Chartership

Chartership is a professional qualification that demonstrates an engineer's competence, skills, and commitment to their profession. It is awarded by a professional institution, such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), and signifies that the individual has achieved a certain level of expertise and professional development. Chartership is important for an engineer's career because it provides recognition and credibility within the industry, as well as potential opportunities for career advancement and higher earnings. Additionally, it can enhance an engineer's ability to secure contracts, gain clients' trust, and work on prestigious projects. 

Engineers typically apply for chartership after around 5 years in their first engineering role, because it is important to demonstrate a portfolio of "on the job" experience, alongside certain educational requirements.

An accredited degree course is crucial in helping an engineer obtain chartership because it evidences the educational requirements. It provides the necessary knowledge and skills required to achieve the professional standard. Accredited courses have been evaluated and approved by professional institutions, ensuring that they meet industry standards and provide the necessary foundation for an engineer's career development.

All of the specialisation streams in General Engineering at The University of Sheffield are accredited by at least one professional institution, many of them by two or three, meaning our graduates can be confident of meeting the educational requirements for chartership. Students are encouraged to join professional institutions as student members to begin demonstrating a commitment and researching the requirements for chartership. You may wish to join a specialist institution if you know which type of engineer you are going to be (e.g. ICE, RAeS, EI), or a more broad institution if you are still undecided (e.g. IET).