ROUTE TO BE A

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER

Chapter 4

Ref: P.M Ir. Dr Lariyah Mohd Sidek, UNITEN, 2009

What is a professional engineer?

A Professional Engineer (Ir or P.Eng) is a person who

is licensed to practice engineering in Malaysia after

meeting all requirements of the law (eg; pass PI

examination)

10 reasons for becoming Ir. / P.Eng:

There are 4 categories:

1. A legal necessity

2. Improved employment security

3. Better opportunities for advancement

4. Personal satisfaction

1. Legal Necessity

If you ever want or need to become a consultant

engineer, you must licensed as a Ir. or P.Eng

Only Ir/P.Eng can sign and seal engineering

document is that are submitted to a public and

private clients

2. Opportunities for Advancement

Many companies encourage licensure and some even pay bonus for becoming Ir/P.Eng

In education, more colleges are requiring a Ir/P.Eng license for engineering faculty or holding certain titles

In many industry utility, and government positions, P.Eng is required for specified jobs or levels

With the engineering profession now operating in an international environment, licensing may required to work in or for other countries.

3. Personal Satisfaction

Licensure in the mark of a professional. Ethical

standard, continuing education, and professional

competency are expected.

Ir before or P.Eng after your name indicates you

met the standard can be respected as a

professional

4. Improved Employment Security

Restructuring, downsizing and outsourcing ARE REAL.

A Ir/P.Eng license may make the difference in

finding new employment

Industry and utility exemptions are being eliminated

in some jurisdictions.

Continuing education is required for professional

engineer (CPD)

Continuing Professional Development

(CPD)

CPD is the planned acquisition of knowledge, experience and skill of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional duties throughout the working life, which encompasses both technical and non-technical subject areas

Why require CPD: Rapid advancement in latest techniques, new materials and state of the arc technology

CPD involves:

Keeping up to date with the advances in the profession

Developing a deeper knowledge in one’s specialised area

Broadening knowledge over the wider engineering spectrum

Improving one general knowledge and life skill (management,

finance and languages)

Continuing Professional Development

(CPD)

CPD POLICY

The Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM) is currently in the process of introducing a policy on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to further enhance professionalism among engineers and the scheme is expected to be fully implemented by 2006.

The policy targets professional engineers with the possibility of extending to other grades of engineers. This effort by BEM is timely as engineering has become increasingly recognised as a field which is facing rapid changes in this new millennium.

This will enable the local construction industry to instill and uphold a greater level of professionalism and professional expertise in view of globalisation and the challenges associated with it in the international services sector.

The policy is aimed to further improve and broaden the

knowledge and skill of engineers in performing their duties

in line with current practice and regulations

The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia is well-placed to be

an organisation capable of assisting BEM in the

implementation of the CPD policy and programme

CPD POLICY

ARE YOU READY????

Having Ir/P.Eng license is the BEST

insurance policy and could affect

your career.

The time to start is NOW from

STUDENT to P.Eng

Requirement for Graduate Engineer

The recognized academic qualification for registration as a Graduate Engineer with BEM includes the following:

An engineering degree accredited/ recognized by BEM available in an approved list maintained by BEM

A pass in Part I & Part II of the Engineering Council Examination of United Kingdom or Part I & Part II of IEM/BEM Graduate Examination in any particular branch qualifications that is not accredited/recognized by BEM/IEM

Requirement for Professional Engineer

Any candidate who applies for registration as Professional Engineer must:

1. Be registered as Graduate Engineer with BEM; and

2. Have satisfied the training requirements of BEM; and

3. Have passes the Professional Interview (PI) and be elected as a Corporate Member of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM); and

4. Have residing in Malaysia for a period of not less than six months immediately prior to the date of application

Route to P.Eng (Applicable to Engineer who register with BEM after 1 Jan 2005

EngineeringEngineering CCouncilouncil

Member (IEM)

Masters in

Engineering Council

Accredited

Engineering Degree

Min 3 years

experience

Graduate Professional (normal route) Engineer

(BEM) &

Training record (Log

book)

Course attendance

Interview (PI)

IEM/BEM Part II

Pass Graduate

Professional

development Program

MIEM

Registration @

IEM

Unrecognised Engineering

Degree

Recognised

Engineering (PDP) Min 6 years

experience

Training record

Recognised Engineering

Degree: Twinning/

P.Eng. Registration @

Graduate

Off campus/Distance

learning

Engineer-

with

restriction

Course attendance

PDP

Continuing education

BEM

(Full Certificate) CPD

Professional

Registration

TRAINING GRADUATE

REGISTRATION

ACADEMIC

REQUIREMENTS

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg 7-10

Basic Training Requirements – New

Scheme

The need for NEW Scheme, WHY???

According to BEM announcement (Feb 1998) new

training requirements were required due to the

following 2 main reason:

1. To safe guard the profession and for quality

assurance since Engineering students can obtain their

degrees through various way (approved twinning

programs, part time courses and distance learning

programs

2. A need to raise the standard of P.Eng to prepare

them for global competition

The new requirements include:

1. Extended training period

2. Compulsory courses attendance

3. Professional Development Program (PDP)

4. Continuing engineering education program in line with global development

The Professional Interview (PI) which comprises an oral interview and essay writing remains unchanged. The revised training requirements are listed in Table 1.

Basic Training Requirements – New

Scheme

Table 1: Revised training requirement

for Graduate Engineer

tt tt ttii ll

approvedapproved byby BEMBEM ssuchuch aass IIEMEM

(PDP)(PDP) llkk ii ii

Engineering management practice 12 hours

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg. 7-10

Training Activity Graduates from

Accredited Programs

Graduates from Approved

Twinning, Part-Time, Distance

Learning Programs

Minimum working experience 3 years 6 years

General training linking engineering 2 years (min.) 3 years (min.)

concepts to practical Professional career development

training, e.g. skills awareness, project

management, logical approach, team

work, responsibility, etc.

1 years (min.) 3 years (min.)

Satisfactory attendance at courses

conducted by BEM or any institutions

approved by BEM such as IEM

Code of ethics 12 hours

Health & safety, relevant by laws/regulations 12 hours

Topics related to engineering discipline 24 hours

Professional Development Program

(PDP) e.g. talks, seminars, society

meeting and community services (1

unit = 1 hour participation, up to 4

units/day)

30 units 45 units

Continuing education program - 24 days

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg 7-10

Example of CPD

Mandatory Training: General Structure

Same discipline

least once a year

Training – Supervised by a registered Professional Engineer

Mentor (in the same discipline) selected by the Graduate Engineer or IEM

Within the same organisation

Use IEM Logbook regularly

Meet Mentor regularly for

discussion/guidance/certification of

Graduate’s work at quarterly intervals

Logbook to be endorsed by IEM at least one a year

Graduate Engineer Registered with BEM

Organisation with PE Organisation without PE

Certification of Graduate’s work

experience

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg 7-10

Professional Engineer Examination

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg. 7-10

Professional Interview (PI)

Graduate Engineer Registered with BEM

Submit forms IEM/P1(1) & IEM/P1 (2) – IEM

MIEM Registration @ IEM

P. Eng Registration @ BEM

CPD (50 hours/year)

Professional Interview (PI)

BEM has decided that starting 1 January 2007, the PAE will be conducted

solely by IEM on behalf of the board

Source: Jurutera, August 2001, pg 7-10

How to become a professional

Engineer???

Professional Engineer

In the planning, design, execution or management of

such works as comprised within the profession of

engineering (Min 3 years)

In engineering research and at

least ONE year of such practical

experience In the teaching in a course leading to a qualification in

engineering research; or in the teaching in a course leading to

a qualification approved by BEM and at least ONE year of such practical experience shall be obtained in Malaysia under supervision of registered P.Eng

of the same discipline.

Action Plan for Potential Candidates

1. If you have comply all the requirements, please submit your application to IEM directly

2. Submit application form

3. Submit BEM Registration Letter as a Graduate Engineer

4. Submit Degree & Diplomas Certificates together with transcripts

5. Evidence to show discipline/branch of Engr if the information is not in certificate

6. STPM/SPM/GCE/ Matriculation or equivalent

7. Payment of PI fees (RM100 transfer case & RM200 Election case)

8. Forms completed with 1 proposer and 1 seconder

9. Experience clearly tabulated after the date of graduation and breakdown of experience recorded in months

10. Signatures of 2 engineers to verify experience on each page at the form

11. Form to be submitted when called for interview

12. Name will be circulated in IEM bulletin

13. Called for INTERVIEW

Action Plan for Potential Candidates

Professional Assessment Examination

(PAE) or Professional Interview (PI)

WhWh tt ii titi titi dd iidd ttii

Basic Questions: Interview

Section B: Code of Ethics

Questions (~ 10-12) available to the candidate prior to PI. However, the interviewer

will select the question to be attempted by the candidate at the time of interview

Duration = 1.5 hours each question

Competency Examination & Laws of Land (40-50 MCQ) will be conducted by BEM

Notes: The reason is to allow the candidate a chance to clarify certain points that were not

properly expressed during the interview. The second essay is on the code of ethics.

• What has the candidate done ?

Basic engineering • Why has the candidate done it ?

Training & Experience • Does the candidate fully understand

Projects undertaken the engineering concept involved ? Duration = 0.5 to 1 hour • What engineering decision has the

Write two (2) essay candidate made ? • What investigation and consideration

Section A: Training & Experience undertaken to reach conclusions ?

Question to be given by the interviewer at the time of interview

Graduate Engineer: The Way Forward

EE ii mentormentor inin youryour

aboutabout thethe LogbookLogbook becomebecome aa PPEE

BEM & IEM about current

requirement/scheme to become a PE about the Logbook

(P.Eng., MIEM)

Professionalism !

Mentor & Logbook

• Discuss with a

Graduate Do your Homework!

Engineer Registration

• BEM

• IEM

mentor in your discipline

• Check with IEM

Get as much info. from

procedures and training

scheme

Graduate Professional Engineer Engineer

Have a Plan and Milestones • The most important component is the

TRAINING requirement

Initiative, Commitment &

• Your effort = 80%

• Set your GOALS & PLAN how to achieve the MERIT and EXPERIENCE

needed within the minimum stipulated

time frame

• Mentor’s effort = 20%

Failing to Plan, Is a Plan to Fail !

Example Official Stamp for P.Eng