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The Engineering Council (UK) has published the specification for the standards that will replace SARTOR 97 as the basis for recognising professional engineers and engineering technicians in the UK. The new specification emphasises that engineers and technicians will have to demonstrate competence before registration.

The main changes are: the removal of artificial entry requirements to accredited courses; agreement to use output sources as a basis for accreditation; increased flexibility in educational requirements for CEng; and rationalisation of procedures for candidates without standard qualifications. EC(UK) chairman Sir Colin Terry says: "We have high hopes that this new standard will help to ensure the UK continues to be recognised as one of the leading engineering nations of the 21st Century." The specification now has to be turned into working documents for employers, institutions and universities. The aim is four documents completed by autumn 2003: UK-SPEC requirements for professional engineer for student and employer audiences; UK-SPEC requirements for engineering technician for student and employer audiences; requirements for professional engineering institutions to hold licences to admit registrants; and accreditation requirements for education institutions and employers. The three categories of registration remain the same: chartered engineer, incorporated engineer and engineering technician.

The EC(UK) board has assured engineers currently seeking registration that any new regulations will not adversely affect their process through post-school training for registration as a chartered engineer, incorporated engineer or engineering technician.