How to Become a Surveyor?

Answer 1

If you’re looking for a stable and rewarding career, you should consider becoming a land surveyor. Land surveyors use a variety of techniques to determine boundaries of properties and measurements of the Earth. This is a job that requires 100 percent precision and accuracy. Although it’s not a career for everybody, those who are interested in and excel at math and science make want to consider becoming a surveyor. Below are some steps that lay out what you need to do to become a surveyor:

• If you’re still in high school and you want to become a surveyor, take any algebra, trigonometry, earth science, geometry, drafting, computer science and mechanical drawing courses that are available. These will serve you well as you embark on the path to becoming a land surveyor.

• While a bachelor’s degree isn’t a 100 percent necessity to become a surveyor, you’re going to be behind the eight ball if you don’t have one. You may be able to get by with an associate’s degree in surveying or surveying technology, but if you are serious about becoming a surveyor, go for a bachelor’s degree in surveying or civil engineering from a four-year university.

• It’s never a bad idea to take an internship or two while you’re in a college. This will get you some practical work experience and look great on a resume. It will also allow you to see what the day-to-day responsibilities of a surveyor are.

• Once you have earned your degree, you need to obtain your state license. All states require you to have a license to practice surveying, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that you must pass exams given by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). You’ll first have to pass the Fundamentals of Surveying exam, and then after four years of working with an experienced surveyor as a surveyor-in-training, you will have to pass the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam.

As you can tell, it takes to total dedication and commitment to become a surveyor, so this is not something you can just try half-heartedly to see if it works out or not. The steps above are a good outline for what you will have to do to become a licensed surveyor, so if you’re aren’t willing to put in the time and effort it’s going to take to be successful in this field, then you should choose another career.