Complete Guide to ICE Professional Reviews: Checklist & Preparation
Navigating the ICE Professional Review
Embarking on the journey to complete your ICE Professional Review can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation and strategy, you can navigate this process smoothly and successfully. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, ensuring you are well-equipped to achieve your goal.
The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Professional Review is a critical milestone for civil engineers seeking membership. It assesses your competence and commitment to the profession, ensuring you meet the high standards required by ICE. The review process involves several stages, including the submission of documents, interviews, and practical tasks.
The Professional Review
The Professional Review is a critical component of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) membership process. It is designed to assess your competence and commitment to the civil engineering profession.
The review comprises three main elements: a presentation, an interview, and a written Communication Task, all invigilated by ICE staff.
Presentation
Your Professional Review begins with a 15-minute presentation to your reviewers. This presentation should focus on an aspect of your Professional Review report, expanding on it rather than summarizing your CV or the entire report. Visual aids are encouraged to illustrate your points effectively. If your review is conducted online via MS Teams, you will present these aids onscreen. For in-person reviews, you will present seated across the table with visual aids no larger than A3. Note that an external power supply will not be provided, so ensure your laptop is fully charged if you plan to use one. If you exceed the 15-minute limit, your reviewers may stop you to proceed with the interview.
Interview
Following the presentation, you will undergo an interview with your reviewers. This session aims to confirm that you have achieved the required level of competence in all attributes. The interview, combined with the presentation, will last up to 60 minutes for IPR/IIPR and 75 minutes for CPR/CIPR. Reviewers will ask specific questions to draw out your knowledge and experience, especially if certain attributes were not sufficiently demonstrated in your report. In some cases, a third reviewer with specialist knowledge may be present. Remember to switch off all mobile devices before the interview, as recording is prohibited.
Communication Task
The final component of the Professional Review is the Communication Task, which takes place after the interview. You will be informed of the timing in your notification letter. This task assesses your ability to respond to current industry issues as an engaged civil engineer. For IPR/IIPR, you will have 60 minutes to produce a straightforward document, such as a technical memo, based on one of two questions. For CPR/CIPR, you will have 90 minutes to respond to one of two scenarios, presenting your thoughts logically and clearly in a specified format, such as a blog post or a letter to a government office.
You will receive instructions on how to upload your response as a PDF or Word document to a secure site within 15 minutes of completing the task. An ICE staff invigilator will be present to assist with any technical issues. If you choose to handwrite your response during an online review, ensure you have the means to scan and upload it quickly. For in-person reviews, ICE staff will provide necessary instructions.
Step-by-Step Professional Review
Preparation Checklist
1. Formal IPD Completion
Ensure you have completed your Initial Professional Development (IPD) or have equivalent evidence as per ICE’s requirements. Contact your local ICE Membership Development Officer or ICE Representative well in advance of the review application deadline. Allow approximately 8 weeks for ICE staff to complete the IPD activity.
2. Draft Your CV
Prepare a draft of your CV, detailing your roles and activities while considering the attributes required for the grade of membership you are applying for.
3. Review Attributes and Projects
Examine the attributes required for your desired membership grade and consider which projects or roles will best demonstrate your competence. Creating a matrix of projects against the attributes can be helpful.
4. Application Form and Sponsors Statement
Download and read the current Professional Review application form and sponsors statement. Confirm your lead and second sponsor, and ensure they are aware of their responsibilities and deadlines.
5. Collate Documentation
Gather all necessary documentation, including photographs and appendices. Complete your CV and prepare a good first draft of your report, considering your presentation content.
6. Discuss and Update
Share your draft report with your lead sponsor, other sponsor, and colleagues for feedback. Update your development action plan and professional development records accordingly.
7. Final Review and Mock Reviews
Review the latest draft of your report with your lead sponsor to ensure it demonstrates your achievement of all attributes. Prepare your presentation and practice for the Communication Task through mock reviews.
8. Application Submission
Combine your application into a single PDF, check hyperlinks and referencing, and ensure your sponsors have uploaded their statements. Submit your application by the deadline.
Application will contain the following:
- A completed review application form
- Evidence of Educational Qualifications (if a non-member)
- Evidence of IPD Completion
- A 2-page CV
- A Professional Review Report with appendices
- CPD Records
- Evidence of individual requirements (if applicable)
Check out our Guide to your Professional Review Application
9. Review Day Preparation
Finalize your presentation and prepare visual aids. If your review is in-person, plan your journey to arrive early, dress professionally, and bring all necessary materials. If online, ensure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet space.
Check out our Guide to your Professional Review Day
10. Post-Review
After completing your review, relax and wait for your result to be emailed.
