Initial Professional Development (IPD)

Tag
Author
Date published
Price

Initial Professional Development (IPD) is part of your journey towards professional membership of the Institution.

IPD is a record of your working life that demonstrates you have acquired the experience, knowledge and skills that are needed to practice as a structural engineer.

Important information for 2023

Candidates preparing for their Professional Review Interview (PRI) need to be aware of the options available to them. There are two chances to apply in 2023 which are open to candidates from all around the world. The deadlines for each application window are 1 April and 1 September respectively.

1 April deadline

Previously failed candidates - If you have previously failed your PRI, this will be your final attempt to pass on the current core objectives. If you are unsuccessful again in this interview, or unable to apply by this deadline, you will be required to apply again under the new IPD regulations and sit the full PRI. The first opportunity to do this will be the 1 September 2023 application deadline.

First-time applicants - If you are making your first PRI application by this date, and are unsuccessful, you will have one final attempt to pass using the current core objectives. You will be able to apply again by 31 December 2023, with interviews conducted in early 2024.

What to do next

If you are planning to apply for the 1 April 2023 deadline, please continue to use the guidance documents and process as set out in the information further down this page.

or

If you are planning to apply for your first interview by the 1 September 2023 deadline (or 2024 and beyond), please read the New IPD Regulations and begin to prepare your documents accordingly. Additional guidance documents will be available for these shortly.

Please note that the above only applies to Chartered Member PRI applications. Further information regarding the changes to the Associate-Member and Technician Member IPD will be made available later in the year.

Register for your PRI  

What’s involved?

To complete your IPD you need to demonstrate that you have satisfied our 13 core objectives (12 if you’re applying for Technician Membership).

You will also need to provide a portfolio of your work.

We will then assess your IPD through a Professional Review interview (an Interview may not be required if you are applying for Technician Membership).

There is no set time period in which you should expect to complete your IPD, but most members do so after at least four years’ workplace experience.

 

Our IPD core objectives:

The objectives for Chartered and Associate-Members cover personal (1.0), engineering (2.0) and management (3.0) skills.

There is a slightly different set of core objectives for Technician Members.

You need to demonstrate the following standards for the relevant objective:

Appreciation – general appreciation of subject and its integration with other subjects

Knowledge – understanding of the subject and its application

Experience – able to perform independently or under supervision

Ability – able to perform independently
 

Explore our information downloads to determine how to meet your objectives.

 

Our three IPD routes:

 

Retrospectively Collated

You demonstrate that you have satisfied our core objectives by completing and submitting IPD final report forms along with a portfolio of work.

 

Individually Managed:

You’re responsible for managing your own training with the assistance of a mentor. 

You keep records of your training and experience using our IPD quarterly report form and progress summary record. You have regular meetings with your mentor to review your progress.

Once you have satisfied our objectives you complete and submit your final report forms, your quarterly report forms, your progress summary records and your portfolio of work.

 

Accredited Training Scheme

You are already following a comparable professional development scheme accredited by ICE or HKIE

You submit your full training records and portfolio of work to demonstrate how you satisfy our core objectives.

 

IPD forms

When you're ready to apply for professional membership you'll need to fill out IPD final report forms for each of your core objectives. These forms must be completed in English.

If you're following the Individually Managed route you'll need to complete a quarterly report form and progress summary record too. All forms are available as downloads below.

Note: If you are using our PDF templates, you will need to print each one as a PDF to be able to combine them into one single document. Alternatively you can use the Word version below. All applications must be submitted as one full document.

 

IPD portfolio

Your portfolio illustrates how your work and experience have helped you meet your core objectives.

It should include examples of your work from a variety of projects. The portfolio must be sub-divided into the core objectives, with the evidence provided relating specifically to an objective. All portfolio documents must be translated (if necessary) and submitted in English.

E-portfolios must be a single PDF of up to a maximum of 300 pages including drawings, sketches, and any calculations. The font size used in your portfolio and IPD final report forms must be no smaller than Arial 10. Further information on the E-portfolio can be found in the guidance document below.

E-portfolio Guidance

Online training to supplement your IPD

Training
<h4>Professional Review Interview on-demand preparation course</h4>

Professional Review Interview on-demand preparation course

Videos and practical guidance to help you build your portfolio and prepare for interview.

Exam preparation
<h4>CM Exam on-demand preparation course</h4>

CM Exam on-demand preparation course

Created for members who are considering or have started their journey to Chartered Membership. The on-demand course will take you through an example CM Exam paper section by section, and you'll have access for 12 months.

Certificate in Structural Behaviour

Contribute to your IPD and get closer to professional registration. "The certificate helped me improve my skills in approximate analysis and drawing force diagrams." Hemant Gor, Graduate Member

Learn more

Humanitarian and International Development Competencies Framework

This framework, developed by the Institution’s Humanitarian and International Development Panel, is designed to illustrate the types of skills that structural engineers will require to be successful in the development sector.

Access Resource

Explore our training, events and resources to support you throughout your career and membership journey