This article recounts my journey to becoming a registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). I am sharing my experience for the benefit of individuals who need information on what it takes to become registered members of NSE and COREN. I will share my experience under the following sub headings.

1. Registration
2. Assessments
-Seminar
-Project Reports
-Part 1 Exams
-Part 2 Exams
3. COREN registration
4. Financial Implication

Registration
The Registration is done online on the NSE website https://www.nse.org.ng. The NSE registration is a two-step process. The first stage requires providing personal details and making payment while the second stage requires uploading credentials and duly completed proposer forms. Proposers are financially up to date members of NSE that recommended that I was fit for NSE registration (Note that two proposers are required). At the point of registration, I was required to choose a NSE Branch with which I will undergo the required assessments.

Assessment 
The NSE assessment process was affiliated with a branch. Several branches of NSE are spread across the country.

Seminar
It is mandatory to attend two seminars. The Seminar is a series of lectures on selected engineering topics like Engineering materials, ethics, costing, design etc.
The first seminar is organized by the branch, while the second is organised by the national body. I gained a lot of knowledge especially on engineering ethics. Information on the upcoming exams and projects were also shared at the seminars.

Project Reports
I submitted two Project reports. First is an experience report, which is like an expanded CV containing details of my education and experience in the practice of engineering. The 2nd report is a technical report that contains details of two engineering projects I was involved in (the reports are available for download on Q and A App – Download Q and A App from Google Playstore), including cost implications and relevant diagrams. The Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) of each projects was a fundamental requirement. The reports were duly signed by a supervisor. The supervisor must be a registered NSE member preferably a superior at work.

Part 1 Exams
The first set of exams is organised by the National body. It is divided into 4 sections. The first section contains multiple choice questions that tests general knowledge of Engineering. The second section contains questions that are tailored to my field of engineering (Electrical Engineering). The third section tests computer proficiency. While the fourth section consists of a national essay, a peculiar issue of national concern is put up for discussion. Note that you can download a compilation of NSE Past Questions and Answers on Q and A App.

Part 2 Exams
The second set of exams was organized by the local branch a week after the first. It was divided into two sections. For the first section: A pool of data was given and we were asked to prepare a Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation using excel. We were also asked to carry out some arithmetic operations on the data using excel and to prepare a bar chat. Please note that the nature of questions asked in this section varies from branch to branch. Some branches ask candidates to perform operations using AutoCAD. However, a guide on what to expect is usually given at the seminars.

The second section is an oral interview based on the earlier submitted technical reports and my work experience.

COREN Registration
It takes about 3 months for NSE results and certificates to be out after which application for COREN can now commence. COREN application is an online process http://www.coren.gov.ng
Like NSE, two proposers are also required. They must be financially up to date COREN registered engineers that can vouch for the candidates’ proficiency, preferably a colleague at work. A technical report is also required for COREN. The reports consist of a 3 page summary of a technical project carried out. I actually used one of my NSE reports.

Financial Implication
NSE/COREN registration is very financially demanding. However, the financial commitment is not made at once. Payments are spread over a span of the process, and some processes can be differed until the finance is available. I spent over 300,000 Naira on my NSE/COREN journey and the journey spanned a period of one year. Note that the financial implication varies from branch to branch.

Conclusion
The journey towards becoming a registered engineer was quite demanding. These demands cannot be compared to the fulfilment that comes with becoming a registered Engineer.

Article contributed By Engr. Toluwase Oke, MNSE