The Engineer's Registration: United Kingdom

United Kingdom

In general, there is no restriction on the right to practice as an engineer in the UK. There are a few fields of practice, generally safety related, which are reserved by statute to licensed persons.[5] The UK has Professional Engineering titles registered via the Engineering Council (UK) (ECUK): Incorporated Engineer (IEeng) and Chartered Engineer (CEng).[6] Incorporated Engineer is a first-cycle qualification for Bachelor of Engineering or Bachelor of Science degree holders. The term chartered engineer is a UK professional certification in engineering. There is often confusion between professional engineers and mechanics and technicians. In Britain anyone can call themselves an engineer due to protected status being awarded to the term "chartered engineer" and not just engineer. Chartered Engineer is a second-cycle qualification usually reserved for holders of integrated Master of Engineering degrees or Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Science plus Master of Science degrees. Both IEng and CEng require substantial professional experience, a professional review and interview.

It is illegal in the UK to hold that one is a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer unless so registered with the ECUK. The title of "engineer" by itself is not regulated in the UK. While ECUK is the primary body registering Engineers in UK, there are other professional societies that register engineers as well. Under its Royal Charter, the Engineering Council UK grants licenses to engineering institutions allowing them to assess candidates for inclusion on it Register of Professional Engineers and Technicians, and to accredit academic programmes and professional development schemes. There are over 30 institutions licensed to register professional engineers with EC UK. Other not EC UK licensed societies that register Professional Engineers in UK are Society of Professional Engineers UK (SPE) and the Institute of British Engineers UK (IBE).

In the remainder of Europe, the term Diploma Engineer implies that the person has completed typically one more year of academic work beyond the basic engineering Bachelor's degree. A major academic project, similar to a Master's thesis, is completed as well. Diploma Engineer is therefore a university degree, and not a professional registration or license.