Professional Registration

Q: Why gain professional registration?

Better career prospects and earning potential. As you will have been assessed by an independent body as meeting certain standards, both your customers and employers can be confident in the quality of your work. This is generally reflected in your career progress and salary.

Professional registration is a globally recognised credential, proving to employers your competencies in your chosen field.

We offer registration in marine engineering, science and technology. We are licensed by both the Engineering Council and Science Council to provide professional registration to engineers and scientists.

There are many routes that can be offered to meet these standards, including a combination of academic awards, vocational qualifications, experiential learning and competence.

Why gain professional registration?

Better career prospects and earning potential

As you will have been assessed by an independent body as meeting certain standards, both your customers and employers can be confident in the quality of your work. This is generally reflected in your career progress and salary.

Valued by employers, clients and the public

Registration demonstrates your commitment to your work, your respect for Codes of Conduct and your drive to succeed.

Respect and influence across the industry

These qualifications are recognised worldwide and place you within an esteemed network of experts, allowing you to have influence in projects, activities and policies at a global level.

Recognition of competence

Professional registration validates your skills, knowledge, and experience, demonstrating to employers, clients, and peers that you have met or exceeded industry standards.

Professional registration was a long time career goal that has given me a level of recognition with my peers that has, to date, been the pinnacle of my career.

Anonymous Marine Engineer

Survey response

How to apply

To apply for registration, IMarEST membership is required. When joining the Institute, you have the option to apply for both simultaneously.

As part of the professional registration process, you'll be expected to attend a Professional Review Interview - we've published guidance on this here.

Engineering registers

Chartered Engineer (CEng)/Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng)

Chartered Engineers develop appropriate solutions to engineering problems. They may develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs and design methods and introduce new and more efficient production techniques, or pioneer new engineering services and management methods.

Chartered Marine Engineer (CMarEng) is awarded by the IMarEST in conjunction with the Engineering Council register (CEng), demonstrating that an individual has a particular marine speciality.

There are many routes that can be offered to meet this standard, including a combination of academic awards, vocational qualifications and experiential learning through work competence includes the knowledge, understanding and skills that underpin performance.

Chartered Engineers shall demonstrate:

The theoretical knowledge to solve problems in new and established technologies and to develop new analytical techniques
Successful application of the knowledge to deliver innovative products and services or taking technical responsibility for complex engineering systems
Responsibility for the financial and planning aspects of projects, sub-projects or tasks
Leadership and development of other professional staff through management, mentoring or coaching
Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters
Understanding of the safety and sustainability implications of their work, seeking to improve aspects where feasible
Commitment to professional engineering values

International Register of Professional Engineers (IntPE)

Chartered Engineers are eligible to apply to join the International Register of Professional Engineers (IntPE), which is open to Chartered Engineers who are registered with the Engineering Council.

To apply:

Download and complete the application form (view the application form guidance here)
Send it to the Membership Team at [email protected]

For the full list of requirements and eligibilty criteria, please visit the Engineering Council's website.

Incorporated Engineer (IEng)/Incorporated Marine Engineer (IMarEng)

Incorporated Engineers maintain and manage applications of current and developing technology, and may undertake engineering design, development, manufacture, construction and operation. Incorporated Engineers are variously engaged in technical and commercial management and possess effective interpersonal skills.

Incorporated Marine Engineer (IMarEng) is awarded by the IMarEST in conjunction with the Engineering Council register (IEng), demonstrating that an individual has a particular marine speciality.

Incorporated Engineers shall demonstrate:

The theoretical knowledge to solve problems in established technologies using well proven analytical techniques
Successful application of the knowledge to deliver engineering tasks or services using established technologies and methods
Contribution to the financial and planning aspects of projects or tasks and contribution to leading and developing other professional staff
Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters
The ability to specify and operate to safe systems of work and to demonstrate appropriate consideration of the principles of sustainability
Commitment to professional engineering values

Engineering Technician (EngTech)/Marine Engineering Technician (MarEngTech)

Engineering Technicians solve practical engineering problems. They are professionals with supervisory or technical responsibility and apply safe systems of working. They contribute to the design, development, manufacture, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, processes or services.

Marine Engineering Technician (MarEngTech) is awarded by the IMarEST in conjunction with the Engineering Council register (EngTech), demonstrating that an individual has a particular marine speciality.

Engineering Technicians shall demonstrate:

Engineering knowledge and understanding to apply technical and practical skills
Evidence of their contribution to the design, development, manufacture, commissioning, decommissioning, operation or maintenance of products, equipment, processes or services
Supervisory or technical responsibility
Effective interpersonal skills in communicating technical matters
The ability to operate in accordance with safe systems of work and to demonstrate appropriate understanding of the principles of sustainability
Commitment to professional engineering values

Standards required for Engineers

The Engineering Council's 'UK-SPEC' details the competencies you will need to display for the registration and gives examples of ways of doing this. Please ensure you use this document to support a successful application to CEng/CMarEng, IEng/IMarEng, EngTech/MarEngTech.

The UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) describes the value of becoming registered. It describes the requirements that have to be met in order to gain these qualifications, and gives examples of ways of doing this. UK-SPEC should enable individuals and employers to find out whether they or their staff can meet the requirements, and explains the steps necessary to achieve professional registration with the Engineering Council.

Science registers

Chartered Scientist (CSci)/Chartered Marine Scientist (CMarSci)

Chartered Marine Scientists are professional scientists, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply marine science in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding of the marine environment, wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

Chartered Scientists demonstrate effective leadership, using their specialist knowledge and broader scientific understanding to develop and improve the application of science and technology by scoping, planning and managing multifaceted projects.

Chartership as a scientist reflects the wide variety of sciences and their practice, recognising high levels of skill and experience, independent of discipline.

Chartered Marine Scientist (Hydrography) / CMarSci (Hydrography)

Chartered Marine Scientists (Hydrography) are professional scientists, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply Hydrographics Survey knowledge, understanding of the marine environment, wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

An individual wishing to pursue registration as CMarSci(Hydrography) will be a professional person with the academic qualifications and technical expertise to conduct one, or more, of the following activities:

To determine, measure and represent the earth, three-dimensional objects, point-fields and trajectories underwater or from the water
To assemble and interpret seabed, water column and geographically related information
To use that information for the planning and efficient administration of the sea and any structures thereon/in
To conduct research into the above practices and to develop them

Chartered Marine Scientist (Oceanography) / CMarSci (Oceanography)

Chartered Marine Scientists (Oceanography) are those who harness, manage, use or apply marine science in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding of the marine environment, wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

An individual wishing to pursue registration as CMarSci(Oceanography) will be a professional person with the appropriate academic qualifications and technical expertise to conduct one, or more, of the following activities:

To observe, measure or model the physical, chemical, geological and/or biological components of the ocean
To produce and interpret ocean information
To utilitse ocean information for the planning and efficient administration of the ocean and its resources or for broader societal and economic application
To conduct research and development activities in oceanography
To undertake policy or teaching activities in oceanography
To represent ocean science in wider earth system science

Registered Marine Scientist (RMarSci)

Registered Marine Scientists are professional scientists, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply marine science in the pursuit of knowledge, understanding of the marine environment, wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

Registered Marine Scientists are characterised by:

Their ability to act as exponents of today’s technology through creativity and innovation
They maintain and manage applications of current and developing science
They may undertake design, research, development, manufacture, construction and operation
Those who engaged in scientific and commercial management and possess effective interpersonal skills

Standards required for Scientists

The Science Council's 'CSci Competencies Report' details the competencies you will need to display for the registration you are applying for and gives examples of ways of doing this. Please ensure you use this document when completing this section, to support a successful application to CSci/CMarSci.

In accordance with our Royal Charter, IMarEST is able to award suitably qualified and experienced applicants the titles of Registered Marine Scientist (RMarSci), Marine Technologist (MarTech), CMarSci (Hydrography) and CMarSci (Oceanography).

For RMarSci and MarTech, please refer to the 'IMarEST Registers Standards'

For CMarSci(Hydrography), please refer to the 'CMarSci(Hydrography) Standards'

For CMarSci(Oceanography), please refer to the 'CMarSci(Oceanography) Standards'

CSci represents, a single chartered mark for all scientists, recognising high levels of professionalism and competence in science. To qualify for the Chartered Scientist designation applicants must possess a combination of high-level scientific knowledge and experience. This is typically demonstrated by an accredited Masters qualification together with four years of post graduation-level experience sufficient to meet the CSci competencies.

Technology registers

Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech)

Chartered Marine Technologists are professionals, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply marine technology in the pursuit of wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

Chartered Marine Technologists are characterised by:

Their ability to deal with complex issues, both systematically and creatively.
They make sound judgements in the absence of complete data to develop solutions to problems
They communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Registered Marine Technologist (RMarTech)

Registered Marine Technologists are professionals, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply marine technology in the pursuit of wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

Registered Marine Technologists are characterised by:

Their ability to act as exponents of today’s technology through creativity and innovation.
They maintain and manage applications of current and developing technology
They may undertake technological design, development, manufacture, construction and operation
Those who engaged in technical and commercial management and possess effective interpersonal skills

Marine Technician (MarTech)

Marine Technicians are professional Scientists or Technologists, who harness, exploit, manage, use or apply marine science or marine technology in the pursuit of research, wealth creation and/or the provision of services in the marine sector.

Chartered Marine Technologists will typically be professionals from the following disciplines: Fleet Managers, Hydrographers, Marine Superintendants (Deck), Meteorologists, Pilots, Marine Logisticians, Deck Officers and Ratings, Marine Surveyors, Shipping Professionals, Harbourmasters, College Lecturers, Navigators, Radar/Sonar Maintenance Experts, Warfare Officers and Ratings and Naval Officers and Ratings.

Standards required for Technologists

The 'IMarEST Registers Standards' details the competencies you will need to display for the registration you are applying for and gives examples of ways of doing this. Please ensure you use this document when completing this section, to support a successful application to MarTech, RMarTech and CMarTech.

IMarEST is the only professional body in the world able to award these titles.

In accordance with our Royal Charter, IMarEST is able to award suitably qualified and experienced applicants the title of Marine Technologist (MarTech), Registered Marine Technologist (RMarTech) and Chartered Marine Technologist (CMarTech) .