The professional formation and social existence of the French engineering community is quite unique compared to that of the major foreign countries. To understand this specificity, it is necessary to understand historical factors such as the nature of the training schools for engineers, the development of professional associations of engineers, and the professional regulation of the title of engineer. This is because the training of engineers and their social function in the modern era, as well as the various forms of the engineers' union movement, are defined by the specific historical environment of France. In particular, we must emphasize the close relationship of the engineers' union movement with the "syndicalisme des cadres" (management unions), which is unique to France.