NSE AND COREN REGISTRATION: Basic Requirements

According to the COREN Website the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) was established by decree 55 of 1970 and amended by Decree 27 of 1992, now the “Engineers (Registration, etc) Act, CAP E11 of 2004” Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Act establishes COREN as a statutory body of the Federal Government empowered to regulate and control the training and practice of engineering in Nigeria and to ensure and enforce the registration of all engineering personnel - Engineers, Engineering Technologists, Engineering Technicians, and Engineering Craftsmen) and consulting firms wishing to practice or engage in the practice of engineering.

Thus to effectively practice Engineering in Nigeria, one must be COREN Registered. This registration entails that you have attained some minimum qualifications. Day in day out, these minimum qualifications are tailored towards the prevailing international standard. Thus among other conditions currently, one must be a Corporate Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) before being admitted by COREN.

Below therefore is the procedure on how to become a Corporate Member of NSE:

1.       You must have had at least 4 years post-graduation experience in engineering practice.

2.       You will sit for an exam conducted only twice yearly – April and September Diets.

3.       You will also write a Report of your engineering experience and defend it accordingly.

Procedure for NSE Registration

1.            Please read through these instructions as contained on NSE Website  very well before filling the application form

2.            Download the Acknowledgment Form, Statement of Experience Form and the Exam Time Table from http://membership.nse.org.ng/nse/Downloads.aspx. These you complete, scan and upload on the course of your registration.

2.            Visit the Registration Portal http://membership.nse.org.ng/nse/CorporateRegister.aspx to begin your registration.

3.    Choose your category as it applies to you. See the description of these categories below. On choosing your desired category, the application fee will load appropriately. Note any of the categories earns you the same Corporate Membership. The only difference is the conditions of passing the exam/interview.

4.    Fill all the basic details on the first step of registration correctly, especially your email address and phone number as these are very crucial for communicating to you. Please note that these details cannot be changed by you after logging to complete the other parts of the registration. You are expected to fill with utmost carefulness. Use a valid EMAIL ADDRESS to apply as this is where all correspondences will be directed throughout the registration process.

5.    On clicking on register button, a payment link will be sent to your mail, click on the link to make payment online.

6.    On successful payment you will be able to login to the portal with the Email address and Password you used when registering to fill the registration form.

7. On clicking on register button, you will be directed to upload your credentials, or click on My Uploads menu to upload your details. 

Description of the Categories NSE Membership Registration:

B1 - Candidates who are holders of Bachelors Degree in Engineering whose qualifications are accredited by COREN or any Overseas Accreditation Board recognized by COREN. Such candidates who must have acquired a minimum of 4 years & above Post-Graduation relevant Engineering Experience are admitted by sitting for NSE Professional Examination/Interview. Processing Fee: N20,000

B2 - Candidates who have obtained HND in Engineering before proceeding to do an Accredited Masters Degree Programme or Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Engineering. Such candidates who must have acquired a minimum of four (4) years post & above HND experience and two (2) years & above post PGD relevant experience are admitted by sitting for NSE Professional Examination/Interview. Processing Fee: N20,000

C1 - Candidates who are holders of Bachelors Degree in Engineering or HND/PGD in Engineering or HND/Master's Engineering whose qualification are accredited by COREN Standards and Regulations. The candidate must be 40years & above of age with either of the following qualification; B.Eng Certificate should be 10years old. HND/PGD -HND certificate should be 10years and PGD certificate should be 2years. HND/M.Sc -HND certificate should be 10years and M.Sc certificate 2years. The candidates will not sit for any examination; they will only submit a Report of their experience and go for an Interview. Processing Fee: N70,000

C2 - This category is otherwise called the Presidential Route. Top executives in Government or Parastatals, Industries etc, who are not only 45years and above, but who, as at the time of application, have a minimum of 15 years Post-Graduation Experience are expected to appear in person for an interview. However, the following combination was also approved by Council, for holders of: HND (15years) + PGD (4 years) or HND (20years) + PGD (2years). They will be interviewed by the President of NSE himself or his representatives. Processing Fee: N120,000. Please not that this category of registration can only be done strictly via the a Branch of NSE.

A1 – This is for candidates that have earlier been registered by COREN as "Engineer". That is before NSE membership was made a prerequisite for COREN registration. They are exempted from NSE Examination/Interview. Processing Fee: N20,000.

A2 - Candidates who are Licensed as Professionals, Chartered or Registered Engineers of other Engineering Institutions recognized by COREN are admitted without having to sit for NSE Professional Examination/Interview. Processing Fee: N20,000

D4 - The candidate must be up to 50years of age & above and have either of the following credentials

B.Sc in Sciences with Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) and Masters degree in Engineering

City & Guilds of 1999 with PGD and Masters degree in the same field of Engineering. Processing Fee: N70,000

NB: Please be aware that some other fees may await you since you must belong to a Branch and a Division.

How To Complete the Acknowledgement Form

This form has three sections:

A.            Proposers’ Acknowledgement

Here, two up-to-date members of NSE will sign for you, entering their NSE Registration numbers. Note that these numbers are also needed for you to complete the Online Application. Make sure that they are truly up-to-date for they cannot be changed after submission. Otherwise you may be subjected to offset any of their outstanding.

B.            Branch Acknowledgement

Here, your Branch Chairman should sign acknowledging that he/she knows you as a member of the Branch. NSE currently has about 62 Branches nation wide. Majority of the Branches normally hold their meting once every month.

C. Division Acknowledgment

Here, the Chairman of your Division you sign for you. The implication is that you must be a member of a Division such as: Nigerian Society of Engineers - Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Division (NSE-MMM); Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE); Nigerian Institution of Electrical Electronics Engineers (NIEEE); Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE); Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE); etc

COREN REGISTRATION PROPER

Having obtained and NSE Corporate Membership certificate, one is then qualified to apply on the COREN Registration Portal

Always read every instructions carefully before applying.
You will be required to order your academic institution to forward your transcript to COREN; get two up-to-date COREN Registered Engineers to sign your Proposer's Form; and upload all relevant documents.

God bless you!