Civil engineering technician is an alternative to a civil engineering career. Professionals in this career assists civil engineers to plan, design, and build structures.
Becoming a civil engineering technician does not require much education. Unlike a civil engineer who will have to spend a lot of time to acquire different levels of education and training, Individuals who want to become a civil engineer technician only need a certification.
Data from BLS shows that there is future for civil engineer technician as their job is projected to grow 5 percent, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
In this article, we have put together the requirements to become a civil engineering technician. You will learn about the job description, duties and the step-by-step process to start a career in civil engineering.
Table of contents
- What Is Civil Engineering Technology?
- Who Is A Civil Engineer Technician?
- How Can I Become A Civil Engineer Technician?
- What Are Civil Engineering Technician Job Descriptions?
- What Skills Do I need To Become A Civil Engineer Technician?
- What Are The Best Schools For Civil Engineers Technicians?
- How Much Does It Cost To enroll In A Civil Engineering Technician School?
- How Much Do Civil Engineers Earn?
- What is the Job Outlook For Civil Engineering Technician?
- Reference
- We Also Recommend
What Is Civil Engineering Technology?
Civil engineering Technology deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical structures such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewerage systems, pipelines, structural components of buildings, and railways.
Civil engineers technicians use basic science, apply physical and mechanical principles to design and manufacture complex engineering systems.
To become a civil engineer technician, you need a broad knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, heat transfer, mass transfer, electricity, manufacturing processes, and economics.
Who Is A Civil Engineer Technician?
Civil engineer technicians are professionals who work under the supervision of civil engineers. Their role is to plan, design, and build bridges, highways, and other infrastructure projects, as well as, helping plan, design, and build residential, commercial, industrial, and land development projects.
Read also: 15 Best Laptop for Civil Engineering Students in 2023 | Full SPECS
How Can I Become A Civil Engineer Technician?
The journey to becoming a civil engineering technician begins from high school where you are exposed to basic science subjects like Physics, mathematics, chemistry, and other related discipline.
After your high school, you can enroll in a technical or vocational school as a degree is not always necessary. These schools offer certificates or diplomas. They offer courses in design, engineering, and computer software.
In recent times, universities award associate degrees to students who seek to become civil engineer technicians. Acquiring certification from a university is advisable because employers generally prefer engineering technicians to have an associate’s degree from a program accredited by ABET.
What Are Civil Engineering Technician Job Descriptions?
Civil engineering technicians work with civil engineers to plan, design, construct and maintain roads, bridges, utilities, and other infrastructure projects. Their responsibility include but not limited to the following;
- Read and analyze project drawings and plans to determine the sizes of structures
- Study and evaluate preconstruction field conditions
- Carefully observe and evaluate contractor’s work and calls attention to detect problems of safety regulations.
- Sample materials for testing, compute quantities of materials processed in laboratories
- Assist construction inspector to ensure that project construction conforms to design specifications and applicable codes
- Develop plans and estimate costs for constructing systems and operating facilities
- Prepare reports and document project activities and data
- Assist the building manager to fix and maintain project files and records
Furthermore, civil engineer technicians usually work full time, they carry out a lot of tasks and therefore require a lot of skills.
Check out: How To Get A Ph.D. In Civil Engineering In India | 2023 Best Advice
What Skills Do I need To Become A Civil Engineer Technician?
To excel in any career be it engineering, medicine, or even agriculture, you must learn a skill that is suitable for that profession. For a civil engineering technician career, you need the following skills.
- A good Civil Engineer must know how to write well
- Civil engineering technicians must be excellent in mathematics
- Critical-thinking skills: A civil engineer technician must know how to think smart and fast.
- Good communication skill is very vital to succeed as a civil engineer technician
- A Civil engineer technician should be able to read.
- Problem-solving skills
If you are not sure whether you have a skill that might fit with a career as a civil engineering technician, you can take a college course that would teach you some of the skills needed to become an engineering technician.
What Are The Best Schools For Civil Engineers Technicians?
Below is a list of civil engineering technician schools. Our selection criteria of these schools are the number of programs offered by the schools, education quality, average earnings of graduates, tuition, accreditation, and several other relevant factors.
Each of the schools on our list has been fully approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
We got our data from reliable sources, testimonials, interviews, and also by contacting individual schools. You will have to read further to get information on the various degree programs offered, tuition info, and program options for these schools.
- Temple University
- Kansas State University
- Metropolitan State College of Denver
- University of New Hampshire
- Ferris State University
- Indiana University
- Georgia Southern University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Oklahoma State University
- Western Kentucky University
Temple University
Tuition: $19,920.00(in-state), $32,832.00(Out-of-state)
Accreditation: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
Temple University is a school to consider if you want you to want to obtain a certification as a civil engineering technician. This school offers a Construction Engineering Technology program that prepares students for an associate degree in civil engineering.
The school program curriculum features topics relating to geotechnical, safety, structural, and transportation principles.
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Tuition: $24,424
Accreditation: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
One of the best Civil engineering technician schools available in the Metropolitan State College of Denver(MSCD).
This school offers a Civil Engineering Technology program that is designed to provide foundational knowledge of applied engineering by merging the analytic skills of the engineer with the practical skills of the technician.
Students gain an ability to apply knowledge, techniques, skills, and modern tools of mathematics, science, engineering, or technology to solve broadly-defined engineering problems appropriate to the discipline.
Indiana University
Tuition: $412 per credit (in-state); $1,250 per credit (out-of-state)
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission.
Indiana state university offers a wide range of programs that prepares students for a career as a civil engineering technician.
This program curriculum includes a combination of laboratory experiences with courses in mechanical and civil engineering technology, hydrology, and geographic information systems applications.
Students complete courses in mathematics and science, and select electives from areas such as construction safety, quality control and assurance, research and development of technology, and workplace law.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Tuition: $45,244
Accreditation: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
This program features lab work and design projects for civil engineering technology students to acquire skills in a wide range of sub-disciplines and put theory and technology to work to solve engineering challenges.
Students learn to design bridges and buildings, analyze traffic flow, manage the construction of complex structures, and address environmental issues such as clean drinking water, and more.
During the first two years of this program, students are taught technical subjects along with mathematics and science, helping them to understand applications while studying scientific fundamentals.
However, the final year course curriculum focuses on labs. Students use experimental methods to solve engineering challenges and put theory and technology to work.
University of New Hampshire
Tuition: $53,829
Accreditation: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
The University of New Hampshire is another great institution to consider if you want to become a civil engineer technician.
This school offers a great curriculum featuring skill-based learning through classroom instruction, extensive hands-on laboratory experience, and fieldwork, as well as opportunities to develop a strong portfolio.
Students choose from either Construction Management, Surveying, and Mapping, or Sustainable Energy Management concentrations.
To gain admission into this program, you must present college preparatory English and at least two years of satisfactory work in college preparatory mathematics.
Ferris State University
Tuition: $12,068
Accreditation: Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET
Ferris State University offers a Civil Engineering Technology program leading to an associate degree. The program features general education courses in English, mathematics, and physics as well as related courses in soil and materials testing, surveying, estimating, plans and specifications, basic computer skills, hydrology, highway design, and computer-aided design.
Course contents focus on soil and material testing, highway technology, engineering, design, and the construction process.
Graduates of the Ferris CT program may choose employment with construction companies or continue to study toward a bachelor of science degree in the ACCE-accredited Construction Management program at Ferris.
How Much Does It Cost To enroll In A Civil Engineering Technician School?
The cost of getting a civil technician certification is dependent on quite a number of factors. The first is the school.
Most schools charge higher tuition for out-of-state students. However, some schools charge flat tuition regardless of residency.
Another key factor is the number of programs. A school that offers a greater number of programs is bound to charge more compared to that with a lesser number of programs.
In summary, per-credit costs for civil engineering technician programs typically range from $400 to $2,000 for students in a standard or full-time program.
If you are worried about how to fund your program, you can access 401+ Scholarships for Engineering students.
How Much Do Civil Engineers Earn?
The median annual wage for a Civil engineer technician with a typical entry-level degree was $25.68 per hour and $53,410 per year in May 2019 according to the US Bureau of Labour Statistics.
However, civil engineering technicians in the top industries may earn higher as seen in the table below.
| Government | $60,510 |
| Construction | 55,420 |
| Engineering Services | 54,430 |
See also: Top 20 Entry Level Civil Engineering Jobs In 2022
What is the Job Outlook For Civil Engineering Technician?
Data from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics shows that the Overall employment of civil engineering technicians is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
As infrastructure continues to age, civil engineers will be needed to manage building projects, repair, and work on bridges, roads, dams, airports, and structures of all types.
Conclusion
Becoming a civil engineering technician is easy and highly Lucrative. Learn about the job description and duties, and read the step-by-step process oh how you can start a career in civil engineering on our page.
Reference
- kikky,com– Best Accredited Civil Engineering Schools Chicago | 2022
- kiiky.com– List of Paid Civil Engineering Internships for International Students 2022
- kiiky.com– Best Civil Engineering Schools in Florida | 2022
- kiiky.com– How to get an online civil engineering degree in 2022: Schools, Cost, Programs
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