.

In my extensive search, the term ‘leader’ appears to be conspicuously absent.