The article analyzes the skill standards of engineering graduates and professional engineers formulated by various international bodies (Washington Accord, Engineers Mobility Forum, Federation Europeenne d'Associations Nationales d'Ingenieurs, European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education). It considers the specific features of the ?American? and the ?Bolognese? models of an engineer, and discusses which of them should be taken in consideration for creating the new Federal Educational Standards for the training of engineers and technicians in Russian colleges.