There are educational and work experience requirements for grades of Associate, Associate Member, Member, Fellow and Companion; see below. If you prefer, join online as an Affiliate and receive membership benefits immediately then apply for an upgrade when you are ready and save money. See our current membership rates.
Click here for extra guidance if you work for Airbus, QinetiQ, Rolls-Royce or the UK armed forces or were a member of SLAET. Please apply via your local Division if you live in South Africa, Australia or New Zealand.
A UK ordinary degree or international equivalent, or
A National /Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 3 or equivalent, such as a BTEC National Certificate, along with two years’ practical training and one year’s experience at an appropriate level of responsibility, or
If you are a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, a UK CAA Licence without type rating, or
international equivalent, and have held the licence for two years
Engineering and other Ground Based Operating Industries: Exercising skill requiring BTEC National Certificate or Diploma. May require significant supervision. This includes Senior Draughtsman, workshop or Laboratory Technician, Aircraft Maintenance Technicians.
Other points
You can also apply forInterim Registration if you have an accredited degree and intend to gain full Chartered or Incoporated Engineer registration in time.
The levels of responsiblities quoted above should be regarded as typical of the minimum acceptable. Jobs should have been held for at least one year.In all cases, exceptions may be made for those who have made outstanding contributions to aerospace.
A UK Honours degree or international equivalent and two years’ professional development and / or experiential learning, or
A National /Scottish Vocational Qualification Level 4 or equivalent, such as a BTEC Higher National Certificate or an UK ordinary degree or international equivalent, along with two years’ practical training and at least three year’s experience at an appropriate level of responsibility, or
Ten years’ appropriate experience, or
If you are a Licensed Aircraft Engineer, a UK CAA Licence with type rating or international equivalent for three years, or have appropriate company approvals, and two years' work experience involving supervisory and/or technical administration.
Examples of typical jobs
Armed Services: Senior NCO.
Commercial Flying Staff: CPL holder employed as an active pilot; flight engineer; test pilot; senior cabin staff.
Education & Training: Assistant Lecturer or Instructor in aeronautical subjects.
Engineering and other Ground Based Operating Industries: Exercising skill requiring academic expertise equivalent to the next level below degree and requiring very limited supervision. This includes Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Draughtsman, Research Technician, or Technical Instructor.
Regulatory Authorities: Surveyor (Level 5), Air Traffic Engineer, Air Traffic Control Officer (Level 5-6) and equivalence for other branches.
If you are in a profession not intrinsically part of aerospace, you should be substantially employed in aerospace-related work, normally for a period of at least four years.
The levels of responsiblities quoted above should be regarded as typical of the minimum acceptable. Jobs should have been held for at least two years.
A more experienced applicant should have held a post, at least one grade higher than that quoted for a fully qualified candidate, for not less than two years.
In all cases, exceptions may be made for those who have made outstanding contributions to aerospace.
Applicants should normally be a practising professional in aeronautics or aerospace or in a related field.
An academic or vocational qualification acceptable to the Society, normally this would be a UK Honours degree or international equivalent, along with four years’ integrated training and experiential learning including not fewer than two years’ experience at an appropriate level of responsibility, or
At least fifteen years' appropriate experience of which the last seven are in a position of responsibility at a level appropriate to the grade
Commercial Flying Staff - ATPL holder employed as captain of aircraft over 25 tonnes; CPL holder employed in flight crew capacity for at least 7 years; project test pilot or lead flight test engineer in major project.
Education & Training - University Lecturer; Senior Lecturer in a college of further education; equivalent posts in industry or research.
Engineering and other Ground Based Operating Industries - Exercising skill requiring degree equivalent academic expertise and making decisions without reference to a higher authority. This includes Section Leader or Shop Manager, Senior Engineer, Designer, Author.
Professional Services - Qualified practitioner specialising in aviation or employed in aviation organisations. For example, specialist in air law or aviation medicine who has completed an approved course in aviation medicine.
Regulatory Authorities - Surveyor (Levels 2-3 in the UK), Senior Air Traffic Control Officer Level 3 and equivalent levels for Economists, Statisticians etc.
If you are in a profession not intrinsically part of aerospace, you should be substantially employed in aerospace-related work, normally for a period of at least four years.
The levels of responsiblities quoted above should be regarded as typical of the minimum acceptable. Jobs should have been held for at least two years.
A more experienced applicant should have held a post, at least one grade higher than that quoted for a fully qualified candidate, for not less than two years.
In all cases, exceptions may be made for those who have made outstanding contributions to aerospace.
Applicants should normally be a practising professional in aeronautics or aerospace or in a related field.
Please visit the FRAeS page that has been specifically created for those interested in this grade. You may also be eligible to apply for Chartered Engineeror Incorporated Engineer.
Companionship is granted to those who are of valuable service to the profession of aeronautics but do not qualify for the grade of Fellow. An example would be senior executives moving into the industry from other sectors later in their careers.
