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How many of you are Professionally Registered?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
It would be great for others to read about how you found the process, what the benefits are, what you feel could improve the process and what difference it has made to your career!

Also, what advice would you give to somebody thinking of becoming Professionally Registered and what words of encouragement would you give to them?
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I became professionally registered in 2003, without a Masters Degree and with no mentoring.   My submission was based entirely on my 20 years experience as a design engineer, and I found the process fairly straightforward: submisison of a log book, an auto-biographical report which proved my competence in all learning outcomes, and finally an interview with the board.  I believe the process is, however, more complex now.   I would say that becoming registered is very beneficial if you wish to work abroad, or in academia, but less so for industry, although I suspect this will be changing now.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I have just become professionally registered without a mentor and found the process very easy and straight forward.



    I don't use career manager, personally I prefer to use my portfolio of evidence, this is sectioned into the relevant competencies where I can review and assess each piece of evidence against the next, I think this gives me good feel for where I am in my development and easily highlights weaker evidence and areas.



    The Application form was very straight forward to complete with the help of a local Professional Registration Adviser who reviewed my application before submission, the interview was more informal than expected, we talked through my application and I used my portfolio of evidence to highlight and explain my answers when there were additional questions.



    I don't think professional registration will have much impact on my career, as a company we have few professionally registered engineers, possibly I will see more benefit should I decide to move on from my current position?  
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    I've been professionally registered for quite some time now. I was lucky enough to be taken on by a government organisation on graduation which had a registered training scheme. They insisted we keep our logbooks up to date so when the time came to apply it was fairly straight forward. I also found the interview fairly easy because having ended up in a software related job my interviewers knew a lot less than me so this helped with my confidence.


    In terms of my career I'm not sure how much it has helped. I do think when I've had to send out CVs and apply for jobs then having CEng after my name adds a certain something and shows you are a "proper" engineer. I also know my chartered status is emphasised by my company when we bid for jobs, especially abroad.

    Alison
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    And the goodnews is that the process is not as complex as it is perceived to be. It is a ''peer review'' and not another form of academic excercise.



    I got registered late but happy i got it done at all. I found the links below very helpful. It is helpful to understand all the competences on the UK SPEC which can be downloaded from the last link below.



    www.engc.org.uk/benefits.aspx



    www.engc.org.uk/.../international-recognition-of-uk-qualifications



    www.engc.org.uk/.../about-professional-development



    Thanks to all those helping to keep this discussion alive.



    with regards

    Faith
  • 0
    I have been CEng for the last 12 years.  I am now a mentor with the IET and also an IPRA.  The process is relatively straight forward (as Faith mentioned)  It takes just a little effort to get started on your application.  In my experience for most people this is the hardest part as there is a fear of "not being able to do it".  Once you've actually started the process momentum and good advisors can help you keep going.

    Anyone going through the professional registration process should contact the IET to get a mentor and/or your local PRA.  These are people trained by the IET specifically to help you through the process.  They can meet with you face-to-face which often makes the process easier and advise ont he applicaiton process and help review the aplicaiton form with you giving you a stronger application submission and therefore removing some of the stress of the "hit and hope" of sumitting your application alone.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Victoria Quinn:

    I have been CEng for the last 12 years.  I am now a mentor with the IET and also an IPRA.  The process is relatively straight forward (as Faith mentioned)  It takes just a little effort to get started on your application.  In my experience for most people this is the hardest part as there is a fear of "not being able to do it".  Once you've actually started the process momentum and good advisors can help you keep going.

    Anyone going through the professional registration process should contact the IET to get a mentor and/or your local PRA.  These are people trained by the IET specifically to help you through the process.  They can meet with you face-to-face which often makes the process easier and advise ont he applicaiton process and help review the aplicaiton form with you giving you a stronger application submission and therefore removing some of the stress of the "hit and hope" of sumitting your application alone.



    Hi Victoria,



    Thank you for your participation in this discussion.



    Could you tell me what you think about setting up an online support forum for people wanting to become professionally registered?  I think that it would be good for people, to see how others have found the process and what worked for them in terms of receiving a mentor or attending a PRA session.  I would like to focus this mainly on our women members, although, not excluding men, as we have far less professionally registered women than we do men.



    I would be interested to hear yours and anybody elses thoughts on this.



    Thanks,

    Jo Foster

    Membership Exec - IET
  • 0
    Hi Jo (and all),



    Personally I think this would be a great idea. 



    Most of the people I deal with (a lot of them remotely via email, Skype, etc) have problems getting started.  The inertia at the start of the process is the biggest obstacle - no matter where you are in your career.  Many people find it helpful to see examples of others ideas for completing forms - how to structure them, what to include, etc.  Also ideas for what to include in their portfolio.  This is particularly true for people who are looking for recognition for IEng, or Eng Tech, or people with longer careers who have never thought about registration before.



    It always helps to talk about these things.  One of the reasons the mentor/PPRA process works is because you can ask questions and get help and advice. 



    Having a peer group supporting each other would be great, a big step forward for thse who want to achieve the recognition they deserve.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member

    Thank you Victoria.  This is great feedback!



    I will start something here, on the My Community platform.  It would be great to have your involvment and for you to look in from time to time and comment on some of the posts, regarding professional registration.



    I shall keep you informed.



    Kind regards,

    Jo



    Victoria Quinn    :

    Hi Jo (and all),



    Personally I think this would be a great idea. 



    Most of the people I deal with (a lot of them remotely via email, Skype, etc) have problems getting started.  The inertia at the start of the process is the biggest obstacle - no matter where you are in your career.  Many people find it helpful to see examples of others ideas for completing forms - how to structure them, what to include, etc.  Also ideas for what to include in their portfolio.  This is particularly true for people who are looking for recognition for IEng, or Eng Tech, or people with longer careers who have never thought about registration before.



    It always helps to talk about these things.  One of the reasons the mentor/PPRA process works is because you can ask questions and get help and advice. 



    Having a peer group supporting each other would be great, a big step forward for thse who want to achieve the recognition they deserve.


  • 0
    Hi,  you can contact IEt HQ  http://www.theiet.org/membership/career/mentoring/iservice/applymentor/http://www.theiet.org/membership/career/mentoring/iservice/applymentor/ and ask for a mentor.  Alternatively ask your local members, most of them will know the local PRA who may know some local members who are mentors.

    Also attending local sessions on professional registration will help as there are often mentors and/or PRA's attending these events.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Hello



    To contact an IPRA in your area you can use the link below:



    www.theiet.org/.../index.cfm



    With regards

    Faith

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