Civil engineering technologists and technicians
Career Overview
Civil engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals.
People in this occupation:
- May also work independently in fields such as structural engineering, municipal engineering, construction design and supervision, highways and transportation engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental protection or technical sales
- Are employed by consulting engineering and construction companies, public works, transportation and other government departments and in many other industries
- Must have Diverse technical skills are required, including manual and computer-aided drafting, surveying and modeling; road and highway analysis and municipal infrastructure design; concrete, soil and asphalt testing; and technical report writing
The ability to manage projects in a team environment is also important.
Civil engineering technologists and technicians also:
- Should have an interest in hands-on, methodical work, as well as in planning, decision making and coordination of projects
- Benefit from having good visualization, communication, math and computer skills
Job Titles
Duties
Civil engineering technologists:
- Develop engineering designs and drawings from preliminary concepts and sketches
- Prepare construction specifications, cost and material estimates, project schedules and reports
- Supervise or conduct field surveys, inspections or technical investigations of topography, soils, drainage and water supply systems, road and highway systems, buildings and structures to provide data for engineering projects
- Conduct or supervise inspection and testing of construction materials, and may supervise, monitor and inspect construction projects and provide project negotiation and facilitation
Civil engineering technicians:
- Assist in developing engineering specifications and drawings
- Participate in field surveys, inspections or technical investigations of topography, soils, drainage and water supply systems, road and highway systems, buildings and structures to provide data for engineering projects
- Perform other technical functions in support of civil engineering activities.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
2,540% Employed Full Time
69%The majority of civil engineering technologists and technicians work regular hours in laboratories, offices and industrial plants and working conditions may include a combination of indoor and outdoor work.
Outdoor work includes conducting field inspections or investigating topography, soil, drainage and water supply systems, road and highway systems, or buildings and structures. Individuals may also work from an office where they incorporate field findings into their designs or in virtual teams communicating with telephone conference calls or videoconferencing. Opportunities for international work may be available for some workers.
Technological advances in surveying, environmental monitoring, data management and civil design has allowed for work to be completed more quickly than in the past. Workers may be exposed to hazards from equipment, chemicals or toxic materials when performing field work.
Career Pathways
Those who complete the two-year diploma in Civil Engineering Technology can work as a junior design engineer, civil technician, or technologist. With experience, civil engineering technologists can progress to construction supervisors, project engineers or managers, construction estimators, or construction managers.
Students who complete the four year Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) Degree in Civil Engineering can go on to practice professionally as a civil engineer.
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Civil engineering technologists are required to complete a two-year technology diploma in civil engineering or a closely related discipline. Civil engineering technicians are usually required to complete a one or two-year technician certificate in civil engineering technology or a closely related discipline.
The Civil Engineering Technology Diploma is nationally accredited by the Canadian Council of Engineering Technicians and Technologists (CTAB) and the Applied Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC). Full-time students in this or another accredited program in the field may apply for student membership in ASTTBC.
Diploma graduates are eligible for graduate technologists (ASTTBC) membership, and may apply for registration as an applied science technologist after completing a minimum of two years of relevant work experience. This certification may be required for some positions.
For more information, see the ASTTBC website at www.asttbc.org.
Civil engineering technologists and technicians who are certified for that occupation by a regulator elsewhere in Canada can apply for the same certification from the regulator in B.C. Under the terms of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), most applicants who are transferring their credentials from elsewhere in Canada will not be required to complete additional training or testing. However, the B.C. regulator may ask applicants to provide further information such as a letter of good standing, references, or criminal record check.
For those who trained outside of Canada and never received certification from any Canadian jurisdiction, a full assessment is likely needed. Most occupational regulators have a process for assessment and recognize internationally trained applicants.
Contact the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC for details on how to apply for certification in B.C.
For information about labour mobility in Canada, visit www.workersmobility.ca.
View a list of Professional Regulatory Authorities in B.C.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
2,540Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 155 | 6.1% |
| Kootenay | 145 | 5.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,320 | 52.0% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 55 | 2.2% |
| Northeast | 70 | 2.8% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 395 | 15.6% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 400 | 15.7% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,240Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 40 | 0.3% |
| Kootenay | 60 | 0.6% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 620 | 1.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 2.8% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.1% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 280 | 2.4% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 210 | 1.6% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 800 |
| Public Administration | 230 |
| Construction | 120 |
| Utilities | 40 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 10 |
Insights from Industry
Expansion in construction and municipal and resource based infrastructure drives the demand for civil technologists and technicians. As such, areas of urban growth or industrial activity will likely see the most demand for these occupations in upcoming years. Growth in research and development areas may also result in increased employment opportunities.
More of the new opportunities for qualified civil technologists and technicians are opening in the private sector. However, upcoming retirements will increase demand for new technologists and technicians in both private industry and government.
While most civil technology jobs are found in mid- to large-size cities, jobs in rural areas are available in government departments, transportation, and with consulting firms.
Sustained competitiveness in a knowledge-based global economy requires vigorous and ongoing commitment to scientific and technological innovation. For this reason, workers should keep abreast of developments within their area of expertise. The trend of green building construction, for example, will require workers in this occupation group to be familiar with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED).
Periods of retraining and professional development are common, and those with updated skills and knowledge will have an advantage over others when competing for employment.
Resources
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Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC)www.asttbc.org
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Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia – Job Postingswww.acec-bc.ca/resources/job-postings.aspx
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Association of Consulting Engineering Companies of British Columbia (ACEC-BC)www.acec-bc.ca
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Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT)www.cctt.ca
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Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE)www.csce.ca
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Structural Engineers Association of British Columbia (SEABC)seabc.ca/links.html