SPM Results Countdown: How to Become an Engineer

So, you’ve finished SPM, and the results are almost here! Every few days, we shall post an article about steps you can take to enrol in popular courses, all the way from your first step to your last! Today’s course? Well, it’s none other than engineering, so listen up you future engineers! You’ve wanted to become one for a while now, and you’re raring to go. How about the problem? You don’t know what to do. Well, don’t worry and let us here at afterschool.my guide you.

 Step One: Check if Your Results Are Good Enough

A minimum of 3Cs including Mathematics and Science subjects are required to take on engineering courses although the requirements may vary among different universities

Before you even begin to dream, you need to check if your results are good enough to become an engineer. These are the minimum requirements, although some universities’ requirements may vary.

 SPM

Minimum 3Cs (including Mathematics and a Science subject) and a pass in English

O-Level

Minimum 3Cs (including Mathematics and a Science subject) and a pass in English

 Step Two: Choose a pre-university course

You’ll need to do some research before you start your engineering course because not every programme has the same duration

The first step every engineer has to take is deciding on a pre-university course. We have written few articles previously on the subject, which you can view here:

Which Pre-U Course is Right for You?

STPM vs Matrikulasi

Matriculation vs IPTA Asasi

Which Pre-U Qualification Is Accepted by the 5 of the Top Universities in the World?

 However, the duration of each pre-university course is as follows:

1. A-Levels (15-24 months)
2. SAM/AUSMAT (10-12 months,18 months if you aren’t careful)
3. Canadian Pre-U (12-15 months)
4. STPM (18 months ; +6 months if you intend to apply to public universities)
5. Malaysian Matriculation Programme  (12 months (PDT) – 24 months (PST))
6. Foundation (12 months)
7. Diploma (NOT a pre-university course, but can be taken directly after SPM) 2.5 years (able to skip ahead to Year 2 of Degree in some instances)

These are the minimum requirements that you’ll need to get from a pre-university course to proceed to a Degree is as follows:

STPM

Minimum 2Cs including Mathematics and Physics

A-Level

Minimum 2Ds including Mathematics and Physics

UEC

Minimum 5 Bs (including Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry)

Diploma 

Minimum CGPA of 2.00

Foundation/Matriculation

Minimum CGPA of 2.00

SAM/HSC/AUSMAT

Average of 60% or higher in 5 subjects (including Mathematics and a Physics/Chemistry)

CPU/CIMP

Minimum of 60% or higher in 6 subjects (including Mathematics and a Physics/Chemistry)

IB

Minimum 26/42 points or higher based on 6 subjects including 4/7 in Mathematics and Physics/Chemistry

Step Three: Choose a Degree Course

Being an engineer, you would be spoiled for choices on what field you want to study. Therefore, you need to choose wisely.

This is when you must decide what specific discipline of engineering you want to go into. There are numerous fields in engineering, but some of the more popular ones include:

1. Automotive Engineering
2. Chemical Engineering
3. Civil Engineering
4. Electrical Engineering
5. Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
6. Mechanical Engineering
7. Mechatronic Engineering

The MOST important part of this step is to do a lot of research and see what each and every sub-discipline will entail. Also, please ensure the course you choose is at least 4 years in duration and accredited by the Board of Engineering Malaysia.

Step Four: Become a Professional

There are two choices that you can follow once you’ve completed your engineering course

Now that you’ve graduated, you can opt to work as an engineer with no fuss. But DON’T forget to consider obtaining your professional qualification. What are we talking about? Well once you graduate with an accredited engineering degree, you have two options to become a professional engineer.

Option 1: A Professional Engineer in Malaysia through the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)

It is mandatory for anybody who wants to work as an engineer to register in one of the professional bodies in order to be recognised

Any graduate who wants to take up employment as an engineer must be registered as a Graduate Engineer with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). BEM recognises the experience gained by an engineering graduate ONLY AFTER he has registered as a Graduate Engineer. It is of the utmost importance that all engineering graduates register with the Board of Engineers Malaysia as soon as they graduate, or at the very least, before they begin working.

Minimum 3 years of practical experience (in a branch/discipline approved by BEM) is required to be fulfilled by a Graduate Engineer to be entitled to apply for registration as a Professional Engineer in the future

Having completed/satisfied all the above, you may then apply to sit for Professional Assessment Examination (PAE) owned by BEM now conducted by IEM on behalf of BEM. Once you have sat and passed the PAE you will become a Professional Engineer, and gain your P.Eng title!

It takes a minimum of 3 years of practical experience to reach as a professional engineer

Option 2: A Professional Engineer in Malaysia through the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM)

Engineers can only achieve the P.Eng title once they have passed the Professional Interview from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM)

A fresh graduate is encouraged to register with the IEM as a Graduate Engineer. Not only will you be kept up to date with the latest developments in engineering, you are also entitled to the Engr title. Once you do. It takes at least 3 years before being eligible to apply for Corporate Membership with the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM) and subsequent Professional Engineer registration with the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM). In order to be able to sit for the Professional Interview, applicants SHOULD have at least 3 years of working experience. Once you have sat and passed the Professional Interview, you can then proceed to obtain the P.Eng title from the Board of Engineers Malaysia (BEM).

Going Overseas

Malaysian graduates from any accredited programs are recognised thanks to the Washington Accord

Thinking about going out of the country to work once you’ve become a professional? Well, the good news is that Malaysia is part of the Washington Accord, an agreement signed by various countries, which basically means that graduates of accredited programmes in any of the signatory countries are recognised by the other signatories and can practice engineering there.

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