Chartered Engineers

[stressone]

In many adverts in UK newspapers the term 'Chartered Engineer'is used. What is a chartered engineer?

The reason I am asking is because normally in Europe, according to law, there is 'free transportation of people and goods'. In reality the acceptance of foreign degrees/diplomas causes problems.

I do not wish to start a whole discussion about the definition of engineer, that is another tread.

 

[corus]

A Chartered Engineer is equivalent to a PE in the USA, as far as I can understand their acronyms. A euro-Engineer, may be equivalent, if you're from another european country. Some companies specifically ask for Chartered status in certain jobs, such as a Senior Engineer, but it's not always required. Adverts from recruitment agencies, which ask for Chartered Engineers, will ensure that you are "binned" even if you have an equivalent "european" status, but then they're not the brightest of the Queen's subjects.
As far as I'm aware foreign (to the UK) degrees don't cause much of a problem providing you can say how long and where you've studied, and what it may be equivalent to. It's probably the same for people in the UK looking for work on the mainland.

 

[GregLocock]

There are significant differences between CEng and PE status. For a start, you don't have to take any further exams after leaving uni for CEng, if you take an accredited degree course.

Secondly, there is no significant legal issue associated with being a CEng. The assumption in English law is that if you sign off a piece of paper or a drawing, then you are responsible for it.



Cheers

Greg Locock

 

[zdas04]

Also, the CEng designation is granted by engineering orginizations not the government. The Society of Mechanical Engineers is completely responsible for the specification of criteria and the approval of individual Mechanical Engineers striving for CEng status.

In the states it is a government body that does the same for all types of engineers.

Lot to be said for the Brit version.

David

 

[sc]

Although CPeng seems a bit less daunting than PE to achieve, I would suggest that from my own experience it is not.

In Australia to achieve CPeng you need to write up your career to a certain extend to show what you have learnt since graduation with respect to key competencies, then have this assessed by a national assesor. Following this is the CPeng interview which is essentially an interview by peers to determine if your level of expertice is sufficient to gain CPeng status. In all this can take several months to achieve or longer if your career report is not up to scratch.

CPeng does not necessarily mean that you are a better engineer than some one else, it does show that you are committed to maintaining your high level of competency. Engineers in Australia are also listed on a national register. The level generally desired is NPER 3 which is virtually compulsory for private practice in some states and generally desired in others.

From what I am told the status of Chartered Professional Engineer applies equally throughout the commonwealth, not sure if it does in practice.

regards
sc

 

[stressone]

Thank you all for your swift replies. I appreciate it.

 

[kayah]

Just a few comments based on my own experience of both Canadian and UK systems. From what I can tell, the Canadian system is, unsurprisingly, somewhere between the US & UK approach - PEng licences are isssued by provincial engineering associations, for which you need a certain amount of engineering experience and to pass an ethics & law exam (amongst other things). Practice of engineering (and use of the term engineer) is regulated - not so in the UK. In my opinion the process of ongoing assessment, submissions and interview to achieve CEng status makes this a more challenging process.
In theory the engineering associations of several countries have signed reciprocal agreements recognising the equivalency of accredited engineering qualifications, and in some cases of registration. In practice the implementation of these is less than straightforward.