INTRODUCTION

ISTRUCTE
ISTRUCTE IN AUSTRALIA
THE CME
STATISTICS
WHY TAKE THE CME?
WHO CAN TAKE THE CME?
WHEN TO TAKE THE CME
PURPOSE OF THE PREPARATION
COURSE
DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE
TUTORS
CME APPLICATION PROCESS
PORTFOLIO OF WORK (GUIDELINE)
TIME FRAME

PROJECT

Preparation Course Introduction

IStructE Chartered Membership Exam (CME)

DATE

26 June 2013

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Ken Nagato MIStructE

Institution of Structural
Engineers
UK based, internationally recognised qualifying
body for professional structural engineers.
Over 27,000 members in 105 countries.
Shares much in common with other similar but
more general engineering institutions.
Distinguished from general engineering institutions
by only admitting into Corporate Membership those
engineers who successfully pass the 7 hour
Chartered Membership Examination (CME).
www.istructe.org

IStructE in Australia
Australia Regional Group (formed January 2008).
State sub-groups in WA, SA, QLD, NSW, and VIC.
about 540 members (of various grades).
Australia Regional Group (Vic) website
(www.istructevic.org.au)
Our technical meetings are held at Melbourne Uni
on the first Monday of the month from February to
November
Membership administrative works => UK HQ

The CME
A 7 hour examination (held in April each year)
8 questions (choose one to be answered) eg
Each question has two mandatory parts:
Concept designs
Details of the design with construction aspects
Pass rate around 36%
COMMUNICATION of design is vital

Statistics
Year

Attended

Sat CME^

Passed^

Pass
rate^

O/A pass
rate

2009

14

50%

35.5%

2010

12

50%

33%

2011

13

67%

36.5%

2012

12

89%

36%

2013

^ Candidates who didn't take the course are not included

Why take the CME?

Maintaining standards for the profession.
Consolidates the knowledge and experience of the
candidate at an early stage in their career.
Focuses attention on the structural engineers key
competencies by testing them objectively.
Provides personal satisfaction at the attainment of
an internationally recognised professional
standard.

Who can take the CME?

Essentially, by 1st September prior to the examination,
potential candidates must:
be Graduate members of the IStructE; and
have submitted Form M & their Initial Professional
Development reports (13 core objectives).
Professional Review interview to follow in Nov/Dec
If you are eligible for the Mutual Recognition Scheme
(e.g. IEAust with a CPEng status, by 20th November, you
must:
Have submitted Form MRA

When to take the CME

Structural Engineers who have gained sufficient
technical experience.
Not a matter of time but of quality of experience
and the attitude of the candidate to personal
professional development.
As a rough guide no less than 3 years post
graduation, and typically 5 years.

Purpose of the Preparation

Course
IT IS NOT:
a guaranteed pass in the exam;
a substitute for personal effort;
a set of model answers to past questions;
a set of notes that will get the candidate through
the exam.

Purpose of the Preparation

Course
ASSISTANCE to qualifying candidates by:
directing effort efficiently;
getting the habit of being aware of key issues;
fill in a few gaps in knowledge;
helping to think through any problem to solution;
help you to communicate effectively;
providing opportunities to network with fellow
candidates.

Description of the Course

Tuesdays (5:45pm - 8:30pm),
starting February 2014
9 weeks including a trial exam with feedback.
How to develop concepts efficiently.
Interactive - NOT lecturer > student!
Experienced practitioners.
Expression of interest today.
Registration for the course Registration for CME

Tutors (2013 course)

David Morris MIStructE (1992)
John Stella MIStructE ( 2007)
Nelson Lam MIStructE (1990)
Geoff Taplin MIStructE (1993)
Gary Chapman (Principal Geotechnical Engineer at Golder Associates)
Martin Holt MIStructE (2005)
Ken Nagato MIStructE (2009)
Eloise Gordon MIStructE (2010)
Frank Filippone MIStructE (2010)
Greg Schofield MIStructE (2011)
Paul Dal Pra (Senior Project Manager at Grocon)
Pek-Soon Kwan MIStructE (2012)
Atreyu de Lacy MIStructE (2012)
James ODonnell (2012)

CME application process

Graduate Member

http://www.istructe.org/membership/types-ofmembership/graduate-member

A 4-year engineering degree

Degrees obtained outside of UK may require

additional assessment

Apply NOW to meet CME application deadline

Non Mutual Recognition Scheme routes

http://www.istructe.org/membership/types-ofmembership/chartered-member

Form M or Form M/R to be submitted

Application due date 1 September

Individually managed IPD / Accredited training

schemes / Retrospectively collated IPD /
Research & development routes

Retrospectively collated IPD route common in

Australia

Retrospectively Collated IPD Route

A two-page experience report & IPD final

report for 13 core objectives

A comprehensive portfolio of work

(calculations, drawings, sketches, site
inspection reports / photos for projects you
worked on)

Start preparing NOW to meet CME application

deadline

Mutual Recognition Agreement

http://www.istructe.org/membership/types-ofmembership/chartered-member/mutualrecognition-agreement-route

E.g., MIEAust with CPEng

Form M/MRA to be submitted

Application due date 20 November

Portfolio of work (guideline)

Supporting document to back up your final IPD reports

Assisting interviewers to assess your competency

reference back to IPD reports, indexing etc.

A4 and no more than 40mm thick interviewers have to

read it!

Examples of YOUR work from 2-6 projects

Include evidence such as hand written comps, sketches,

site notes, letter, photos etc.

Timeframe
Jul

* Apply for Graduate member

Signature from your manager and

one IStructE supporter required

Jul-Aug

* Prepare documents for CME application 2-Page

Experience report, Portfolio of Work etc.
* 2013 CME results (mid Aug)

Signature from your manager and

3 IStructE supporters (1 must be
Fellow) required

1 Sep

* Application form M and accompanying documents to

be reached to UK Headquarters

Individually managed IPD /

Accredited training schemes /
Retrospectively collated IPD /
Research & development routes

20 Nov

* Application form MRA and accompanying documents Mutual Recognition Agreement

to be reached to UK Headquarters
Route

Nov-Dec

* Local branch will contact you to arrange Professional 2 copies of Portfolio of Work are
Review Interview (PRI)
required to be submitted to the
* PRI will be conducted by 2 interviewers
local branch prior to the PRI

Mid Dec

* 2014 CME preparation course flyer with registration

form will be distributed via email and uploaded to the
local website

Late Jan

* 2014 CME preparation course starts

Jan-Feb

* If successful with PRI, you will receive CME

application form

Early Mar

* CME application form submission due

Apr

* Chartered Membership Examination