The Royal Institution of Naval Architects

GUIDANCE ON APPLYING FOR

REGISTRATION
INTRODUCTION

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects is a Licensed and Nominated body of the Engineering
Council (UK). Fellows and Members may apply to be placed on the Chartered Engineer (CEng),
Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Engineering Technician (EngTech) registers maintained by the
Engineering Council (UK). Registration requires specific academic qualifications, and also an
interview.

Application for registration may be made with the application for Corporate membership, or
subsequent to election as a Member of Fellow.

These guidance notes should be read in conjunction with the RINA publication Guidance on
applying for Corporate Membership.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

Member (CEng)

A Member (CEng) will be concerned primarily with the progress of technology through innovation,
creativity and change. They will develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs
and design methods, introduce new and more efficient production techniques and marketing and
construction concepts and pioneer new engineering services and management methods. They
may be involved with the management and direction of high-risk and resource intensive projects.
They will be members of the engineering team.

Member (IEng)

A Member (IEng) will act as an exponent of today’s technology. They will perform complex
technical duties of an established or novel character in a wide variety of contexts. They will have a
substantial degree of personal responsibility and authority, often providing leadership and control in
a managerial role. They will occupy posts that demand the combination of a practical approach
and detailed understanding of a particular technology. They will understand the fundamentals and
practical application of current technology and be able to employ existing technology efficiently.
They will have communication skills and awareness of the business and professional environment
beyond their specific area of responsibility. They will be members of the engineering team.

Member (EngTech)

A Member (EngTech) will apply knowledge, practical experience and proven techniques and
procedures to tasks and the solution of problems in a wide variety of contexts. They will have a
strong element of personal responsibility. They will frequently be involved in the supervision and
guidance of others, carrying a measure of supervisory and technical responsibility. They will
contribute to the design, development, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation and
maintenance of products, equipment, processes and services and apply safe systems of work.
They will be members of the engineering team.
APPLICATION

Candidates for Corporate membership and registration should indicate on their application form
which register they are applying for.

Members applying for registration after election are required to submit an updated application form.

Application forms are available online

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION

The exemplifying academic qualifications for registration are:

Chartered Engineer (CEng):

• an accredited integrated MEng degree or equivalent

or
• an accredited Bachelors degree with Honours, or equivalent, plus
either
• an appropriate accredited Masters degree
or
• further learning to Masters level

Postgraduate Diplomas are not exemplifying qualifications, though they may be accepted on an
individual basis as meeting part or all of further learning requirements

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)

• an accredited Bachelors or Honours degree, or equivalent, in engineering

or
• a Higher National Certificate/Diploma or Foundation Degree, or equivalents, plus appropriate
further learning to Bachelors degree level
or
• an approved NVQ4 or SVQ4 or equivalent

Engineering Technician (EngTech)

The following are examples of qualifications which an applicant for EngTech registration might
hold:

• a National Certificate or National Diploma in Engineering

• an approved qualification in engineering or construction at level 6 in the Scottish Qualifications
and Credit Framework
• the City & Guilds Higher Professional Diploma in Engineering
• a technical certificate as part of an approved Advanced Apprenticeship Programme
• an NVQ3 or SVQ3 which has been approved for the purpose by a licensed engineering
institution

The Professional Affairs Department can advise on the acceptability of other qualifications.
Routes to Registration

A candidate’s academic qualification(s) will determine the route to applying for registration.

• Standard Route

Candidates whose academic qualification(s) meets the exemplifying academic standard will follow
the Standard Route to registration.

Where a course(s) has been accredited or approved by the Institution, no further proof is required,
other than of the award of the qualification(s). Where the course(s) is not accredited or approved,
the candidate is required to provide documentary evidence of the content of the course(s) to show
that the course or combination of courses is equivalent to the exemplifying academic qualification.

The Professional Affairs Department can advise on whether a course is accredited, and if not, what
evidence is required.

• Technical Report Route

Candidates who do not have the exemplifying academic qualification(s), but who have achieved
the same level of knowledge and understanding through experience may follow the Technical
Report Route to registration.

Candidates must submit a Technical Report which demonstrates that they have achieved the same
level of knowledge and understanding as a candidate with the exemplifying academic qualification.
The requirement may be met by a paper on a subject proposed by them and approved by the
Institution, or by previously published technical papers. Candidates will then be required to
undergo an interview, based on the Technical Report. If this is satisfactory, candidates will then
follow the Standard Route to registration.

Further information on the Technical Report Route is given in the RINA publication Guidance on
the Technical Report Route to Registration.

PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

All applicants for registration are required to demonstrate by a Professional Review that they
have achieved the required professional competence.

Professional Review Report

Candidates who apply for registration after election as a Corporate member are required to submit
an updated Professional Review Report

Further guidance is contained in the RINA publication Guidance on the Professional Review
Report.

Professional Review Interview

All applicants for registration are required to undertake a Professional Review Interview

Further guidance is contained in the RINA publication Guidance on the Professional Review
Interview.
ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE

The Professional Affairs Department is ready at all times to advise and assist members and non
members on all aspects of applying for registration.

Contact:

The Professional Affairs Manager

Royal Institution of Naval Architects
10 Upper Belgrave Street
London SW1X 8BQ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)20 7235 4622
Fax: +44 (0)20 7259 5912
Email: [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS

The following RINA publications provide further information on applying for registration, and are
available online:

• Guidance on applying for Corporate membership

• Guidance on the Technical Report Route to registration
• Guidance on the Professional Review Report
• Guidance on the Professional Review Interview