International Recognition of Accredited Qualifications
The Engineering Council is signatory to three agreements with overseas engineering organisations, which provide mutual recognition of accredited academic programmes.
This enables recognition of UK qualifications for engineers wishing to work in other signatory countries. Similarly, it makes Engineering Council registration easier for applicants whose qualifications are accredited by the partner organisations in other countries.
The three agreements operate at globally recognised levels of professional qualification, and provide the mechanism for mutual recognition between signatory bodies of:
- Washington Accord - engineering education accreditation processes at Chartered /Professional Engineer level.
- Sydney Accord - engineering education accreditation processes at Incorporated Engineer/Engineering Technologist level
- Dublin Accord - qualifications which underpin the granting of Engineering Technician titles
Each member organisation has expressed its confidence in the quality assurance processes of the others. This leads to mutual recognition of accredited engineering qualifications and, generally, to exemption from the education requirement for practice in each of the signatory countries.
The Engineering Council accepts Washington Accord, Sydney Accord and Dublin Accord qualifications as fully meeting the education requirements for registration as Chartered Engineer, Incorporated Engineer and Engineering Technician respectively.
The Accords are coordinated by the International Engineering Alliance (IEA) of which the Engineering Council is a leading member. Details of countries signatory to these Accords can be found on the IEA website.
How to apply
Engineers with UK qualifications
Before applying for immigration or membership of overseas engineering organisations, applicants for the Washington or Sydney Accords holding a UK qualification can check whether it is accredited by using our accredited course search and, in the case of the Sydney Accord, additionally check whether it is on the recognised course list.
Holders of Higher National level qualifications (HNC, HND, HC, HD) which are not on the recognised course list should consult the Higher National awards document on the right. Holders of HNCs which require a specific profile may obtain a letter of attestation by submitting a Qualification Assessment Request Form. This can be downloaded on the right. The service is free of charge to registered Incorporated Engineers, but is available to all other applicants at the cost of £60.00.
Engineers with qualifications from outside the UK
Applications for registration in the UK under the Washington, Sydney or Dublin Accords should be made through one of the professional engineering institutions. They will be able to supply all necessary details.
Mutual recognition of professional titles
There is currently no agreement directly giving mutual recognition of professional titles. However, the International Registers provide certain benefits and there are discipline specific exemption agreements. Further information can be found on our International Professional Engineer and International Engineering Technologist pages.
