PROFESSIONAL REVIEW

Introduction

When Graduate Members have completed their IPD, they may apply for Corporate Membership of the Institution. The basis of that application is the Professional Review, through which the member will be required to demonstrate that they have met the Institution's requirements for professional competence and commitment to the profession.

The Professional Review consists of a written Report of professional development and responsible experience, and may include an Interview. An Application Form, giving personal and employment details, must also be submitted.

This guidance on the Professional Review is addressed primarily to Graduate Members However, the requirements must also be met by anyone applying for direct election as a Corporate Member.

Membership Committee

Applications for election or transfer to Corporate Membership are considered by the Membership Committee, consisting of senior members of the Institution. They will consider the Professional Review Report to determine if the member has met the requirements for membership and whether an Interview is required.

If the Membership Committee decides that the Report satisfactorily demonstrates that the Institution's requirements for Corporate Membership have been met, and that an Interview is not required, the member will be formally advised of their election as a Corporate Member in the appropriate class of membership. However, if the Committee consider that the application requires further scrutiny, the member will be required to undertake an Interview.

If the Membership Committee considers that further development and/or experience is required, the member will be advised which areas to address. When the member re-applies, it will only be necessary to report on the period since the previous application.

Professional Review Report

The aim of the Professional Review Report is to demonstrate to the Membership Committee that the level and breadth of professional development required for Corporate Membership have been achieved.
Although the route to Corporate Membership will be different for every applicant, each is required to achieve the professional development objectives defined in Part 2 of the PDM. The Report should therefore be written such as to demonstrate how training and experience has enabled the member to achieve these objectives.

Scope of the Report

If accredited an accredited Training Programme has been completed, the Report should give a summary of activities carried out as part of the Programme, and a detailed description of activities carried out since completing the Programme which have contributed to professional development and achieving the professional development objectives. The member may be required to submit an IPD Record/Logbook.

If an accredited Training Programme was not completed, the Report should give a detailed description of all activities carried out since completing the academic qualification. The Report may also include activities carried out before graduating which have contributed to initial professional development, eg work experience.

Structure of the Report

The Report should be written in chronological order, ending with current employment. It should be typed on A4, single side, or may be submitted electronically in MSWord format. The Report should contain the following sections:

Part 1. Introduction

The Report should have an introduction, giving a brief summary of career to date, ie dates, company/organisation, position, nature of employment.

Part 2. Training and Experience

The main body of the Report should describe in detail the activities which have contributed to professional development, including where applicable:

Nature of the activity, eg purpose, technical content, etc.
Duration of the activity, eg start/completion, accumulated time.
Resources involved, eg manpower, financial, etc.
Personal involvement and level of responsibility, eg who accountable to, number of staff reporting to the member.
How the activity contributed to achieving professional development objectives, eg the knowledge, understanding and skills gained, etc.

Part 3. Professional Activities

The Report should record those activities which have contributed indirectly to professional development, such attendance at training courses and conferences; preparation and presentation of engineering papers or articles; participation in Institution activities, e.g. Branch technical meetings; etc.

Members will also be expected to be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuing their professional development in the future, and should therefore include a brief plan of their intended CPD.

Verification

Where possible the details of activities in the Report should be verified (initialled, or separate statement) by the relevant line manager, or a person in a position of responsibility who is familiar with the work undertaken.

The application sponsors should also sign the report, or provide a separate statement, to confirm it as being an accurate record of training and experience, to the best of their knowledge.

Further information is contained in the RINA publication Guidance on the Professiopnal Review Report (PDF file)

Professional Review Interview

The Professional Review Interview will normally last about one hour, and will be conducted by two experienced and suitably qualified members of the Institution. The Interview may be held anywhere in the world mutually convenient to the member and to the members of the interview panel.

The Interview will not be conducted as a formal appraisal of technical abilities, but will seek to confirm and expand upon the information given in the written Report. The interviewers will also seek to confirm an awareness and understanding of the wider aspects of engineering outside the naval architecture and maritime technology fields. It will also be necessary to demonstrate an awareness of the need for Continuing Professional Development, and have an appreciation of the Institution's Code of Professional Conduct.

After the interview, the comments from the interview panel will be reported to the Membership Committee for a final decision on the application. The member will then be formally advised of the outcome.

Further information is contained in the RINA publication Guidance on the Professiopnal Review Interview (PDF file)

Registration with the Engineering Council (UK)

The Royal Institution of Naval Architects is a Nominated and Licensed Body of the Engineering Council (UK). On gaining Corporate Membership, a member will be entitled to apply for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Engineering Technician (EngTech), depending on their academic achievements, professional development and experience. A Professional Review Interview is mandatory for members who wish to be registered as CEng or IEng, and will be conducted after election.

Registration with FEANI

Members who are Chartered Engineers may also apply to be entered on the register of European Engineers maintained by the Federation Europeene d'Associations Nationales d'Ingenieurs, allowing them to prefix their name with Eur Ing. No further interview is required.