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Membership of which professional organizations for electrical and electronic engineers are recognized globally?

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  • $\begingroup$ MIEE arguably tops. MIEEE arguably tops by other arguers. Many country recognitions are "good enough" eg IPENZ from NZ. But, fwiw, you do not NEED any such if you are not spending government money or looking to work for a company that demands that "stuffed shirt" be part of the kit. If you build a reputation you can be "recognised" anywhere and be employable by almost all organisations worth working for. . $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 1, 2015 at 7:36
  • $\begingroup$ @RussellMcMahon Your abbrevations seem to me a little bit unclear. Maybe your comment could be converted to (longer) answer. $\endgroup$
    – peterh
    Aug 1, 2015 at 7:49
  • $\begingroup$ Make that: MIEEE (the pretenders :-) ) of this and MIET nee MIEE now thusly $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 1, 2015 at 9:32
  • $\begingroup$ @RussellMcMahon: In Australia, it is absolutely necessary to be registered on a professional register (such as NPER or RPEQ) to do high-level engineering work. A stirling-silver reputation isn't enough. For example, all engineering designs in Queensland must be signed off by an RPEQ, who is then legally liable for the design. Since RPEQ now requires CPEng from Engineers Australia (excepting grandfathered applicants), being RPEQ practically requires MIEAust and CPEng. $\endgroup$
    – Li-aung Yip
    Aug 1, 2015 at 20:57
  • $\begingroup$ @Li-aungYip I'm probably covered by grandfathering clauses, should they exist, in the NZ system, but it's of minimal interest to me now. As I noted, if I'd stayed in corporate employ it would be different. I've now been "self employed" for almost as long as in my prior 'lifetime'. I have BE and ME (4 year gap between, both university of Auckland) - both gained prior to Washington accord so technically possible that neither my be recognised internationally. $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 2, 2015 at 1:51

2 Answers 2

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From an Australian perspective:

  1. I have a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering.
  2. I am a graduate member of Engineers Australia.
  3. I am a member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

My degree

My bachelor's degree in engineering was received from a university whose engineering course is accredited by Engineers Australia.

Because the course is accredited by Engineers Australia, and because Engineers Australia is a signatory of the Washington Accord, my engineering degree is also recognised by all other signatories to the Washington Accord. This means my engineering degree is recognised globally.

Engineers Australia

Since I hold a bachelor's degree in engineering, and I work in Australia, I am eligible to be a member of Engineers Australia.

Membership of this organisation is specific to my country, and is tied to some legislation which is also specific to my country.

For example, Australian law requires one to be a Engineers Australia Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) to perform certain duties. This doesn't immediately transfer to other countries, where you need to attain the local equivalent of CPEng to meet that country's requirements.

Similarly the other local Australian registers, such as the Registered Professional Engineer, Queensland (RPEQ) and National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) are tied to Australian laws.

Where equivalents to CPEng, RPEQ, NPER exist overseas, there may be a mutual recognition agreement which automatically grants the foreign version if you have the Australian version, and vice versa. See the Engineers Australia document Supporting the Professional Mobility of Engineers in Australia and the United States.

The IEEE

Since I hold a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, I am eligible to be a member of the IEEE. This is an internationally recognised membership - my IEEE membership stays the same no matter what country I am living in.

However, my membership of the IEEE doesn't mean much in Australia. It does not grant any special privileges or duties in Australia, and IEEE is not relevant to any Australian laws. Membership of Engineers Australia is considered much more important than IEEE.

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The purpose, structure and the value proposition of each of these organizations differ between been each other yet recognize each other credentials.

For example if once credentials are US base and has a need to acquire similar credentials for Engineers Australia, then one would have to submit the necessary paper work to Engineers Australia for evaluation and acceptance. Under the auspicious of the Washington Accord most credentials are cross listed. I can confirm that my US based Electrical Engineering credentials were accepted by Engineering Australia in accordance with the Washington Accord. Therefore I believe that my credentials will be accepted by any professional engineering organization that is part of the Washington Accord.

Therefore if your electrical engineering credentials are accepted by one body who is a part of the Washington Accord then your electrical engineering credentials are almost certain to be accepted by any other body that is part of the Washington Accord.

The following are the signatory accreditation bodies of the Washington Accord.

There are few post here in engineering stackexchange related to similar discussion.

References:

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  • $\begingroup$ I no longer know what I am deemed to be, nor especially care. I worked for over 20 years for NZ's largest company and obtained and maintained a professional engineering qualification (then termed "Registered Engineer"). Then the national professional engineering body got the attention of a ranking politician and in due course obtained an entirely new set of requirements with suitable hoops and obstacles to keep everyone happy. $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 1, 2015 at 13:57
  • $\begingroup$ .... Had I remained in corporate work, maintaining such would just have been 'cost of doing business' and accepted and paid for by my employer in terms of both make-work lost hours required to meet semi-arbitrary requirements plus actual fees. In my subsequent private industry activities the "qualification" would be nice to have to illuminate one's slate but has probably minimal if any value wrt NZ clients and none whatsoever in any of my related Asian activities. So, where that leaves me in the systems eyes exactly I know not. $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 1, 2015 at 13:59
  • $\begingroup$ ... My degrees were attained long ago, the continuous on the job training continues, as may be evident :-). $\endgroup$
    – Russell McMahon
    Aug 1, 2015 at 14:00

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