IMechE CPD: What Mechanical Engineers Must Record

IMechE CPD is the continuing professional development that members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers who are professionally registered must undertake and record. According to IMechE, there is no hours-or-points system: you decide how much CPD you need to maintain your competence, but you must keep a record, and each year a random sample of registered members is audited. If you are a CEng, IEng or EngTech registrant, recording is mandatory under Engineering Council rules, and ignoring an IMechE audit can ultimately cost you your registration.

This guide is for UK-based mechanical engineers and their employers. It explains what is required, what is only suggested, and what happens if you are picked for an audit.

IMechE CPD at a glance

What is mandatory for IMechE members

The Engineering Council commitment

The Engineering Council says registered engineers and technicians make a commitment to maintain and enhance their competence, and that the requirement for CPD is set out in UK-SPEC. Its CPD Code for Registrants says registrants should plan their development, undertake a variety of activities, record them, reflect on what they have learned, evaluate activities against their objectives, and review their plan regularly. The Code does not specify a minimum amount of time to spend on CPD each year. The Engineering Council also states that "recording of CPD undertaken is mandatory for registered engineers and technicians".

If you are not sure which of the registration titles applies to you, see our guide to CEng, IEng and EngTech.

IMechE's own position

IMechE's CPD page includes a section on mandatory CPD recording and auditing. In a 2019 article, IMechE's membership services manager said that from January 2019 all active registered IMechE members would be required to keep records of their CPD. The article said:

• the requirement covers anyone who is an active and professionally registered engineer or technician;
• there is no hours or points-based system, because the amount depends on what you need to maintain your competence;
• you must record your CPD "in some way", and the method is up to you; and
• CPD should be specific to your development needs and have some structure, such as reflective learning, and it can be formal or informal.

The article is from January 2019, so for the current process rely on the audit page described below.

What counts as CPD

IMechE says informal learning is central. Its 2019 article gives examples such as on-the-job learning, projects, mentoring and reading journals, alongside courses or private study. The test is whether the activity develops your competence, and whether you can show what you learned. A mechanical design engineer might count work on a new manufacturing process, a short course on a standard they have not used before, or mentoring a graduate towards registration. The key is to record the learning and not merely the attendance.

Recording your CPD

IMechE offers CPD Tools as part of its Career Developer suite for members who are EngTech, IEng or CEng. They include an Activity Log and a Document Vault. IMechE also says that members who prefer a spreadsheet can use one. What the Engineering Council expects to see in a record is:

• the activities you undertook;
• your reflections on what you learned or achieved;
• your evaluation against your own objectives; and
• a development plan that you review regularly.

IMechE says the method of recording is up to you, so keep whatever format you will actually maintain.

The IMechE CPD audit

The Engineering Council requires professional engineering institutions to sample at least 5% of registered members each year. IMechE's audit page says that each year 5% of its professionally registered members (EngTech, IEng or CEng) are randomly selected, including retired members who are still professionally active. It also says 10% of Chartered Environmentalist registrants are included in the sample.

What you submit if selected

• You confirm your CPD status for the past 12 months by choosing one of two statements.
• If you were professionally active, you provide a CPD record: goals, activities and reflective documents from the previous 12 months, uploaded to the CPD Tools Activity Log or Document Vault.
• Each item has to be marked "Yes" so that assessors can access it.
• SWOT analyses and Benchmarking tool outputs are also shared with assessors.

Feedback, not a pass or fail grade

IMechE says assessors review only the previous 12 months and provide constructive feedback to enhance your CPD process. Reviewers are trained CPD assessors who are full members, plus IMechE CPD administration staff.

If you do not engage

Taking part is mandatory. According to IMechE:

• failing to engage means automatic inclusion in the next year's sample;
• continued non-engagement leads to referral to the CPD Assessment Committee, then a formal sanctions letter;
• if there is still no response after the 3-month deadline in that letter, IMechE membership and Engineering Council registration are terminated; and
• the full sanctions process typically takes about 30 months.

Members facing extenuating circumstances, such as serious illness, bereavement or career breaks, can request an exemption by emailing cpd@imeche.org. The audit page does not give a submission date for the annual sample, so we do not state one.

A practical checklist

• Write a short plan with objectives linked to your role and your next step in registration.
• Log each activity soon after it happens, with a line or two of reflection.
• Keep evidence (certificates, notes, project summaries) where you can upload it quickly.
• Review your plan at least once a year and note what changed.
• If you are selected for audit, respond promptly. Engagement is what the process measures.

Civil engineers have a similar system through their own institution, covered in ICE CPD for civil engineers. For wider guidance, visit Learnsignal's CPD hub.

Frequently asked questions

How many CPD hours do I need for IMechE?

There is no set number. IMechE says there is no requirement to spend a minimum amount of time on CPD each year, and the Engineering Council CPD Code specifies none either.

Is CPD mandatory for IMechE members?

For professionally registered members, yes. Registrants commit to maintaining their competence, and recording CPD is mandatory. IMechE says all active registered members are required to keep records.

Do I have to use IMechE's CPD Tools?

No. IMechE says a spreadsheet or Word document also works. The important thing is that you record your CPD in some way.

How are audit members chosen?

IMechE says members are randomly selected for the CPD sample, at 5% of professionally registered members each year.

What happens if I ignore the audit?

According to IMechE, you are included in the next year's sample, then referred to the CPD Assessment Committee and sent a formal sanctions letter. If you still do not respond within 3 months, your IMechE membership and Engineering Council registration are terminated.

Closing thoughts

IMechE CPD is about being able to show that you are keeping your competence current, not about reaching a score. Plan briefly, record honestly, reflect on what you learned, and respond if you are chosen for an audit. Always check the IMechE and Engineering Council websites for the latest rules.

This article is general information, not regulatory, legal or compliance advice. Requirements can change, so check the current rules with IMechE and the Engineering Council.