Professional Engineer Q&A: Part 23

6.4.3 Application for Corporate Membership of IEM (leading to PEng registration with BEM)

Q42: I am an Electrical Engineer. I was told that there is no necessity for us to becom Professional Engineers as we do not endorse and submit plans to the authorities. It seems then, that the Professional Interview is largely only relevant to Civil Engineers. As professionals, we should constantly upgrade our knowledge and skills. Corporate membership of the IEM (which is granted once one passes the Professional Interview) is a benchmark of reaching a certain point in the development of an engineer. The engineer would then be recognised as a professional engineer, although to legally endorse as one, one needs to register with the Board of Engineers (BEM).

A Professional Engineer also enjoys better opportunities for promotion (which is often associated with salary increment!) in Government departments and more especially in the private sectors. A Professional Engineer is often seen as a valuable asset to the organisation, spanning both technical and leadership values. 

Your client would feel more confident when dealing with you, if you are a Professional Engineer. That shall be the prime reason why engineers from the non-mainstream (Civil, Mechanical and Electrical) disciplines are acquiring their Professional Engineer status. As a Professional Engineers registered with BEM have to obtain a minimum of 50 “Continuing Professional Development” (CPD) annually to maintain their PE licences.55 This is a draft copy. If you find any discrepancy and inappropriateness or any other comment and suggestion, please contact: yesepnp5@gmail.com 

Q43: I graduate with degree in Chemical Engineering. I did not have the pleasure to work under a MIEM/PEng of the same discipline in my company. However, my work nature enabled me to interact closely with a MIEM/PEng of same discipline in another company. I wish to apply for Corporate Membership with IEM now.

You are suggested to adopt Log Book System with the MIEM/PEng of the other company as your mentor, with blessings from IEM upon scrutinised requirements on both sides. You are allowed to backdate the Log Book entry 1 year upon the official commencement of your mentor-mentee system. Upon satisfying all criterions, you may then forward your Corporate Member application to IEM. The IEM Training Scheme or the Log Book Scheme (they are both the same) provides for young engineers like you. Under the scheme, the IEM helps you secure a Mentor from their list of available Professional Engineers to enable you to gain guided training.