Recognition of EEA and Swiss Qualifications

The EU Route was previously governed under the EU MRPQ Directive (2005/36/EC as amended by 2013/55/EU) up until 31 December 2020. Since 1 January 2021, this Directive is no longer applicable to the UK, however the results of those who were previously successful under this Directive remain valid.  The mutual recognition of professional qualifications is now governed under The Regulations of Professional Qualifications Amendment (EU Exit) Regulations (2019). The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that a system of recognition of professional qualifications continues and that individuals arriving in the UK with EEA or Swiss qualifications will have a means to seek recognition.

Please download the below guide to find out if you have a right to recognition, what you need to do, and how the application process works.

Recognition of EEA and Swiss Qualifications Guidance

EUR ING Registration

The Engineering Council is the UK National Member of ENGINEERS EUROPE. 

The title provides a guarantee of competence for professional engineers, in order to:

• allow practicing engineers to move within and outside the geographical area represented by ENGINEER EUROPE's member countries
• ensure mutual recognition of qualifications, should engineers wish to practice outside their own country
• encourage the continuous improvement in the quality of engineers by setting, monitoring and reviewing standards

You must be a CIHT member and registered as a Chartered Engineer or Incorporated Engineer with the Engineering Council to be eligible to apply.

EUR ING applications are now to be made directly on the application tool found on the ENGINEERS EUROPE website. This is linked from the Engineering Council's EUR ING page, where information has been updated to reflect the new application process. For any EUR ING related queries, please e-mail euring@engc.org.uk.

Mutual Recognition Agreements

If you are a registered engineer with Engineering New Zealand, Engineers Ireland, Ordem dos Engenheiros, Asociacion 
de Ingeneros Profesionales de Espana or Netherlands Royal Society of Engineering (KIVI) you may be eligible to gain professional  registration with the Engineering Council UK via a mutual recognition agreement. These agreements provide exemption from some components of the assessment process, where an equivalent procedure has been completed by your home institution. You must be a member of CIHT at Member grade (MCIHT) or above in order to apply. Please contact education@ciht.org.uk to discuss your eligibility. 

Mutual Recognition Agreement Application Documents

Your application should consist of the following documentation:

• A completed Mutual Recognition Application Form
• Detailed CV     
• Copies of academic qualifications/diplomas and certified translations. If your courses are not already recognised for Engineering Council registration, CIHT may need additional information about the knowledge assessment undertaken by your home institution  
• A certified copy of your professional institution membership certificate and engineering registration certificate 
• UK-SPEC Evidence Forms (500 words for each section). Please e-mail education@ciht.org.uk
  for a template.
• CPD Record (25 hours for each of the two previous years) 

Fee

£150.00 (payable online via your MyCIHT account once an admin check has been completed) 

How to Apply

To apply via a Mutual Recognition Agreements, you should submit the above documentation to education@ciht.org.uk, as one comprehensive PDF file.

Submissions can be made at any time during the year.

Your application will be assessed by two CIHT reviewers and their recommendation will be presented to the Chair of the Engineering Professional Standards Panel for approval. Candidates are normally informed of their application outcome within 6 weeks.