18 Mar 2026
Engineers in Aotearoa who are considering working in the United Kingdom may need to think more carefully about how they pursue Chartered status.
Several years ago, the Engineering Council in the UK updated the academic requirements for becoming a Chartered Engineer (CEng), the UK equivalent of a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng). Engineers in the UK who began their studies from 2016 onwards are now generally expected to hold a Masters-level engineering qualification, or equivalent, to be eligible for CEng.
Some New Zealand engineers in the UK have recently been caught out by the changes, as those who began their study in 2016 or later are now reaching a career stage where they are ready to pursue chartered status. Previously, a Washington Accord accredited New Zealand Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) degree was sufficient to meet the academic requirements.
The change means many newer New Zealand graduates may need an alternative pathway if they want to become a CEng in the UK without undertaking further study. One option is to become a Chartered Member of Engineering New Zealand (CMEngNZ) or a CPEng before heading overseas.
Through Engineering New Zealand’s Admissions Pathways Agreement with the UK Engineering Council, engineers who have achieved CMEngNZ or CPEng are recognised as having met the Masters-level academic requirement for CEng, even if they do not hold a Masters degree. The latest version of this agreement was re-signed in 2025.
This agreement allows CMEngNZ and CPEng to apply for UK registration through a range of Professional Engineering Institutions licensed by the Engineering Council, including organisations such as the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Engineering and Technology and Institution of Chemical Engineers. Each institution represents different engineering disciplines and manages the assessment process for CEng, Incorporated Engineer, and Engineering Technician registration for that discipline.
For New Zealand graduates already living and working in the UK, working towards CMEngNZ may be simpler than CPEng, as CMEngNZ requires engineers to demonstrate competence within the jurisdiction in which they practise. CPEng assessments, by contrast, require applicants to demonstrate competence specifically within a New Zealand engineering context.
Engineers considering either pathway as part of their plans to gain Chartered Engineer status in the UK are encouraged to check out our website or contact Engineering New Zealand’s assessment team for guidance.
