Ingenieurkammer - Eintragung in die Liste der Beratenden Ingenieure

If you wish to use the protected professional title "Consulting Engineer", you must be registered with the Chamber of Engineers. You can apply for this if you meet the applicable requirements.

The legally protected title of "Consulting Engineer" requires the holder to be independent, responsible, have several years of professional experience and be a member of one of the 16 German state chambers of engineers. This professional title is therefore a seal of quality. As freelance professionals with a medium-sized character, consulting engineers are committed to the common good and carry out their work independently in all engineering disciplines. They are free from supply, commercial or production interests. This guarantees their independence and ensures compliance with the highest technical and scientific quality standards while observing the principles of economic efficiency. As independent planners, specialized consultants or analyzing experts, consulting engineers are committed to adhering to proven professional rules and contemporary ethical professional obligations. They practise their profession in accordance with sound technical knowledge. They are subject to the obligation of continuous professional development. Maintaining fiduciary independence consistently excludes commercial secondary engineering activities, as well as actions contrary to the profession through highly promotional advertising.

As a public corporation, the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers has the central task of not only safeguarding the professional interests of engineers and the reputation of the profession, but also of monitoring the fulfillment of professional obligations.

Only those who are entered in the list of consulting engineers may use the legally protected professional title of "consulting engineer".

Registration also documents that the registered person possesses the professional qualifications and independence required by law and is subject to the professional regulations for consulting engineers and to supervision by the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers. This provides special protection for the professional title of consulting engineer, which goes beyond the prescribed standards of protection for the professional title of engineer.

As a rule, the following documents are required:

• Fully completed application documents including Annex 1 (technical sheet for the application for entry in the list of consulting engineers)
• identity card/passport
• all educational certificates and diplomas (diploma, bachelor's, master's, etc.)
• Registration certificate regarding main residence or proof of a professional establishment or the exercise of the predominant professional activity in Thuringia
• Official simple certificate of good conduct (original)
• Proof of sufficient professional liability insurance
• Proof of personal responsibility/independence (HRA, partnership agreement, tax assessment notice, etc.)

Should this be necessary, the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers may request the submission of further evidence, if necessary also as a certified copy.

In order to be entered in the list of consulting engineers maintained by the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers and thus also to establish compulsory membership, special factual requirements must be met, in particular professional qualifications proven by a corresponding engineering degree and proof of practical experience.

Entry in the list of consulting engineers, which requires the submission of an application, must be made if the following requirements are met:

1. The applicant must have their main residence, a professional establishment or the place of their predominant professional activity in Thuringia.
   
2. He must be entitled to use the professional title "engineer" within the meaning of the ThürAIKG.
   
3. After acquiring the entitlement to use the professional title "engineer", he/she must have carried out at least two years of full-time practical work in the essential professional tasks in the field of engineering and thus have corresponding professional experience.
   
4. In order to be entered in the list of consulting engineers, the applicant must carry out their professional duties independently and on their own responsibility at the time of application.
   
   The requirements to be met for this are set out in the ThürAIKG. Accordingly, engineers are deemed to be working independently if they independently run their own engineering office, have joined forces with other members of the liberal professions and have a legal status within this association by virtue of which they can carry out their professional duties uninfluenced by the rights of third parties outside the profession within or outside the association.
   
   Independent practitioners are those who do not pursue their own production, trading, supply or comparable economic interests when exercising their professional activity, nor do they represent third-party interests of this kind that are directly or indirectly related to their professional activity.
   
5. In addition, applicants must possess the reliability or suitability required for the profession of consulting engineer, otherwise a refusal in accordance with the ThürAIKG may be considered if there are relevant final criminal convictions, lack of legal capacity or financially disorderly circumstances.

The registration committee of the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers decides on the application for entry in the list of consulting engineers.

Anyone who uses the professional title of Consulting Engineer without authorization may be fined up to €30,000 by way of administrative offence proceedings to be initiated by the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers.

Foreign service providers who are nationals of an EU member state or a state treated as such may use the professional title of Consulting Engineer if they have provided evidence to the Chamber of Engineers in accordance with the ThürAIKG that they meet the requirements and are subsequently entered in the list of foreign service providers.

Application/examination fee List of consulting engineers: € 500.00

Once the application has been submitted, the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers will confirm receipt of the application, including the evidence submitted, to the applicant within one month and, if applicable, inform the applicant which evidence is still missing.

A decision on the application will be made within three months of receipt of the complete supporting documents at the latest, although this period may be extended by a further month.

As a result of the examination to be carried out by the registration committee of the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers regarding the existence of the legal requirements, the applicant will be sent a corresponding decision. The decision made therein constitutes an administrative act.

The documents submitted by the applicant with the application remain with the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers and are archived there.

Once the application has been submitted, the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers will confirm receipt of the application, including the evidence submitted, to the applicant within one month and, if applicable, inform the applicant which evidence is still missing.

A decision on the application will be made within three months of receipt of the complete supporting documents at the latest, although this period may be extended by a further month.

There are no deadlines to be observed. Rather, the decisive factor for submitting an application is the applicant's own interest.

The professional title "Consulting Engineer" may only be used by those who are entered in the list of "Consulting Engineers" maintained by the Chamber of Engineers. The basic prerequisite for registration is independence and personal responsibility.

Registration on the relevant list establishes membership of the pension fund.

• Only those who are entered in the list of consulting engineers may use the legally protected professional title of "consulting engineer".
• The registration also documents that the registered person possesses the professional qualifications and independence required by law and is subject to the professional law of consulting engineers as well as supervision by the Thuringia Chamber of Engineers. This provides special protection for the professional title of consulting engineer that goes beyond the prescribed protection standards for the professional title of engineer.
• A written application is required.
• Fees are charged for the procedure.
• Responsible: The Thuringia Chamber of Engineers.