In August 2024, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and the Engineering Council-UK signed an historic Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) facilitating the ability of Professional Engineers registered in the United States to be Chartered Engineers with United Kingdom engineering institutions, and vice versa.
What does that mean? First, let’s look at some details regarding engineers registered in the United States versus Chartered Engineers the United Kingdom.
Professional Engineers in the United States are registered with individual states, rather than a national jurisdiction. So, a prospective candidate would normally register with the state board where they work and/or reside. In the United States, the professional engineer is also called a licensed or registered engineer. Licensure allows the engineer to provide engineering services in that state, but not the United States as a whole. Depending on the state, licenses are offered in the following engineering specialties:
B. Architectural
C. Chemical
D. Civil
E. Control Systems
F. Electrical and Computer
G. Environmental
H. Fire Protection
I. Industrial and Systems
J. Mechanical
K. Metallurgical and Materials
L. Mining and Mineral Processing
M. Naval Architecture and Marine
N. Nuclear
O. Petroleum
P. Structural
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When it comes to engineering licensure, each state is governed by different laws, so if you have an interest in practicing in a particular state, you need to research and be aware of that state’s laws. Some states allow you to practice engineering in a field in which you have gained education and experience, while others require specific titled engineers (i.e. Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, etc.).
In the United Kingdom, professional registrations are linked with engineering institutions. For example, civil engineers would normally register with the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), mechanical engineers with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and electrical engineers with the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). A more comprehensive list of institutions can be found at https://www.engc.org.uk/about-us/our-partners/professional-engineering-institutions/. The listing of specialties is quite varied, so I recommend researching that list before deciding on an institution.
US States and UK engineering institutions are in the process of implementing the new agreement, which, depending on the state and engineering institution, will simplify the process by which US licensed professional engineers become Chartered Engineers in the UK, and Chartered Engineers become Licensed Professional Engineers in the United States. While details are still being worked out, many US jurisdictions have already indicated that they intend to participate in the agreement, which will expedite mutual recognition of qualifications for the licensed practice of engineering.
David C. Cotton, P.E., is past chair of the IEEE-USA Licensure and Registration Committee.
