COREN is empowered by Decrees, No 55, 1970 and No 27, 1992 (Amendment) to accredit training institutions and regulate the practice of engineers, technologists, technicians and craftsmen in Nigeria.

By these decrees, it is illegal for the following to practice or be employed, except for the purpose of training and apprenticeship, without being registered by COREN:

1. Engineers

2. Engineering Technologists

3. Engineering Technicians

4. Engineering Craftsmen and

5. Engineering Consulting Firms

Anybody corporate or individual employer who engages the services of unregistered engineering personnel or consulting firms commits an offence against the law of the land as stipulated in clause 13(6), page 14 of the COREN Decrees.

Engineering Regulations Monitoring (ERM) inspectors have been appointed all over Nigeria to fish out offenders.