We are delighted that you are interested in becoming a Chartered Member of IChemE; this is an important milestone in your professional journey, and early preparation can make all the difference. Our guidance outlines everything you need to know about the requirements and application process.

As you begin to apply your academic knowledge in the workplace, you will be undertaking your Initial Professional Development (IPD). This is where your experience starts to build toward the competence and commitment expected of a Chartered Member. Many graduates choose to develop through an Accredited Company Training Scheme (ACTS) which is designed to provide structured support and the right kind of opportunities to meet the Chartered standard.

If you are not on an ACTS scheme, you can still progress by self-managing your development, ideally with the help of a mentor.  Mentors play a vital role in supporting your growth and reflection. You may find a mentor through your employer or alternatively, you can connect with one using IChemE’s Mentor Match service. Many mentors and mentees find our Framework for Effective Mentoring especially useful. It gives structure to conversations, helps set goals, and enables you to plan, record and evidence your progress against the Chartered competencies.

Wherever you are starting from, we are here to support you every step of the way.

Upcoming changes to the C&C Report

IChemE has developed an updated structure for the Competence & Commitment (C&C) report for Chartered Chemical Engineer (CEng) applications. The new structure aligns more directly with the Engineering Council’s requirements.

The updated structure revises the way applicants demonstrate their technical competence. Although the revised structure includes new questions that require additional evidence not requested before in C&C reports, it maintains full compliance with IChemE professional standards and, importantly, all professional expectations for CEng remain unchanged.

To support applicants, we have prepared a new supporting document for applicants  and a Transition Guidance Document. These documents:

• explain the new structure section by section;
• show how evidence used in the previous structure can be adapted for the new structure; and
• clarify what is expected when answering the updated questions.

This guidance is intended to support the updated C&C report structure and should be used alongside the full application guidance document.

The final opportunity to submit an application using the current C&C report structure will be at the end of March 2027. Applications submitted after this date will be required to use the updated structure.

We recognise that many applicants may already be preparing their C&C report using the current structure. The timetable above is intended to allow sufficient time for applicants to complete and submit their reports using the existing structure if they wish to do so.

There is no advantage in rushing to submit an application before March 2027. Applications should be submitted only when you are confident that they fully reflect your experience and competence at the required level. We recommend seeking advice from a mentor through IChemE’s Mentor Match service to support the preparation of your report and help you decide which structure to use and when to apply.

Further guidance will be provided throughout the year to help applicants decide whether to apply using the current or updated structure.