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Chartered Engineer by Organizations without Royal Charters

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
I should make aware that there are Organizations in Australia, and maybe even elsewhere, that claim to provide 'Chartered Engineer' status to Professional Engineers, although the organization does not have a Royal Charter currently, does not intend to, or ever had this status by itself.


Just by being an organization in Australia, which is under the Crown, such organizations fradulently claim to be able to provide such accreditations, when they do not have the legal ability to do so. It is indeed an Act against the Crown that should be looked into. Further, such organizations also discredit Professional and qualified Engineers such as myself as not having a valid Degree in Australia, just to benefit their cause. This is a serious issue as a CEng should have an un-ambiguous definition globally, and should not be defrauded by unauthorized organizations.


IET should certainly have a say on this matter and ensure that the CEng is protected as per the values of a Royal Charter and in a country that is under the Crown. Whilst Australia is under the Crown, the proper respect to the Royal Charter should be paid where it is due appropriately and adequately.
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Interestingly, after I made this post, I had a look at the Engineers Australia website for the Royal Charter.


    Previously, when searching for the Royal Charter returned no results, today brought back a page with its Royal Charter granted in 1938. So it seems that EA decides by itself when to display the Royal Charter and when not to, depending on its (or someone else's) whims!


    Still unlawful and illegal to not display it at all times and as per the expectations of a Chartered Organization under the Crown. It is still bad for Professionals and bad for the Industries in Australia and it would still be a major cause for Recession - due to invalidation of qualified professionals, by not recognizing their qualifications or registrations at any time.

  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Also, I found that the Royal Charter that EA displays claims to have been amended by the Governor-General of Australia in 2015.


    A Royal Charter is by definition signed and sealed by the Crown. Any Charter looses its 'Royal' status, if it is not as per the Grant by Crown.


    Hence, the Charter of the EA, would not be a 'Royal Charter' that is expected, and would be invalidated by any amendments other than the Crown that only has this special powers to do so. Therefore, EA, would still become an invalid organization to grant CEng designations or any Professional Recognition or any Degree Accreditations thereby.

    2015_royal_charter_by-laws_oct15.pdf
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    Countries which do not support 'royal charter' can award accreditations using the term 'Chartered' and without breaking any law. Professional chartered bodies such as the IET and the Engineering Council are protected within their jurisdiction and only if a party states that they hold a Chartered status from a particular 'royal chartered' body and do not, are they breaking the law. One should not assume that the term 'chartered' means 'Royal Charter'........and granted under a UK licensed body.
  • It's hard to know where to begin here.


    Australia is a sovereign country.  It passes its own laws, and is not subject to UK law.  It's up to the Australian government who can be called "chartered" in that country, in the same way that the UK government regulates the term in the UK.


    The IET has no say in the matter, nor should it.  The IET isn't even entitled to award "Chartered Engineer" status in the UK.  The Engineering Council has that sole right.  The IET  recommends people for approval as CEng, but the Engineering Council keeps the register.  For historical reasons, the IET could award "Chartered Electrical Engineer", but it doesn't any more.


    Ultimately, you don't get to decide what is legal or illegal in another country, based on what you think the word "chartered" means.