Chartered Engineer Route

EngineerDave

Hi everyone,
I am writing my first ever post tonight in the hope that someone can help me out with respect to becoming a chartered engineer. I have a 1.H1 degree in Construction Management and Engineering from WIT 2009 (accredited level 8 by engineers Ireland) and a 1.H1 Masters in IT in AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) from UCC 2010.

I work with my father in our own construction company, mainly in the private market and want to get chartered status so that I can supervise and sign off on house construction. I know that presently I can do this by having PI insurance and MIEI membership.... But as the regs are being amended in March 2014, I would have to be chartered to be able to sign off on work.

My worry is that I would not meet the criteria to even apply for chartership by not working for an engineering firm or because I am building private houses. I know there is a report and interview so I struggle to see what specific engineering problems I could discuss.

Has anyone had this issue in the past and made it to chartered status?

Thanks guys and sorry for the essay!

godtabh

your first port of call is to call EI.

Secondly review the regs and the 5 competences. For each of the competences look at examples of your work experience and see how they match up. You'l be surprised by how much experience is relevant.

After that its seeing a) have you met the minimum time requirements and b) minimum competences.

DeiseforLiam

The Level 8 designation comes from the National Framework of Qualifications, not Engineers Ireland. Looking at EI accredited programmes for Chartered Status on their website, the only one from WIT that is accredited is the level 8 degree in Elec. Eng. The Masters will probably be accredited but it means that you will need a minimum of 4 year's initial professional development after that. As the previous poster said, the best thing to do is to talk to Engineers Ireland.

who_am_I?

If you check the courses then you will find that none are accredited as meeting the education requirements for chartership.

Check with EI but it looks like you will have to apply to be granted a route to chartership.

If you can demonstrate you have the compentencies if a CEng then you could be granted the experiential learning route.

Good luck,

Dardania

Do you have 10 days of continuous professional development in the last 2 years? Something of a sticking point to some people I know going for CEng at the moment... I had to do a 1 day per course to get over the line

stever

Hi guys. Hope I'm not hijacking this thread but I'm in a similar place to EngineerDave! I'm also looking to start the process of becoming a chartered engineer (Civil). One thing pushing me into action is the new regulations which mean that post 2018 I would need to have an accredited masters degree, which I have no plans to do.

I work and live in the UK in the oil & gas industry, so I don't have any colleagues who have got their chartership through EI. I don't think this poses any problems but it just means I don't have anyone here who's gone through the EI process.

Can someone tell me how I should get started? I've downloaded the guidelines from the EI website. Would I need to travel to EI in Dublin before getting started on the report? Do EI provide much guidance or are you left to your own devices for preparing the report?

Thanks

godtabh

If you graduated before 2013 you dont need a masters.

Ring EI and speak to them and confirm you have the relevant accredited degree and go from their

DeiseforLiam

I'm assuming you're intending to apply in January 2014. You'll need to get approval from EI for your supporters asap (if they are Chartered in the UK, it should be straightforward). Other than that, all the guidance you need is in the two downloadable docs (Regulations & Guidance). The Guidance doc pretty much gives you the layout of the report. BTW chartership is not a word.

minnow

stever wrote: »

Hi guys. Hope I'm not hijacking this thread but I'm in a similar place to EngineerDave! I'm also looking to start the process of becoming a chartered engineer (Civil). One thing pushing me into action is the new regulations which mean that post 2018 I would need to have an accredited masters degree, which I have no plans to do.

I work and live in the UK in the oil & gas industry, so I don't have any colleagues who have got their chartership through EI. I don't think this poses any problems but it just means I don't have anyone here who's gone through the EI process.

Can someone tell me how I should get started? I've downloaded the guidelines from the EI website. Would I need to travel to EI in Dublin before getting started on the report? Do EI provide much guidance or are you left to your own devices for preparing the report?

Thanks

I was in a similar position to you 5 yrs ago and got CEng through EI despite working abroad, and outside the typical Irish engineering scene. Of course it depends on what type of work you're doing in the O&G industry, but if you can prove your engineering competency along with fulfilling the other requirements it's fine. Your references don't need to be EI chartered, UK chartered (or senior engineering position) will be fine.

The only trip to EI you will need is for the interview. The rest of the process is up to yourself although you'll find plenty advice on this forum.

I'd encourage you to do it as it opens doors on other opportunities especially if you want to return home. Within the oil industry itself it depends on your function as to whether it's valued or not.

stever

Thanks for your help guys. Will contact EI and go from there. Even though I graduated before 2013 I believe that you only have until 2018 to become chartered without an accredited masters.

godtabh

As far as I am aware if you graduated before 2013 you are fine with a level 8. That's what engineers Ireland have been saying for a while

stever

I pulled this out of the new regulations section 1.3.

http://www.engineersireland.ie/EngineersIreland/media/SiteMedia/membership/professional-titles/EI_RegulationsForCharteredEngineer_REV1013.pdf

A Bachelors is fine until 2020 but if I apply after that I'd need further learning:

1.3 Pathways to becoming a Chartered Engineer

1.3.1. Firstly you must be a member of Engineers Ireland at least
three months prior to applying for the registered
professional title of Chartered Engineer.
1.3.2. Then if you hold:
(please choose from the selection below)

(a)
A master’s degree in engineering accredited by Engineers
Ireland at the educational standard required for a Chartered
Engineer.
1For this route you will have completed a full-time
accredited master’s degree programme or the summation
of accredited qualifications leading to a master’s degree
(e.g., an integrated accredited masters, an accredited
bachelor (honours) degree in engineering, plus an
accredited master’s degree in engineering).

(b)
A bachelor (honours) degree2 in engineering awarded in or
before 2012 and accredited by Engineers Ireland at the
educational standard required for a Chartered Engineer.
This will remain the case until the 31st December 2020 at
which time holders of this degree will be required to
demonstrate evidence of further learning as described in
(c) and (d) below:

(c)
A combination of a bachelor (honours) degree2 in
engineering awarded post 2012, which is accredited by
Engineers Ireland as requiring further learning to reach
the educational standard required for a Chartered
Engineer, plus an unaccredited master’s degree in
engineering.

(d)
A combination of a bachelor (honours) degree2 in
engineering awarded post 2012, which is accredited by
Engineers Ireland as requiring further learning to reach the
educational standard required for a Chartered Engineer,
plus further learning equivalent to the outcome of a
master’s degree in engineering:

(e)
If you hold a qualification, or equivalent, not accredited at
the educational standard required for a Chartered
Engineer (this includes qualifications accredited by
Engineers Ireland for the registered professional title of
Associate Engineer;
3 cognate qualifications in a field
related to engineering; and those holding no formal
qualifications but with experiential learning).