Limited recognition of UK credentials for professional engineers in the US
in United StatesTrade barrier summary
Engineers must generally be licensed at state level in order to practise in the US. In the absence of recognition of the UK Chartered Engineer credential, UK Chartered Engineers seeking to practise in the US must pass US engineering exams to be licensed - a time-consuming process that effectively duplicates their UK training and qualification and therefore constitutes a barrier to entry. Resolution of this barrier is in train, via a mutual recognition agreement concluded in August 2024 between the UK's engineering regulator, the Engineering Council, and the US's National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), which represents state licensing boards for engineers. The MRA provides a streamlined path for UK Chartered Engineers to be licensed in participating states, and vice versa for US professional engineers seeking to practise in the UK. As of March 2025, 27 states have committed to participating in the MRA, of which seven are already implementing it (accepting applications). The UK Government continues to work with the Engineering Council, NCEES, and state licensing boards to support MRA implementation.
Sectors affected
- Financial and professional services
- Advanced engineering
Resolved
No
Date reported
19 January 2023
Last updated
27 March 2025
Public ID
PID-G37MP9
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