There are many competent, experienced civil engineers who, for a variety of reasons, have never achieved professional qualification, and yet find themselves in positions of responsibility, working alongside or possibly supervising the work of other, professionally qualified civil engineers.
Candidates should consider the Attributes relevant to each grade of membership to ascertain the grade appropriate to their level of expertise:
Routes to membership
There are three stages in the qualification process to become professionally qualified;
Educational Base
Current requirements are set out in ICE3001A Routes to Membership and ICE3002A Routes to Technician Membership, but these were introduced in 1999 and those who commenced an academic course before 1999 may find their academic qualifications render them eligible for a higher grade of membership. e.g. a candidate who gained an HNC before 2002 may be eligible for IEng MICE. ICE Course Search provides a means of ascertaining the grade of membership for which an academic qualification is accredited.
Those without the recognised educational base for a given grade of membership, but who have gained significant experience in the workplace may follow the Technical Report Route.
Initial Professional Development
- for those without completed Training Agreements, Career Appraisals or PE1
Initial Professional Development (IPD) is the training and development obtained prior to professional qualification, and as such has no prescribed duration or time limit. It represents the first phase of a career-long commitment to Continuing Professional Development, and is structured around specific Development Objectives described in ICE3005A.
IPD is achieved through Training Agreement, or is self-managed, which requires validation by Career Appraisal.
Training Agreement
Dependent on the circumstances, it may be considered appropriate for experienced candidates to enter into a Training Agreement, in order to provide the candidate with the opportunities, experience and support required to complete IPD. In this case, IPD is certified by the SCE and verified by a Membership Development Officer.
Self-managed IPD
Usually, experienced engineers are not seeking further opportunities to gain the experience required under IPD, but more often needing time and guidance to record and /or demonstrate the development experience they have already gained. This requires candidates to submit evidence of their development experience by means of Career Appraisal (MGN11).
Experienced Civil Engineers Pathway
Candidates who meet the academic requirements for a given grade and are currently supervising (or have previously supervised) civil engineers holding that grade of ICE membership may be eligible to pursue the Experienced Civil Engineer Pathway (MGN49) as an alternative to Career Appraisal.
Professional Review
- for those with completed Training Agreements, Career Appraisals or PE1
ICE3001A Routes to Membership and ICE3002A Routes to Technician Membership describe the requirements and process for submission for Professional Review for CEng, IENG MICE and for EngTechTMICE respectively, and (in Appendix A to each document) the Attributes which candidates are required to demonstrate for each grade of membership.
Candidates in organisations who have Approved Training Schemes may obtain advice and support from their SCE. Advice and support may also be obtained from ICE NW Membership Development Officers.
Technical Report Route
Those without the recognised educational base but who have gained significant experience in the workplace may follow the Technical Report Route. This route is not open to candidates who hold a relevant accredited academic qualification. Candidates are required to demonstrate the same knowledge and understanding of scientific and engineering principles as someone who has obtained the benchmark academic qualification for any given grade of membership. Details can be found in MGN35 Technical Report Route (TRR) for MICE CEng/IEng or MGN36 Technical Report Route (TRR) for TMICE EngTech or for further information contact your Membership Development Officer.