Chartered Engineer (Ceng)

Chartered Engineers develop solutions to complex engineering problems using new or existing technologies, and through innovation, creativity and technical analysis. Their academic knowledge is at master's level or equivalent.

If you are seeking professional registration you will need to demonstrate your ability to meet competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.

Use our Route to membership tool to find out if this is the right level of membership for you.

Why become a Chartered Engineer?

Recognition:

  • Benefit from an internationally recognised qualification
  • Be recognised as a professional and competent engineer
  • Improve your long-term earning potential
  • Increase your exposure to new career opportunities

Build new relationships:

  • Connect with our other members worldwide
  • Build profitable working relationships with other specialists in your field
  • Help influence and support younger Members
  • Volunteer to help us – in your company, region, your industry group

Access our resources:

  • Access our online and offline resources and information through training and events
  • Receive email updates from your region or industry or interest group
  • Access to a world-class engineering library
  • Read Member-only specialist engineering news, features and expert comment by PE
  • Access financial and practical support through our benevolent fund – Support Network

See all our Member benefits.

Who is it for?

You can apply to become a Chartered Engineer if you are a practising engineer and want to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. The following requirements will help you find out if it is for you.

Education and knowledge

Your academic knowledge will be at master’s degree level. This may be from:

  • A four-year accredited MEng degree
  • A bachelor's degree in a relevant subject and a master's qualification
  • A bachelor's degree plus learning on the job, via short courses, private study, part time study or other routes

Use our Qualifications checker to find out if your qualifications meet the academic requirement.

Formal academic requirements are not the only way to demonstrate your level of knowledge and understanding. Find out more about academic requirements.

Don't worry if your qualifications don't appear to meet the requirements, you may be able to undertake a period of Further learning to top up your formal qualifications or there may be another appropriate route for you.

Professional experience and competence

You must be able to demonstrate your ability to develop appropriate solutions to engineering problems, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change.

Download our application guidance for more details about the required levels of professional experience and competences.

You will need to demonstrate your ability to meet competences described in the Engineering Council's UK-SPEC.

We welcome engineers from a very comprehensive base of experience and disciplines. Read our definition of mechanical engineering to find out more.

How much does it cost?

New registrants pay an application fee and an annual subscription.

If you're not professionally active or your annual income is below £18,000 you may qualify for a reduced subscription.

Fees and charges in UK pounds

View our application and subscription fees in UK pounds.

Fees and charges in India 

View our application and subscription fees in India.

Application process

 

Check your qualifications

We need to check your academic profile to ensure that it meets the benchmark for registration. You can use our Qualifications checker or contact our Membership team to check your qualifications.

Complete the application form

If you have used our Qualifications checker to confirm you meet the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer and you haven't already registered with the Engineering Council as a CEng, you can apply online or submit a paper-based application (editable PDF). Read our Chartered and Incorporated Engineers Application Guidance. You may also find our CEng Exemplar helpful when completing your application.

If you are on our Monitored Professional Development Schemes (MPDS), you should submit an application via the MPDS route. Find out how to apply using the MPDS route.

If you are already professionally registered with another institution, find out how you can join us using a very straightforward process.

Get support from two sponsors

You will need two sponsors to agree to sponsor your application and sign your application.

Applicants for CEng must be sponsored by one Chartered Engineer. Sponsors can be registered with any Engineering Council-listed professional engineering institution; they don’t have to be one of our Members. Your second sponsor could be another registered engineer, or your line manager. Your sponsor can’t be a direct family member.

Submit your application

Once you have completed and proof read your application form, you will need to submit it to us with any application fees and any supporting documents required.

If you are on our Monitored Professional Development Schemes (MPDS), you should submit an application via the MPDS route.

Professional review interview

Once we have processed your papers, we will invite you to attend a professional review interview, you can select your preferred interview location on your application form, virtual, face-to-face, Armed Forces or internationally.

You will need to contact us to confirm your availability for interview. If you don’t, your application may be delayed.

The professional review interview is a mandatory part of the membership process. Every Chartered Engineer, regardless of their discipline, has to attend an interview.

The interviewers will focus on your most recent and relevant experience. They will make their judgements based solely on the information provided in your application and your performance during the interview.

The interview will take approximately 45 minutes.

What happens next?

Once you have completed your interview, your assessors will make one of two recommendations, elect to membership, or not.

If you are successful, you will receive a letter and a certificate from our President and Chief Executive confirming your achievement. Your name will then be forwarded to the Engineering Council for Registration.

Your name will be published on the Engineering Council website on the first Thursday of the following March, June, September or December.

If your application is not successful, we will write to you and explain the reason for the decision. You will also be given some guidance as to how you may wish to address the concerns raised, in order to resubmit your papers at a later date.

Any applicant can request a copy of their interview paperwork, scores and feedback.

We have an arbitration and appeals process, whereby applicants who are dissatisfied with the process may appeal within a given timeframe.

Become a member

Contact our Membership team if you have any questions about joining us:

  • UK-SPEC 4th Edition

    All applicants for registration with the Engineering Council (EngC) and membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers are assessed against the standards as defined by EngC within the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). The 4th edition of the UK-SPEC was implemented from 31 December 2021, and is now the version of the standards used to assess applicants for registration. The 4th edition is available here.

    Dan Bunfield

    Meet our Members

    Find out more about members of IMechE and how professional registration helps their careers

    Member of another professional engineering institution?

    Find out how to join us

    Alastair cooper - award winner 310

    Armed Forces and MOD

    Serving in the Armed Forces or the Ministry of Defence (MoD)? You may be eligible to use a simplified route to professional registration.

    Find out about our Armed Forces route to professional registration


    Support for your application

    At the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, we value diversity and are strongly committed to providing inclusive and supportive conditions for all applicants. A fundamental element of the application process is a peer-to-peer interview.

    Should you require any reasonable adjustments for the interview, before scheduling, please contact our membership team at membership@imeche.org, detailing your requirements so that we can determine how best to help. If agreed, please be assured that this will not be communicated any further than is strictly needed to accommodate the request, which will include the professional assessors. Your request will not impact the overall assessment in any way.

    Start your application

    Your first step should be to use our Qualification checker to find out if your qualifications meet the academic requirement. You should then read our CEng application guidance. You may also find our CEng Exemplar helpful when completing your application.

    If you're confident that you have the necessary qualifications, knowledge and experience to become a Chartered Engineer and you haven't already registered with the Engineering Council as a CEng, you should apply.

    Apply online

    PDF application

    You can complete a PDF application instead of applying online if you prefer. If you're having trouble editing the form try using Foxit Reader.

    Download a PDF application form

     

    Existing registrants

    If you're already registered and with another institution, you can join us at the same registration level.

    Find out how to join us

    • Membership support team

      We can give you advice and support throughout the application process.

    • Global Membership Development Support

      If you'd like to help your engineers or students move forward on the path to professional registration, why not ask one of our Membership Development Managers to deliver a presentation at your office, university or college?

      Find a Membership Development Manager near you

    • Working towards professional registration?

      Find out how we can help you become registered through your company or as an individual.

      Find out more