OUR PROGRAMMES
Certified Consulting Engineer
Programme information
The FIDIC Certified Consulting Engineer certification programme is suitable for a qualified engineer and a senior-level executive who has experience in the operational aspects of consulting engineering services. This experience includes managing the business and technical aspects of an engineering or construction project and/or services.
This individual has a professional engineering licence or qualification, technical skills, and a minimum of five years of experience working in a consulting engineering firm.
A Certified Consulting Engineer is someone who wishes to:
- Confirm their understanding of how businesses operate and how consulting engineering services are delivered within the infrastructure industry, and
- Show that they have a solid understanding of the corporate and organisational structure of a service-oriented company. These individual aims to prove they can handle senior executive-level responsibilities, and
- Obtain an international qualification from FIDIC that acknowledges their competence and expertise in managing different operational aspects needed to optimise a project.
Details of the application and assessment requirements, fees and the application window can be consulted in the relevant fields beneath the flowchart. They summarize the general application process, the assessment requirements and the steps needed to qualify for the FCL certification exams.
The online exam will be available two times per annum, as indicated in the “Dates” section.
Application requirements
Prerequisites:
To be eligible for participation in the exam, candidates should meet all the requirements listed below:
- Minimum of five years of workplace consulting engineering experience in the infrastructure consulting industry
- Degree or diploma in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) or any STEM related subjects
- Professional engineering qualification or licence such as chartered or professional engineer.
Note: For candidates from countries that do not issue professional qualifications, membership of nationally recognised register of engineers, or listing on government-approved lists of engineering suppliers will be accepted.
Competences:
- Good English language proficiency and understanding.
Application documents
- A CV/resumé detailing the minimum required workplace consulting engineering experience in the infrastructure consulting industry, OR a declaration attesting to the candidate’s relevant minimum required experience, signed by the person(s) to whom the candidate reports.
- A copy of a Diploma (STEM related) or a degree that describes the educational institution, title of the qualification, the candidate’s name and date of issuance.
- A copy of professional engineering qualification that describes the awarding body, the title of the professional qualification, the candidate’s name and the date of issuance, OR proof of membership of nationally recognised register of engineers, OR proof of listing on government-approved lists of engineering suppliers.
Note: Any documentation issued in languages other than English, should be accompanied with an official English translation.
Fees
- Application fee: CHF 100. This fee is payable at the submission of the application. There is no discount applicable to this fee.
- Examination fee: CHF 1,500. This fee is payable before the participation in the exam and also covers the certification fees.
- Retake fee: CHF 750. This fee is only payable before the participation in a retake exam, if the candidate fails/is unsuccessful during the initial exam attempt.
- Yearly renewal fee: CHF 250. This fee is payable at the end of Year 1 and Year 2 of the certification validity period.
- Recertification fee: CHF 1,000.This fee is payable in the 3rd year after initial certification expires.
NB: All FCL fees are non-refundable, unless stated otherwise in the Terms of service.
FCL applies a tiered discount policy, based on the financial data of each candidate’s country of residence.
- Tier 1: 0% discount
- Tier 2: 15% discount
- Tier 3: 35% discount
- Tier 4: 50% discount
The above reductions will only be applied to the certification and recertification fees.
Click here for information on the tiers: FCL discount tiers
Assessment details
The assessment is based on the candidate’s existing skills and knowledge. The candidate must apply ready to be assessed.
The FCCE certification programme is a single-phase assessment. Candidates who fulfil the programme’s prerequisites will be invited to participate in an online multiple-choice questions exam.
The exam includes 100 multiple-choice questions that must be answered in three and a half hours (3hrs 30 mins) and completed in one sitting. The questions will be a mix of True or False questions, with questions that may have one correct answer and questions that may have several correct answers.
The pass mark for the FCCE exam is set at 60%.
This may however be adjusted in the future by FCL.
Award of certification
If you satisfy the required examination pass mark, you will be awarded your FIDIC Certified Consulting Engineer certification.
The FIDIC Certified Consulting Engineer certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of issue.
Monitoring and recertification procedure
The certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of issue. To maintain the validity of the credentials for this 3-year term, certificate holders will need to follow a specific yearly monitoring procedure. Failure to meet the yearly monitoring requirements will result in the credentials being suspended and/or withdrawn before their expiration date.
When the credentials expire (at the end of the 3-year term), the certificate holders will be required to follow a specific recertification procedure.
Details of the Monitoring and recertification procedures can be found here.
Dates
Schedule for Q4 of 2024 exam dates:
Applications open: 7 Oct. – 13 November 2024
Exam date: 26 Nov. 2024
(Further information on new certification assessment dates for 2025 will also be provided in the future).
Examination syllabus
Candidates will be tested on the following topics:
- The global infrastructure consulting industry:
- A comprehension of the function of companies providing consulting services in the infrastructure sector.
- An understanding of the typical organisational structures of such firms.
The knowledge of the quality management practices within the industry, including ISO 9000 series certification.
2. Infrastructure consulting industry as a business:
- Demonstrate your understanding of management and leadership within the industry.
- Expand on your knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of executive engineers and/or senior management.
- Show your understanding of the role of the Board of Directors.
- Ability to explain the functions of departments such as human resources, finance, legal and insurance, corporate communications, etc.
Candidates should therefore be familiar with:
1. The Engineer’s roles in projects:
- Familiarity with the various tasks undertaken by engineers throughout a project.
2. Technical expertise:
- Proficiency in the technical aspects of the services provided.
3. Financial reporting basics:
- Understanding of fundamental financial reporting concepts such as statements, balance sheets, cash flow, and taxation basics, bank loans and other financial commitments.
- Knowledge of financial operations including cost management, invoicing, and cash flow management.
4. Change management:
- Ability to manage changes in project deliverables, timing, and costs, ensuring project completion and profitability.
5. Leadership and management skills:
- Competence in dealing with issues, planning, communication, conflict resolution, and responsibility management.
- Ability to correct deviations promptly and effectively
6. Communication and liaison:
- Effective interpersonal communication skills, record-keeping, and scheduling abilities
7. Marketing and business development:
- Skills in developing business proposals, negotiating client contracts, and managing risks related to time, budget, and staffing requirements.
8. Indemnification and professional liability insurance:
- Understanding of indemnification and professional liability insurance in the consulting industry.
9. Project and quality management:
- Proficiency in project management practices, risk management, scheduling, staffing, monitoring, and invoicing and payment approval, site operations, inspections
- Basic knowledge of FIDIC construction contracts and procedures for handling variations, disputes, and alternative dispute resolution.
10. Human resources practices:
- Familiarity with human resources practices including recruitment, leadership, health and safety, and corporate social responsibility.
11. Professional engineering and business ethics:
- Adherence to codes of professional engineering and business ethics, managing conflicts of interest, and integrity management practices including FIDIC Integrity Management System and international standards.
12. Social responsibilities of infrastructure projects:
- Awareness of environmental management, sustainability, climate change, safety and resilience practices in infrastructure projects.
Body of knowledge
The FIDIC Certified Consulting Engineer (FCCE) exam is based on the FIDIC body of knowledge (some of which are listed below) and covers various aspects of FIDIC materials and books which the candidate should have some knowledge of or the understanding of their use and relevance.
These include:
- FIDIC Guide to Practice – The Business of a Professional Services Firm (2015)
- FIDIC policy statements
- Guidelines to reviewing the work of other professional Consulting Engineers
- FIDIC Selection of Consultants – 3rd edt. (2019)
- FIDIC Golden Principles
- FIDIC Sub-Consultancy Agreement – 2nd edt. (2017)
- FIDIC Model Joint Venture (Consortium) Agreement – 2nd edt. (2017)
- FIDIC Client/Consultant Model Services Agreement – 5th edt. (2017)
- FIDIC Definition of Services Guideline (Civil Work) (2016)
- FIDIC Model Representatives’ Agreement – 1st edt. (2013)
- ISO 21502 Project, programme and portfolio management — Guidance on project management
- FIDIC Risk Management – A Short Guide Dealing with Risk – Managing Expectations (1997)
- FIDIC Procurement Procedures Guide – 1st edt. (2011)
- FIDIC Project Sustainability Management – Applications Manual – 2nd edition (2013)
- FIDIC Guidelines for Integrity Management System in the Consulting Industry, 1st edt., Part 1(2011), Part 2(2015), Part 3(2019)
- FIDIC Quality Based Selection (QBS) Guidelines (2011)
- FIDIC State of the World Report – 2015 (Water Challenges)
- First Among Equals: How to Manage a Group of Professionals, Patrick J. McKenna, David H. Maister (2005)
- FIDIC Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures (2019)
- FIDIC State of the World Series (2021)
- FIDIC Covid-19 Webinar Series (2021)
If the application period is not currently open, inform us of your interest in this certification programme by filling out the Expression of Interest (EOI) form below. You will be notified when the next application period opens.
The infograph below is a guide to the application process and the steps needed to qualify for the FCL certification exams.
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