As the UK regulatory body for the engineering profession, the Engineering Council sets and maintains internationally recognised standards of professional competence and ethics.
These are detailed in the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) which describes the value of becoming registered as an Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng). It describes the requirements that have to be met in order to gain these qualifications, and gives examples of ways of doing this.
CPD Requirements for Chartered Engineers in UK
The Engineering Council Standards – UK-SPEC – states the requirement for all professionally qualified engineers and technicians to undertake CPD. They also require all of the 35 licensed Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) to have policies to support and monitor their members’ CPD. To support this, the Engineering Council has produced a CPD Code for Registrants and a CPD Policy Statement for the PEIs and their members. CPD requirements for Engineers in UK include:
CPD HoursProfessional development is not specified to a ‘fixed’ amount by the Engineering Council. However, PEIs may specify CPD requirements:
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – as a guide at least 30 hours of CPD per year up to the Professional Review stage and then enough to develop and maintain the professional knowledge, skills and competence that you need for your role.
- Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) – minimum of ninety hours, over a three year rolling period
Types of CPD• In-house courses
• External courses
• Work-based learning, e.g. codes observed, conflicts resolved
• Distance learning programmes
• Self-directed private study
• Preparation and delivery of lectures and presentations
• Preparation of refereed papers
• Attendance at lectures, seminars or conferences
• Coaching, tutoring, monitoring, teaching
• Secondment and special projects
• Relevant voluntary work CPD Subject Matter• updating particular areas of competence
• development of personal and management skills
• broadening of experience leading to new career opportunities
• related areas of competence including project management and risk management (See our online courses on project management and risk management)
CPD must be relevant to the Competency and Commitment Standardsfor Chartered Engineers (CEng)
A. Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to optimise the application of existing and emerging technology.
- Maintain and extend a sound theoretical approach in enabling the introduction and exploitation of new and advancing technology and other relevant developments.
- Engage in the creative and innovative development of engineering technology and continuous improvement systems.
B. Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of engineering problems.
- Identify potential projects and opportunities. View Continuing Professional Development’s Project Management Concepts online courses for help with this competency standard.
- Conduct appropriate research, and undertake design and development of engineering solutions.
- Implement design solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness.
C. Provide technical and commercial leadership.
- Plan for effective project implementation. View Continuing Professional Development’sproject management online coursesfor help with this competency standard.
- Plan, budget, organise, direct and control tasks, people and resources. View Continuing Professional Development’sproject management online coursesfor help with this competency standard.
- Lead teams and develop staff to meet changing technical and managerial needs. View Continuing Professional Development’sproject management online coursesandEstablishing a Project Team coursefor help with this competency standard.
- Bring about continuous improvement through quality management. Continuing Professional Development’sProject Quality Management online CPD courseis directly applicable to this competency standard.
D. Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills.
- Communicate in English with others at all levels.
- Present and discuss proposals.
- Demonstrate personal and social skills.
E. Demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards, recognising obligations to society, the profession and the environment.
- Comply with relevant codes of conduct.
- Manage and apply safe systems of work.
- Undertake engineering activities in a way that contributes to sustainable development.
- Carry out continuing professional development necessary to maintain and enhance competence in own area of practice.
At Professional Review, registration candidates will be assessed on their commitment to the PD obligation. Evidence will be drawn from the quality of their Initial Professional Development records and their Action Plans for post-registration professional development (PD).
Chartered Engineers should maintain a detailed record of their development, responsibilities and experience, verified by superiors or mentors, to provide best evidence for the professional review.
Click here for CPD requirements for engineers in other countries and click here to view our course catalogue.
