"mwfmlmmmnoooggeenwww" I feel the need to contribute but I think I've said enough on the subject. Well spotted Neil, it's a very "closed shop" with limited real world value.

That Philips (?) guy would be a contractor and/or an employee of the manufacturer, would he not, Neil? And therefore, "different rules" would apply. Namely, responsibility would be taken by the Company.

But, as to blokes such as yourself popping back for the odd locum:- well, we are thinking up about setting up a Tribunal of the Elders (right here on the forum) who would decide PDQ whether you got the thumbs up (down) or not.

Well it aims to be a closed shop, as there is no set root for new engineers to train as an EBME, so if it becomes mandatory and the register is closed, then what’s the root in?

Would this registration requirement apply to contractors?

I do agree just because you have done the job, don’t make you good at it.

Plus it will never become adopted by the state has it would cost to much to put in place and monitor.

Actually Neil the next sentence after the one I quoted states that all foreign qualifications need to be accredited by UK NARIC which is quite a step forward because I've heard stories of people who haven't bothered and you can't tell if they've got a qualification or a foreign Chinese take away menu. Then again how's a UK employer going to know if it was issued by hollywood upstairs engineering college or something comparable with MIT?

The guidenotes are here so you can check it out yourself.

This may be the relevant bit, Neil:-

Catch 22???

Chicken and egg.

I will ask my grandparents if I can join or not, as I have until the end of the year before their authority runs out.

You would have thought that, by now, everyone who was both eligible and keen to join would have already done so!

If Registration is such a fantastic idea, I wonder why "they" don't just get on with it (that is, drop the "Voluntary" bit, and be done with it)?

They should be OK now that the Royal Corps of Transport has been subsumed by the Royal Logistic Corps.*

Meanwhile, me and Billy are still having problems coming up with a catchy name for the Club of our own.

Is the Ar-riyadh Biomedical Engineering Club still thriving, by the way, Neil? Or was that yet another damp squib?

* Also known as the "Really Large Corps".

Never heard of Ar-riyadh, for 'your' club, can I join or are you going to limit this to UK biomeds. How about "Not the VRCT Biomed Club" catchy eh! Might offend Chris though!