Skip to main content

RFSE & REXE FAQs

  1. Home
  2. Career & Learning
  3. RFSE & REXE Qualifications
  4. RFSE & REXE FAQs

 

RFSE & REXE FAQs

 

Why the insistence on registration as IEng/CEng? 

    There are two reasons for this:

  • Registration requires demonstration of Underpinning Knowledge & Understanding’ (UK&U), which is the foundation upon which a professional engineer builds and maintains his/her competence.  This foundation facilitates continuing professional development (CPD) and is the primary skill that allows the professional engineer to engage intelligently with other professionals and engineering standards and guidance.  If this prior demonstration of UK&U (through registration) was not available, the Institute would be obliged to separately evaluate this aspect.  Unregistered professional engineers that wish to pursue either of the qualifications are therefore urged to first secure registration. 
  • Registration, and membership of a Professional Engineering Institute, requires the professional engineer to abide by a professional code of conduct.  Two key aspects of this are a requirement that the individual engineer does not undertake work for which they are not competent and a commitment to engage with ongoing CPD. Note that the qualifications are awarded upon demonstration of comprehensive experience & professional engagement in the related field; there is no requirement for demonstration of experience in every aspect.  The expectation is that in any unfamiliar territory, the individual engineer would first undertake appropriate study/CPD, typically with validation of learning by consultation with his/her peers.

What is the equivalence with qualifications awarded by other bodies? (E.g. TUV ‘FS Eng’ or ‘IEC Ex’/‘CompEx’ qualifications)?

  • The answer is that no such equivalence is identified.  Such qualifications are typically awarded on the basis of attendance on a short course with a subsequent assessment of learning.  The qualifications from the Institute are of a very different nature; professional peer review with a prerequisite of registration, together with relevant and comprehensive experience through professional level engagement over an extended period (years).