How to Become a Civil Engineer

Civil engineering is an exciting career with opportunities in many different

areas. Some civil engineers work in the field, some work in offices doing
design, and others work in a combination of the two. Here are some helpful
steps to starting your career as a civil engineer.

1. 1
Understand what a civil engineer does. Basically, this is the side of engineering
concerned with designing, building, and maintaining public works.[1] Civil engineers
focus on structures and facilities such as transportation routes, features (tunnels,
bridges, flyovers), and hubs (such as airports and bus interchanges), water treatment
(sewage, dams, pipelines, etc.) government buildings (police and fire stations, major
office buildings, etc.), and other structures required on a large public scale. In some
countries, such as the United States, civil engineering also involves military
engineering.[2] Another way of looking at what a civil engineer does is to see it as a
role of reducing complex ideas initiated by policymakers, chief executives, and other
such people into concrete reality.

o It's a job that pays a reasonably high income due to the level of skills and
expertise required, and the ongoing responsibilities to ensure safe, accurate,
and enduring engineering outcomes.
o Civil engineers can work in a variety of work environments, including in the
public sector, as contractors, consultants, or even as part of a firm that
undertakes work outsourced from municipalities and government.[3] Civil
engineers also work with architect firms and construction firms.[4] Throughout
the lifetime of a civil engineer career, you might vary your employment
circumstances considerably to work around different needs and interests; the
good thing is that your qualifications will allow you much flexibility.

o Within civil engineering there are different roles open to you. For example, in
the United Kingdom, you can become an engineering technician, an
incorporated engineer, or a chartered engineer.[5] Your personal interest in
where to specialize will be something to consider as you pursue your studies
and the different options offered through the course, so be sure to ask what's
available in your country or region.

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Assess your skills. Civil engineering requires good mathematics, design, and science
skills.[6][7] In addition, having a "big picture" mentality, creativity, the ability to
function as a member of a team, the ability to work without supervision and to handle
high levels of responsibility, the ability to clearly and concisely communicate your
ideas both verbally, and through the use of writing and images, are all important, wellrounded features to ensure a successful civil engineering career.

o If you're still at school, appropriate subjects to focus on most include

mathematics, design and technology, information technology, and physics,
with economics, geography, and geology also being of help.[8]
o At school and during university, participate in engineering style competitions
with teams, such as model bridge building competitions. These can increase
your knowledge of how things work structurally and will give you a taste of
how to work as a team.
o Contact the universities offering civil engineering degrees that interest you to
find out what their exact requirements are. The requirements are constantly
updated to reflect new technologies and methodologies.
o If you have already left school and haven't taken the appropriate subjects
during school, you may need to undertake bridging courses or aptitude tests to
prove that you're able to undertake the subjects offered in a civil engineering
degree.

3
Choose a study program. In general, in most countries civil engineering requires a
minimum of a bachelors degree, which will usually take about four years.[9]
Depending on where you study, you may also need to take a formal certification
course at the end of the degree, and in some countries, being licensed (licensure) is a
prerequisite to being allowed to work or as or call yourself a "civil engineer".[10][11]
Keep in mind that in order to become an engineer, there may be qualifications for
your school. For example, in the United States, the bachelor program must be
accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, or ABET.[12]

o Choose a program that has courses in the specific areas you are interested in.
These can include design, hydraulics, construction, earthquake engineering,
soil mechanics, computer methods, construction management, structural
mechanics, etc.[13]

o Consider whether you want to take some courses outside your own country, to
expand your knowledge of what is happening in civil engineering elsewhere,
such as in a country that has very different geological concerns from your
own. You might need to have proficiency in another language to be able to do
this. Find out what's possible by talking with your university course guidance.
o Ensure that you take courses outside of your intended field. It is possible you
will find a different field that you prefer, so try to choose broadly to get a good
feel for the different areas open to you within civil engineering.

4
Expect field trips to form a part of your degree. Being given the opportunity to
apply the theory to real-life examples will help you to grasp the principles faster and
will probably increase your enthusiasm for your chosen career as well.

5
Start thinking about how to specialize as your degree studies move on. From the
start, find out all you can about the different types of civil engineering options open to
you so that you're alert to what might end up being of most interest to you.
Specializations might include coastal engineering, environmental issues, traffic and
transportation, structural engineering, highway construction and maintenance, and so
forth.[14]

6
Get an internship. While in school, if it at all possible, obtain an internship in the
civil field that most interests you. Most engineering firms have some type of
internship program. The experience you gain is invaluable not only to helping you
establish and clarify your career goals, but also in gaining valuable experience for
your resume which will make you a highly desirable entry level engineer.
Construction experience (internship) in your field of interest may have as much, if not
more, value for your future career as a civil engineer as good results in your degree.

7
If you're in the United States, you'll need to undertake some specific
examinations. They are as follows:

o During your study (preferably in your junior or senior year): Register for and
take the FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam.[15] This exam is an important
step in your professional development. It tests on basic knowledge of
engineering principles, and is required in order to obtain an EIT (engineer in
training) license. Additionally, it is typically a prerequisite for the PE Exam.
o When you have graduated: Find employment as an EIT, under the supervision
of a licensed professional engineer. You will be required to account for an
average of 4 years of employment as an EIT when you apply to take the PE

(Principals and Practice of Engineering) exam.[16] Sometimes graduate study

may sometimes accepted in lieu of a year of employment.
o While you are working: Ensure that you begin preparation for the PE exam.[17]
Regardless of what field of civil engineering you work in, becoming a PE
(professional engineer) will provide you more opportunities and greatly
increase your chances of advancement. After four years of employment as an
EIT, you are qualified to apply for the PE.
o Once you are a licensed PE: Keep track of the requirements to maintain your
license. Depending on your license and your state, you may be required to
complete Continuing Education Hours or Professional Development Hours.[18]
o Similar external examination, external testing, or licensing is available in other
countries. Ask your university or professional engineering association for
details early on.

Join the relevant professional organization that caters for civil engineers in your
country. Once you're working as a civil engineer, belonging to such an organization is
the means for staying updated as to new developments, helps with your networking
opportunities, and enables you to give back your knowledge to other engineers
through seminars, etc., and through teaching in universities.[19] In the United States,
the relevant organization is the ASCE, or the American Society of Civil Engineers.[20]