Membership of the ABE
Corporate Member
There are two classes of corporate membership:
Fellow Class FBEng
This is the senior grade within the Association and reflects a person's knowledge, expertise, experience and their position within the industry. A Fellow of the Association is entitled to use the designatory letters FBEng.
Member Class MBEng
Member Class of the Association recognises the combination of an individual's academic qualifications and practical experience, which enables the individual to practice as a Building Engineer. Corporate membership signifies the attainment of a full professional qualification, MBEng.
Corporate Members are entitled to use the designation "Corporate Building Engineer". Corporate members in private practice, subject to design authorisation, are entitled to incorporate the Association's Armorial Bearings in the style of their professional notepaper, on other professional display material, and also on site sign boards.
Corporate members are entitled to include in the design of their professional notepaper and other display material the ABE approved logo obtained from ABE Headquarters on application.
Non-Corporate Member
There are five classes of non-corporate membership:
Honorary Fellow Class Hon FBEng
An Honorary Fellow shall be a person who by reason of his/her position or eminence in the arts, sciences or literature, or his/her experience in matters relating to the built environment, in the opinion of the Council, entitled him/her to the distinction of election as an Honorary Fellow or whose membership is considered by the Council to be desirable in the interests of the Association and shall be elected an Honorary Fellow of the Association; such person shall remain an Honorary Fellow at the pleasure of the Council for a period of six years, council may wish to renew membership for a further six years in appropriate cases.
An Honorary Fellow shall have all the rights and privileges of a Fellow other than voting rights and may use the designatory letters HonFBEng. He/she shall not be required to pay any admission fee or annual subscription.
Graduate Member Class GradBEng
Graduate Member class recognises the candidate's graduate status and ability to practice at higher technician level within the construction industry and is considered to be one of the preparatory routes to full Corporate membership.
A Graduate member is entitled to display his/her certificate of membership and use the designatory letters GradBEng. Membership of the Association should not be used in any form of display.
Associate Member Class ABEng
Associate Member class recognises the candidate's ability to practice at higher technician level within the construction industry and is considered to be one of the preparatory routes to full Corporate membership. An Associate Member is entitled to display their certificate of membership and use the designatory letters ABEng, but membership of the Association should not be used in any form of display.
Technician Member Class
This recognises that an individual who is currently working in the construction industry has achieved an NVQ level 3, National Certificate/Diploma or equivalent in an area related to the Built Environment. To gain membership of the Association at Technician level, you are required to attend the Built Environment - Practice and Procedures (Technical Support) course and obtain a pass in the course assessment.
Student Class
This recognises that an individual has chosen to pursue a career in construction, working within the built environment, and is actively involved in a course of study whilst acquiring practical experience within the industry.
Students do not receive a certificate and have no designatory letters; however, they may:
- join the Association at an early stage in their career;
- benefit from the Association's publications and Branch membership; and
- participate in the services and activities of the Association.
Retired Member
A Member may be transferred by the Council to the Retired List on reaching the age of 65. The Member may be retained in his/her class during such period as he/she is not actively engaged in a professional capacity. Since all members are required to pay an annual subscription based on their class of membership as at 1 September each year and remain liable for that subscription, members wishing to be considered for transfer to the Retired List are advised to write to the Association no later than 30th June requesting transfer with effect from 1 September. Applications seeking transfer under the age of 65 are reviewed individually.