IES/IStructE Joint Committee

(Singapore Division)
An Evening Seminar on
Mobility & Recognition of Professional
Competence as Structural Engineer
Engineer
by Dr. Chiew SingSing-Ping, MIES, FIStructE

Route to Professional Status

Accredited engineering education
Work experience (training)

United States of America

four-step process required to obtain professional
engineering licensure
Education

FE Exam

Test for professional competence

Registration as professional engineer (PEng/PE)
Annual renewal and continuing professional
development (CPD)
Further registration for specialized work

Pre-licensure certificate
Engineer-in-Training (EIT),
Intern Engineer or Engineer
Intern.
8hrs Fundamentals of
Engineering (FE) exam
Morning session - 120
MCQs; Afternoon session
60 MCQs

Work
Experience

PE Exam

8hrs Principles and

Practice of Engineering (PE)
exam in the applicants
discipline.
Morning (breadth) session 40 MCQs; Afternoon (depth)
session 40 MCQs

United States of America

United States of America

Jurisdictions that licensed structural engineers in the various US
States may require one of the followings:

To use the title Structural Engineer,

one has to be a professional engineer in
a base discipline such as Civil and
obtained additional experience and
passed further specialized structural
engineering examinations.

United States of America

12 States:
Arizona

Hawaii

Rhode Island

Alaska

Nebraska

Vermont

California

Nevada

Wyoming

Guam

Northern Mariana
Island

Washington

Pass both the NCEES Structural I exam and the Structural II

exam
Pass the NCEES Civil exam before passing the Structural
exams
Pass both the NCEES Structural II exam and a statespecific Structural III exam e.g. California Structural
Engineering Seismic Examination (wef Jan 2004)

Peoples Republic of China

Under the Ministry of Construction of PRC, the
following licenses are offered:
(Construction Engineer)
(Construction Management Engineer)
(Quantity Surveyor)

(Architect)

(Structural Engineer)

Peoples Republic of China

To practice independently as a structural
engineer in the PRC, one has to be a
Registered Structural Engineer
By taking the examination of the National
Administration Board of Engineering
Registration (Structural) or NABER(S) of the
PRC.
General Examination (GE)
Professional Examination (PE)

Hong Kong SAR

The engineering profession is regulated by the Engineering Registration
Board (ERB). Those registered are called Registered Professional
Engineers (RPE).

RPEs in the civil and structural disciplines

may also apply for registration as
Registered Structural Engineer (RSE)
Practice as a structural engineer in the
private sector
Performs duties such as design,
submission and supervision of
building development & alterations.
Structural design in connection
with the building development has to
be undertaken by RSEs.

Peoples Republic of China

2 classes of Registered Structural Engineer:
- Class 1 Structural Engineer
Requires 4-5yrs work experience
- Class 2 Structural Engineer
Requires 1yr work experience

Hong Kong SAR

Qualification requirements for registration as engineers with
the ERB is closely linked with Hong Kong Institution of
Engineers (HKIE).
In general, qualifications to highlight
9 As a RPE
- Member of HKIE
- 1yr relevant professional experience in HK
- Resides in HK for 2yrs & more
9As a RSE
- must be a RPE in the civil/structural discipline & must
have practical experience in structural engineering approved
by the SERC - Structural Engineers Registration Committee.

Australia

Canada

The National Professional Engineers Register (NPER)

is a national database set up by IEAust.

Engineering practice in Canada is governed by the

CCPE (Canadian Council of Professional Engineers)

Under IEAust, a practicing structural engineer will be expected

to be a member of the Structural College and be registered on
the NPER in the area of Structural Engineering. Although there
is no mandatory registration of engineers in Australia, NPER is
being used increasingly as the measure of competence.

Steps to become a PEng:

Currently, different states have different regulatory controls on

engineering practice e.g. Queensland has a Professional
Engineers Act (and governing Board) which requires all
engineering work to be carried out by a Registered
Professional Engineer of Queensland (RPEQ).

Canada
Each provincial and territorial association or
ordre has its own examination schedule. Some
set their own exam while others use the National
CCPE Professional Practice Exam.
12 licensing bodies for different provinces, e.g.
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)
Association of Professional Engineers and
Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC)

Degree From
an Accredited
Engineering
Programme

Register as an
engineer-in-training
with your provincial
or territorial
engineering
licensing body
Engineer-inTraining (EIT) or
Member-inTraining (MIT)

Internship
(min. 2-4yrs)

Professional
Practice Exam

1yr in
Canadian
Jurisdiction
3hr, closed-book (2hr
MCQ section and a
1hr essay question

United Kingdom
Regulated by The Engineering Council UK
(ECUK)
EC(UK) awards the following titles through
licensed engineering institutions (ICE, IStructE):
CEng
IEng
EngTech

Chartered Engineer
Incorporated Engineer
Engineering Technician

United Kingdom
How to become a CEng, IEng
1) Academic qualification
2) Experience & training
3) An assessment, professional review (interview
or exam)
4) Membership of a licensed member engineering
institution such as ICE, IStructE

Mutual Recognition
Recognition of engineering education
The Washington Accord between Engineers Mobility Forum (EMF)
signatory countries

Framework for agreement and recognition of

professional engineers
Setting up of National Registers, e.g. International Register of
Professional Engineers by EMF countries, ASEAN Engineer Register,
APEC Engineer Register, FEANI ( Fdration Europene d'Associations
Nationales d'Ingnieurs) Eur.Ing. Register, etc.

Recognition of competence test

Agreements between IStructE and NABER(S), HKIE, IEAust, APEGBC.

A MULTINATIONAL AGREEMENT SIGNED IN 1989

Recognizing the substantial equivalency of accreditation
systems of organizations holding signatory status, and
the engineering education programs accredited by them.
Establishing that graduates of programs accredited by
the accreditation organizations of each member nation
are prepared to practice engineering at the entry level.
Signatory Countries: Australia(1989); Canada
(1989);Hong Kong (1995); Ireland (1989); New Zealand
(1989); South Africa (1999); United Kingdom (1989);
United States (1989)

Mobility
China
Hong Kong
Australia
Canada

Through the mutual recognition agreement which

IStructE has with NABER(S), MIStructE
members can register as a Class 1 Registered
Structural Engineer in China.
MIStructE applicant to sit an 1 hr Supplementary
Test [ which is a written exam that covers those
areas not included in the professional exams] set
by NABER(S). There is also an interview to test
your training, experience and general capability
to practice structural engineering in China.

Mobility
China
Hong Kong
Australia
Canada

Mobility
China
Hong Kong
Australia
Canada

Membership of the HKIE structural division is

through the IStructE chartered membership
examination. Vast majority of Registered
Structural Engineers (RSEs) in HK are actually
MIStructE or FIStructE.

Mobility
China

MIStructE members resident in Australia can

apply to become MIEAust, CPEng with
registration on NPER through the IStructE
and IEAust mutual recognition agreement.

Hong Kong
Australia
Canada

The IStructE chartered membership examination

is an acceptable qualifying structural
examination for registration as Structural
Engineer of Record (SER) with the Association
of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of
British Columbia (APEGBC).

Useful Websites
USA

Canada
www.ccpe.ca

www.ncees.org
www.dca.ca.gov/pels
China
www.cin.gov.cn
Hong Kong
www.hkie.org.hk

Australia
www.nerb.org.au/applying/prof_engine
ers.cfm
www.bpeq.qld.gov.au
UK
www.engc.org.uk

The IStructE
Professional Review
(Interview & CM Examination)

Others
www.washingtonaccord.org
www.feani.org

Introduction
Formed in 1908 worlds largest
professional body dedicated to
structural engineering
Members are qualified by rigorous exams
that test professional competence in
structural engineering
Chartered Membership Exam MIStructE

Introduction
3 basic steps to becoming a Chartered
Structural Engineer
Satisfy the academic requirements of the
Institution
Satisfy the Initial Professional Development
(IPD)
Pass the Professional Review
(Interview & Chartered Membership Exam)

Introduction - Flowchart

Registration
Submission to Institution (compulsory)
Form M
A two-page experience report
IPD Final Report Form for each of the 13
Core Objectives
Professional Review Interview fees

One IPD Final

Report Form for
one Core Objective

Total required 13
IPD Final Report
Forms

Initial Professional Development

Initial Professional Development

Initial Professional Development (IPD) comprises

the acquisition and development of the specialist
knowledge and skills, and their practical application,
that are needed to practice as a structural engineer.
It bridges the gap between an engineers
educational base and attaining professional
qualifications.

3 Routes in satisfying IPD requirements

The Institution defines IPD in terms of Core

Objectives which are defined to minimum standards.

Individually Managed IPD

Accredited Training Schemes
Retrospectively Collated IPD
All IPD required to achieve the minimum standards of core
objectives

Individually Managed IPD

Accredited Training Scheme

Each candidate is responsible for managing

their own training with the assistance of a
personal Mentor.

Candidates following comparable training

schemes accredited by other professional
bodies (i.e. ICE, HKIE) will be considered to
be acceptable in meeting the IPD
requirements of the Institution.

They are required to keep records of training

including the IPD Report Forms, Progress
Summary Record, personal development
record (diary) and the IPD Final Report
Forms.

They will be required to submit their full

records of training, portfolio of work and the
IPD Final Report Forms.

Retrospectively Collated IPD

Situations where candidates have not
followed either the individually managed
route or a training scheme.
Candidates must demonstrate that they
have satisfied the core objectives by
completing the IPD Final Report Forms and
submitting a portfolio of their work to the
Institution.

IPD Core Objectives

Details the requirements for IPD for
candidates intending to qualify as Members
of the Institution of Structural Engineers and
thereby as Chartered Structural Engineers
There are 13 core objectives set out in three
sections to be satisfied

IPD Core Objectives

Minimum standards
A

Appreciation

A general appreciation of the subject is required,

as well as an understanding of how the subject
may affect, or integrate with other subjects

Knowledge

A knowledge and understanding of the subject

and its application is required

Experience

The subject should be performed independently

or under supervision

Ability

Perform the subject without supervision and be

competent to advise others

Personal

Management
and
Commercial

Engineering

10

Engineering

Personal

Professional Review Interview

The interview will verify that the candidate has
Management
and
Commercial

achieved the core objectives to the minimum

standards
completed records of training and the
Institutions final record
maintained development plan and personal
development record

11

Chartered Membership Exam

7 hour examination in structural engineering
design and practice
The candidate must convey;
A grasp of structural engineering principles
An ability to initiate and communicate
structural design
Provide an effective solution to a structural
design problem.

Chartered Membership Exam

New format of question paper from 2004
Revised marking emphasis with an
increased allocation of marks for conceptual
design in Section 1
Greater emphasis on seismic conditions,
environmental issues (such as contaminated
land) and Health and Safety Q8 from 2005
onwards

Chartered Membership Exam

7 Questions answer one question
Each question has 2 sections
Section 1 Conceptual design & Technical
communication
Section 2 Detailed design (calculations +
drawings) & Methods of
construction

Keywords
Section 1 (50 marks)
Design appraisal with appropriate sketches, 2
distinct and viable structural schemes, functional
framing, load transfer & stability aspects
Write a letter to your client
Section 2 (50 marks)
Prepare sufficient design calculations to establish
form and size of all principal structural elements
Prepare general arrangement plans, sections and
elevation
Method statement for construction

12

Chartered Membership Exam for 2002

Chartered Membership Exam for 2002

Question

Centre

Pass

Fail

Total

(% Pass)

Question
Concrete 5

Centre

Pass

Fail

Total

(% Pass)

UK

27

100

127

21.3

UK

38

45

83

45.8

R of World

69

73

5.5

R of World

45

196

241

18.7

Total

31

169

200

15.5

Total

83

241

324

25.6
60.6

Steel 1

UK

44

73

117

37.6

UK

20

13

33

R of World

15

16

6.3

R of World

Total

45

88

133

33.8

Total

20

33

36

55.6
30.0

Steel 2

General

UK

14

22

36

38.9

UK

10

R of World

47

55

14.5

R of World

Total

22

69

91

24.2

Total

10

30.0

Bridge

Offshore

UK

32

37

69

46.4

UK

178

297

475

37.5

R of World

43

50

14.0

Rest of World

65

373

438

15.5

Total

39

80

119

32.8

Total

243

670

913

26.6

Concrete 4

CM Exam Pass Rate for April 2004

What are the NCEES PE exam pass rates

for April 2004?

Table 1: Pass/Fail Per Question (1-7)

Question
Steel 1
Steel 2
Bridge
Conc. 4
Conc. 5
General
Offshore
Total

Pass
105
55
34
34
48
18
3
297

Fail
304
74
52
17
89
18
4
558

Total
409
129
86
51
137
36
7
855

(% Pass)
25.7
42.6
39.5
66.7
35
50
42.9
34.7

Table 2: Pass Rates UK/Rest of World

United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Rest of World
Total

Pass
189
70
38
297

Fail
227
274
57
558

Total
416
344
95
855

(%Pass)
45.3
20.3
40
34.7

First-time
PE Architectural
PE Chemical
PE Civil
PE Electrical and Computer
PE Environmental
PE Mechanical
PE Naval Architecture
PE Structural I
PE Structural II

62%
75%
63%
64%
72%
65%
85%
45%
49%

Repeat
39%
38%
39%
29%
48%
38%
60%
8%
51%

13

Chartered Membership Exam

Two exam question examples
Steel 1 New Science Building
Concrete 5 Boat house

Preparing for the CM Exam

1. What to expect
2. Manage your time (4.2 minutes per mark)
3. What to bring relevant reference materials

14

Comparison

So, is the chartered

membership worth your time
and money?

NCEES PE (Civil)
Morning (breadth) session 40 MCQs
Water resources (20%), Structural (20%), Transportation (20%),
Environmental (20%)& Geotechnical (20%)
Afternoon (depth) session 40 MCQs (Structural option)
Structural (65%), Geotechnical (25%) & Transportation (10%)
NABER(S) PE (Structural) 80 MCQs
Structures (RC, Steel, Masonry & Timber)
Tall buildings & lateral influence
Bridges
Geotechnical & foundation

55%
20%
10%
15%

Comparison
NCEES PE (Structural II) 8 design/essay type questions
Morning & afternoon sessions 4 questions each session; 2
buildings & 2 bridges
Answer 4 questions either in buildings or bridges.
IStructE CM Exam answer 1 out of 7 big questions

15