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.

STEPS
1. Understand what a civil engineer does. Basically, this is the side
of engineering concerned with designing, building, and maintaining public works.
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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

2. 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, well-rounded features to ensure a
successful civil engineering career.

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.

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.

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.

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. 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". 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.

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]

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.

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.

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:

During your study (preferably in your junior or senior year): Register for and take the
FE (Fundamentals of Engineering) exam. 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.

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. Sometimes graduate study may sometimes accepted
in lieu of a year of employment.

While you are working: Ensure that you begin preparation for the PE exam.
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.

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.

Similar external examination, external testing, or licensing is available in other

countries. Ask your university or professional engineering association for details
early on.

8. 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. In the United States, the relevant organization is the ASCE, or
the American Society of Civil Engineers.