How to Become an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

What is an Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

An Incorporated Engineer is a professional engineer that is responsible for the maintenance, management and application of different current and developing technologies. Professional registration as an Incorporated Engineer, means that you might undertake roles in engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation.

As an Incorporated engineer you will:

Use your theoretical knowledge and understanding to help solve problems in technologies, using analytical techniques

Apply your engineering knowledge to projects that you work on, using existing technologies and methods

Take responsibility for project management including finance and planning whilst taking responsibility for developing other professional staff

Demonstrate interpersonal skills to articulate technical information

What does IEng stand for?

IEng is an abbreviation of Incorporated Engineer. The term ‘Incorporated Engineer’ is abbreviated to IEng to enable engineers holding the title to use it as a post-nominal on their name. IEng registration means that you are an Incorporated Engineer.

Benefits of becoming an Incorporated Engineer

Professional Recognition: As an Incorporated Engineer, it will be evident to others that you are competent. This can therefore lead to professional recognition with employers, employees and clients, due to their confidence in the Incorporated Engineer title and therefore in you.

International recognition: Incorporated Engineer status is an internationally recognised title and can therefore aid you in gaining international networking and career opportunities.

Industry Influence: As an Incorporated Engineer, you will be beginning to take on responsibilities in relation to developing other professionals. The experience you gain in this process can help you to gain influence within your industry due to your know-how and experience of working with others.

How to become an Incorporated Engineer

Incorporated Engineer status is for anyone who is able to demonstrate the required professional competence, experience and skills laid out by the professional standard UK-SPEC.

You will be educated at a bachelor’s degree level and fit one of the following requirements:

• Three year accredited Bachelor of Engineering degree
• Degree in a relevant subject
• Experience from on-the-job work, including short courses, private study or other routes

You can also find more information about your individual route into qualification if you do not have the engineering or academic requirements.

Why become an Incorporated Engineer?

Becoming professionally registered as an Incorporated Engineer with the Engineering Council is an important step towards professional industry recognition. Being a member of a professional institute and registered with the Engineering Council demonstrates your commitment and competence. Professional registration is important for building a reputation as clients/employers are able to trust in your professionalism as a competent engineer due to you proving yourself to the British Engineering Regulatory Body (Engineering Council). It is an opportunity as an engineer to better yourself and therefore your career prospects.

Chartered Engineer vs Incorporated Engineer

The main differences between an Incorporated Engineer and a Chartered Engineer are the roles that they take on. Incorporated Engineers are mainly involved in design manufacture and construction. They put their technical and commercial management skills into practice within their work. In contrast, Chartered Engineers are involved in design solutions to engineering problems, designing new technology, introducing new and more efficient construction ideas or production techniques, they also pioneer new services, promote design and methods.

This makes a Chartered Engineer status a higher qualification than Incorporated Engineer status and therefore holds better benefits, including the opportunity to use leadership skills and work on new developments. Gaining Incorporated Engineer status is an important step towards Chartered Engineer status and is a route that many engineers choose to take.

Gain access to The Welding Institute’s resources

As an Incorporated Engineer or an aspiring Incorporated Engineer registered with The Welding Institute, you will gain access to the Institute’s membership benefits. These membership benefits can help you with your career progression by giving you the facilities to gain the knowledge and experience you need to progress.

Mycareerpath: This is an online tool that you can use to record your Continuous Professional Development. It will benefit you as an Incorporated Engineer, due to the recording of CPD being made mandatory to anyone registered with the Engineering Council. It will also be beneficial as you are able to refer to it when evidencing your experience, whether that is to an employer, client or the Engineering Council if you chose to progress onto Chartered Engineer status.

Weldasearch: This is an online database of over 200,000 welding, joining and allied technologies abstracts.

TWI library and e-library: Membership offers you access to TWI’s technical library, which contains resources and published materials on different industry sectors.

Technical Group Meetings: These are networks that meet and discuss the latest developments and technology in their specialist areas. These meetings are an excellent opportunity for you as an Incorporated Engineer to develop your career through advancing your knowledge and making new contacts through the networking opportunities.

Training and development: As a Member of The Welding Institute, you qualify for a 5% discount on TWI Training and Examination courses. Registering with The Engineering Council as an Incorporated Engineer means you will have to carry out CPD and continuously learn. This means keeping updated with new industry standards. TWI Training and Examinations courses are designed to fit these standards.

Click here to see all of our membership benefits.

Student/Apprentice Registration

The Welding Institute offers Student Associate membership for individuals in full time education. It is offered at a discounted rate of £50.00 which is a one-off fee covering a course duration of up to a maximum of five years. This opportunity enables you to gain industry knowledge and insights whilst still being in education. It is a major opportunity to get a head start into the career you want as you will have the opportunity to make industry contacts through networking at events such as TGMs. This, in turn, will create career opportunities. Taking this route into your engineering career will make the transition from full time education to work smoother as you will already be equipped with the up-to-date industry knowledge that you need.

Related:

- How to Become a Chartered Engineer (CEng)

- How to Become an Engineering Technician (EngTech)