I became a chartered engineer Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in the UK last year. It took me 4 years, which is about average for IMechE. For those who don’t know – chartership is a formal qualification awarded in recognition of a particular level of competence in a professional qualification. There are different institutions that awards chartership, for example IMechE for mechanical engineers, IChemE for chemical engineers, ICE for civil engineers, and there are many more. In my specific situation, it is purely optional, but there are some professions such as civil engineers and accountancy where chartership may provide benefit or even mandatory.
So what to consider whether to become a chartered engineer?
#1 What’s the Aim?
Why do you want to do chartership? In my case, I graduated from an engineering degree that is outside mechanical engineering, so I wanted a formal recognition that I am a qualified mechanical engineer, should I seek for other job opportunities. I am also doing the work to qualify as mechanical engineer anyway, so why not get a formal recognition alongside?
#2 Cost
I have to say that unfortunately, chartership doesn’t come cheap, as there are MPDS (monitored professional development scheme) fee and the IMechE associate fee itself for 4 years. After chartership, there is also a yearly fee that needs to be paid both to IMechE and Engineering Council to maintain the registration. However, the good thing, is that a lot of companies would cover these costs or at least subsidise it, which in my case massively helped.
#3 Mentorship
Since I chose the MPDS route instead of the standard route, I was assigned a mentor to work with. I found it useful to have a mentor outside my manager, especially in the early years of my career as a graduate when I don’t have such extensive network. We met quarterly to discuss and I was fortunate to get a great mentor who was very approachable and quite senior in the company.
#4 Learning
Some people find the quarterly report to be a drag, but I personally derive great benefit from doing the report as I am then forced to reflect on my learning and my experience for the quarter, which then enforce my learning.
Benefits to chartership may not be tangible, but I personally have benefited from it. It may not be right for absolutely everyone, but it was for me, and it may be for you!
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