In the UK, 'structural engineer' is not a protected title. Anyone can use it, whatever their training. 'Chartered Engineer' is different: it can only be used by someone registered with the Engineering Council, which awards it through professional engineering institutions licensed to assess candidates.
If you are choosing an engineer for a survey, a report or a design, the letters after their name are the quickest way to understand what you are getting.
The letters that matter
- CEng - Chartered Engineer, registered with the Engineering Council. Awarded after an accredited degree (or equivalent learning), years of supervised professional experience and a professional review
- MICE - Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Chartered membership of the ICE, which covers structural and civil engineering
- MIStructE - Member of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Chartered membership of the IStructE, which is dedicated to structural engineering
- FICE and FIStructE - Fellows of the two institutions, a senior grade of membership
- MSc or MEng - a master's degree, part of the academic route to chartered status
MICE and MIStructE are both routes to CEng, and both are appropriate for structural work. Our engineers are Chartered Engineers, CEng MSc MICE.
What chartered status tells you, and what it does not
Chartered status tells you that an engineer has been independently assessed against a professional standard, is bound by their institution's code of conduct, and is expected to keep their knowledge up to date. It does not tell you whether they have experience of your particular kind of problem - a stone terrace, a basement, a mining question - so it is worth asking that too.
It also does not make an engineer independent. An engineer employed by a firm that sells repairs is still working for that firm. Whether the person advising you also benefits from the remedy is a separate question, and worth asking.
When a chartered engineer is required
- Some mortgage lenders and insurers ask for a structural report from a chartered engineer, often naming MIStructE or MICE - check the lender's wording
- Some building warranty providers and developers' lenders specify chartered sign-off for design
- Expert witness and dispute work generally expects it
- Building Control does not usually require calculations to come from a chartered engineer, but it does expect them from someone competent, and chartered status is the simplest evidence of that
How to check
- Ask for the engineer's full post-nominals and which institution they belong to
- Search the Engineering Council's online register for Chartered Engineers
- Check the ICE or IStructE directory for membership
- Ask whether the engineer who signs the report is the one who inspects the building
Engineer or surveyor?
A chartered surveyor (MRICS) and a chartered engineer are both professionals, trained for different questions. A building surveyor looks at the condition of the whole building. A structural engineer answers the structural question - why it cracked, whether it is still moving, what will carry the load. When a surveyor's report says 'refer to a structural engineer', it means the second kind of question has come up.
How we work
Our engineers are Chartered Engineers, CEng MSc MICE. We do not sell repairs and take no commission from anyone who does, so the engineer advising you has no interest in the remedy.
A structural survey and report is a fixed £580 + VAT, with the report inside 10 working days of the inspection, guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Is 'structural engineer' a protected title?
No. Anyone can call themselves a structural engineer in the UK. 'Chartered Engineer' (CEng) is protected: only people registered with the Engineering Council can use it.
What is the difference between MICE and MIStructE?
MICE is chartered membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers; MIStructE is chartered membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers. Both are routes to Chartered Engineer status and both are appropriate for structural work.
Does my mortgage lender need a chartered engineer?
Some do. Lenders and insurers often ask for a report from a chartered engineer and may name MIStructE or MICE. Check the exact wording of the request before you instruct anyone.
How can I check an engineer is chartered?
Ask for their post-nominals and institution, then check the Engineering Council's register of Chartered Engineers and the ICE or IStructE membership directory.
Are your engineers chartered?
Yes. Our engineers are Chartered Engineers, CEng MSc MICE.