How to obtain the CEng qualification issued by Cibse/IMechE?

Anyone in the engineering field will be familiar with CIBSE or IMechE. Both are recognized institutions authorized to issue the Chartered Engineer (CEng) designation. While other institutions are authorized to issue CEng designations, CIBSE and IMechE are more popular among the Hong Kong engineering community. CIBSE stands for The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers; IMechE stands for The Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Both institutions have branches in Hong Kong, and engineers working in Hong Kong can apply for the CEng designation through their Hong Kong branches.

CIBSE and IMechE are widely popular in Hong Kong. The main reasons are as follows:

Professional Certification

The professional qualifications offered by CIBSE and IMechE are highly recognized within the industry. Many engineers and technicians seek these certifications to enhance their professional credentials, strengthen their career status, and expand opportunities for promotion and salary increases.

Industry demand

As Hong Kong's economy develops, the demand for high-quality construction and mechanical engineering continues to grow. CIBSE focuses on building services engineering, while IMechE covers the broader field of mechanical engineering, highlighting their expertise and focus. This is highly beneficial for both individual engineers and companies. For example, companies with ten or more engineers holding Chartered Engineer or related qualifications can apply to become a Band 1 Consultant of the Hong Kong Government's Architectural Services Department. These companies are eligible to undertake large-scale government projects with an estimated value exceeding HK$400 million, making them particularly attractive to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Education and Training

The professional development and continuing education courses offered by CIBSE/IMechE are valued by engineers, helping them keep up with the latest trends and technologies in the industry.

Network and Resources

Recognized institutions often have mutual recognition of professional qualifications. For example, the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has mutual recognition of professional qualifications with CIBSE and IMechE. If a certain engineering project requires an engineer to be a Corporate Member of HKIE (MHKIE), engineers with CIBSE and IMechE CEng qualifications will also be recognized to apply for MHKIE status through the mutual recognition channel to increase their competitiveness.

International Vision

CIBSE and IMechE have an international background and can help Hong Kong engineers connect with international standards and enhance their global competitiveness.

Policy support

The Hong Kong government and relevant institutions’ emphasis on the engineering profession, as well as their promotion of sustainable development and smart buildings, have further enhanced the influence of these professional institutions.

Obtain the basic qualification of Chartered Engineer (CEng)

For the qualification of Chartered Engineer (CEng) in the UK, Cibse and IMechE both have their own basic requirements for candidates, including academic qualifications, relevant work experience, etc.:

CIBSE’s competency standards correspond directly to the Statement of Competency for Chartered Engineer (CEng) registration issued by the Engineering Council under UK-SPEC. Applicants with the required academic qualifications will follow the academic route, while applicants without the academic qualifications will follow the experience route.

CIBSE British Institution of Building Services Engineers (academic pathway)

If you have the following academic qualifications at the time of application, you can apply to CIBSE through the academic route:
Recognized Master of Engineering (MEng) degree
A recognized bachelor's degree in engineering or technology with honors and a recognized master's degree or Engineering Doctorate (EngD).
A recognized honours bachelor's degree in engineering or technology commenced before September 1999.
A Washington Accord (WA) accredited bachelor's degree (Master's level for students entering in 2015).
European Federation of National Engineering Societies (EEED) second cycle degree qualification.
Individually assessed engineering/technology qualifications to the same academic level.

Academic Pathway Process
1. Apply to the institute and submit the Engineering Practice Report (requires existing CEng to sign off on the report)
2. Report review and interview arrangement (if the report is successfully approved)
3. Conduct a professional (CEng) interview
4. Assessment and approval by CIBSE (if successful interview)
5. After successful completion, obtain the qualification of Chartered Engineer (CEng) and become a member of the Institution of Building Services Engineers (IBSE)

CIBSE British Institution of Building Services Engineers (experience route)

If you do not have the academic qualifications listed above when you apply, you can apply to Cibse for the experience route:
1. Apply to the Institute and submit the Engineering Practice Report (requires existing CEng to sign off on the report) and CEng experience template
2. Review of application and report, and arrangement of interview (if the report is successfully approved)
3. Practical learning and professional (CEng) interviews
4. Assessment and approval by Cibse (if successful interview)
5. After successful completion, obtain the qualification of Chartered Engineer (CEng) and become a member of the Institution of Building Services Engineers (IBSE)

CEng Experience Template: The purpose of this form is to demonstrate how applicants learned in a professional setting. They must demonstrate that their knowledge and skills are equivalent to those acquired in a master's-level academic setting. The learning outcomes on this form are derived from the Engineering Council's Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes model (AHEP 4), which details the standards that academic programs must cover to achieve accreditation. To determine if an engineer has gained sufficient experience to qualify as a master's-level engineer, they must describe various engineering-related activities and projects in which they led or were heavily involved, and in which they were able to solve problems. These can be the same projects mentioned in the applicant's engineering practice report. When describing these activities or projects, applicants should clearly indicate their ability to perform and address the activities described in the CEng Experience Template. Applicants' descriptions should be clear and concise, including how they acquired the required knowledge and skills, using "I" rather than "we" when describing them.

CIBSE UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) Assessment Criteria

MCIBSE requires engineers to develop solutions to engineering problems using new or existing technologies through innovation, creativity and change. They may also have technical responsibility for complex systems with significant risks. To meet the requirements of MCIBSE, candidates or applicants need to demonstrate skills and experience that meet 17 specified competency standards.

CIBSE UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) Assessment Criteria (Supplement)

Click here to learn more about the skills and experience in the 17 specified competency standards (A1-E5)

IMechE Institution of Mechanical Engineers

Applicants or candidates must have a master's degree in Engineering (MEng)
A recognised bachelor's or master's degree in a relevant subject plus on-the-job experience, either through a short course, part-time bachelor's degree or other recognised pathway

If the applicant or candidate's academic qualifications do not appear to meet the above requirements, they may still apply to IMechE for the Chartered Engineer (CEng) qualification.

Applicants or candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to use new or existing technologies to solve engineering problems through innovation, creativity and change. Applicants or candidates need to show that their abilities meet the competencies described in the Engineering Council UK-SPEC.

Application Process
1. Apply to the Institute and submit the Engineering Practice Report (requires existing CEng to sign off on the report)
2. Report review and interview arrangement (if the report is successfully approved)
3. Conduct a professional (CEng) interview
4. Assessment and approval by IMechE (if successful interview)
6. After successful completion, obtain the qualification of Chartered Engineer (CEng) and become a member of the Institution of Building Services Engineers (IBE)

IMechE Chartered Engineer (CEng) Assessment Criteria

Chartered Engineers will be able to demonstrate competence in all the areas listed. They will demonstrate a level of competence and commitment in each area (A1–E5) that is consistent with their specific role. They will need to demonstrate an understanding and familiarity with the key competence aspects of all areas to effectively fulfil the role of a Chartered Engineer.

IMechE UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) Assessment Criteria (Supplement)

Click here to learn about the requirements for areas A1–E5.

Successfully obtaining the UK Chartered Engineer (CEng) status not only boosts salaries but also provides internationally recognized professional credentials. Hong Kong engineers typically apply for the CEng qualification through CIBSE or IMechE, which are more widely recognized. HKEA offers specialized training courses and services for obtaining the CEng qualification. Our chaired instructor, Dr. Tse, is highly experienced. Please feel free to contact our customer service team for inquiries.