FASTdan

Just wondering if anyone on here is a 'chartered' engineer? Mechanical or electrical?

If so, do you think its helped in any way or a waste of time?

Ridgey

iTrader: (5)

Large companies want you to be chartered, especialy if you want to progress into senior positions also gives you credability if you decide to be an engineer doing contract work. So i'd say worth it in the long run.

Twellsie

iTrader: (1)

i would say it is not of great benifit unless you want to go down the contracting route, i think of all the guys at my place only 1 or 2 of them are chartered

alistairolsen

most big companies will give you the opportunity for no extra cash anyway, and positively encourage it. the bigger decision usually is spending an extra year at uni to facilitate it.

FASTdan

That pretty much sums up my thoughts on it - just wondered how others perceive it. Going by that I take it you are?

I'm currently in the early stages of writing my professional review but I've recently moved to a 'small' company with a very small minded mentality, ie full of people who think its a waste of time. For me I think its worth it, as like you say big organisations value it, plus I do quite fancy contracting/self employed in the future.

where do you guys work out of interest? company I'm with currently (Sewtec Automation) are an OEM of special purpose automation equipment for food/tobacco industry.

FASTdan

presumably you mean if your batchelors degree is not already accredited?

PhilM

Thought you needed a Masters for CEng and a Batchelors for IEng?

FASTdan

going on what I was told by the area representative when I was at my last company (Which was a while back) and the tables on the imeche website it depends on your degree and the date that you started it.

For me, I did Beng product design + manufacture at Loughborough which according to the tables is accredited before '99 (iirc) but requires a masters thereafter.

Ridgey

iTrader: (5)

Dan
I completed an MSc last year and currently filling in competency documentation for Chartered Scientist or Environmetalist (not decided which yet) via CIWEM. Can't go for Engineer due to my academic background (BSc Chemistry).

D7AKE

Iam a Chartered Building Surveyor, I am a Senior Surveyor where I work tidy money as well, I have a Hons Degree and a full member of the RICS

AGAR-COSWORTH

It doesn't work like that, although your along the right lines.

If you gain a masters from uni in any engineering course they are all mostly accredited by the IET (new IEEE), MICE, but this does not make you a chartered engineer.

If you have a masters you will already be half way there to full chartership and will be required to work somewhere for around 1-2 years to gain on the job experience. If however you have a bachelors you are required to sit exams and do courses along with 1-2 years experience.

In my case im doing a Masters in electronic and electrical engineering mainly because for my final year project I get to work anywhere in the world for 6 months, fully paid and free accomodation. IMHO a future employer will see this as being proof of my independance and willingness to learn. Other mates on my course are happy to get a job with a bachelors but in future years if you switch companies you are less likely to be taken on compared to someone with a masters - but ofcourse thats not the be all and end all of it.

HTH

FASTdan

But if you started your batchelors before a certain date it can still be fully accredited.

Eg, just re-checked mine. Product Design + manufacture at Lougborough, started 1998. Find that in the tables on the IMECHE website and FL (further learning) is only required after 2000.