Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

This blog highlights some issues experienced of the IMechE CEng Chartered Professional Review Application process and previous academic review documentation. It also discusses hints and tips on CPR submission.

The main issue seems to stem back to the initial academic review submission that is required if your first degree is not accredited by the IMechE. I submitted my academic review back in 2012, at which time I wasn’t really clued-up on the whole chartership process. It is possible other E&M students on Ph2 might have had to do the same and could unknowingly be in a similar situation I found myself in. If so or unsure, now is the time to check and avoid it being a surprise and slight embuggerance if something needs to be submitted short notice.

The Issue

When you submit you CEng CPR application, more on that below, someone from the membership team will review it alongside your previously submitted academic review. One question on your academic review asks what level of registration you want to be assessed against. Make sure you have ticked the box for either CEng or Both. I ticked IEng only, thinking I would be awarded IEng form that point onward not realising that I would also need to submit CPR evidence and sit an interview at that stage. This was something I wasn’t planning on, thinking that I’d just wait until I had completed the MSc and simply submit CEng CPR evidence then (as I have done).

This sparked the notification that the IMechE can’t assess you for CEng if you haven’t ticked that CEng box (or Both) on the academic review. I’m still not entirely sure why, especially after explaining that nothing has changed from the initial academic review (which has IEng ticked) to the latest one I have had to submit (which has CEng ticked). Just seems like a whole lot of wasted time and effort due to a tick in the wrong box, but the process is the process and clearly some other internal shenanigans that can’t be messed with.

As for the CEng CPR application this is relatively straight forward but there are a few hints and tips I’d like to share to make it that bit smoother for when others come to do it:

1. The IMechE website isn’t the most intuitive to navigate so use the link below to the application process.https://www.imeche.org/membership-registration/become-a-member/chartered-engineer/application-guidance
2. Download the PDF doc and fill that in with the ability to easily edit and see what it looks like in the form.
3. Download the exemplar as a guide or ask one of my cohort for a copy of theirs.
4. Irrespective if you have used the PDF form or not you will still need to complete and submit the on-line form as this is linked to the application payment method. Once complete you can download a PDF of that on-line submission.
5. I found it best to initially write in a word doc then copy and paste across – that way you can ensure you are within the word count, which although they say ‘approximately/around 400 words’ for each competence, they actually mean ‘no more than’ as some sections won’t let you progress if over the limit.
6. The PDF form asks for signatures of your two sponsors yet the on-line form just asks you to confirm (via tick of a box) that they have read a copy of your application before you actually send it – so no need to actually get the PDF copy signed. IMechE send an email out to your sponsors anyway with a ‘no action’ verification statement.
7. The on-line form initially asks you to complete your personal details prior to the competences sections. This is easiest entered prior to completing the form by going through the My Profile in Your Account. Of particular note is ensuring you enter phone numbers under the Personal and Work tabs, even though the work tab phone numbers are not *stared. I just added SI PET’s for the direct dial landline – but I’d like to think they’d call you on your personal phone first. Without these numbers entered the form seems to stop you continuing to the next section when completing on-line.
8. There may be some other glitches I haven’t come across so anyone else who’s submitted forms feel free to comment.