Existing Registrant Applications

Applicants using the Existing Registrant (ER) process will already be registered as Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers or Engineering Technicians via another UK-based Professional Engineering Institution (PEI). A full list of these Institutions can be found on the Engineering Council website. 

The applicants will be applying for Membership of the Institution, but will not need to be assessed against the UK-SPEC requirements again as the Institution is satisfied that this assessment has already been carried out by the institution where they gained their professional status.

NB: Applicants will be applying for Membership of the IMechE only, but may then choose to pay their annual Engineering Council registration fee to the IMechE instead of their first institution. They will be added to the Institution database at the same registration level that they already hold. An applicant wanting to go from IEng to CEng registration will need to go through the ‘traditional’ application process and attend a Professional Review Interview. More information on this process can be found in the Introduction to Interviewing for Membership Applications module.

Application documents

Applicants will submit an Existing Registrant application form, their latest CV and statements that demonstrate a strong element of mechanical engineering within their role and practice to satisfy the IMechE membership requirements:

1. Please explain your involvement in mechanical engineering
2. Please give details of your commitment to Continuing Professional development with particular emphasis on aspects relevant to mechanical engineering

IA review

Industrial Advisors will be asked to complete the ER recommendation form. The form asks the IAs to consider the following two questions, which you will answer YES or NO to, and then provide feedback to support your answer:

1. Is the applicant involved in the practice of mechanical engineering?
2. Is the applicant committed to CPD including mechanical engineering relevant to their practice and career?

The following points should be taken into consideration when completing the assessment:

• Mechanical engineering should be interpreted in its broadest sense as revised in 2013. For an updated verion please click here
• The mechanical engineering aspect of the applicant’s practice does not have to be a major part of their role but should be an integral part and not such a small part as to be insignificant
• The mechanical engineering aspect of the applicant’s practice does not itself have to be at a level which would justify the relevant level or registration but should form an integral part of engineering practice which is at the appropriate level. However, the mechanical engineering aspect should require a reasonable level of understanding and competence, ie. not be at a trivial level
• Mechanical engineering CPD should be appropriate to the applicant’s involvement. A commitment to CPD to support their role and career development is the key requirement with recognition that mechanical engineering forms part of this

An applicant cannot be recommended directly for Fellow unless they have completed statements against the Qualities as part of their application (see next section on Member to Fellow for detail). However, where Fellow level is seen as a possibility, this should be noted so that action can be taken to invite them to apply by the Professional Review Committee. If an applicant has applied for Fellowship you will be asked to assess them in two stages. First, complete the Existing Registrant recommendation form to show that they meet the requirements for membership of the Institution, and then complete the Member to Fellow recommendation form to show that they meet the Fellowship requirements. Both forms will be sent to you by IMechE staff.

Review Outcomes

Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate both involvement in mechanical engineering and a mechanical engineering element to their CPD. If either of these is not evident from their application the IA can recommend a deferral, with development guidance. Alternatively, if the IA feels that more information would provide clarity this will be requested by staff. A full explanation of the recommendations is given in the next module.

Find out more about Member to Fellow transfer