Bill,

I have a few questions about your job, work, career, whatever people call it now-a-days.

Are you the person that goes out to land, measures, plots the area, and prints the Plats for land?

I want to do that. How does one get started? What education do I need?

 

well....the piece of paper that I paid for states that I am a civil engineer (4+ years at an ABET accredited school)....

There are days that I go out and survey land and develop "parcels" of land....we have 1200 acres here (old army base) that we are redeveloping....so there is plot creation involved....

Basically....if you want to become a surveyor, you go to school for it for a few years...take a long test to be "semi-certified"....spend a few more years working under a licensed surveyor....then take another test to become licensed yourself.....

of course, like anything else out there, there are nitches in various fields that one could exploit....you can go work for a company as a "tech" and depending on your work ethic and how well you "fit" the company....you could become a vital asset to them and make as much money as you would going through the hassel of advanced education and testing....

One of the guys at a company that does alot of our rail designs has been going to school for his civil degree for a "loooooong" time.....but he is such a vital asset to this company (and to its clients such as us) that he is compensated well and is extremely happy with what he does.....so you could say that he found a nitch and is exploited it....

Another route one could go is via the construction industry.....when I was in high school, I worked at a large construction company doing various tasks....a few of these tasks were helping out their "surveyor"....this "surveyor" was not a licensed surveyor by any means....but he took quite a few construction style courses and had tons of field experience....so he was more than capable surveying 99% of the projects that this company worked on and the company was willing to take the risk using an unlicensed surveyor because they were confident in his work.....

so it seems that the "type" of work that you might be intested in would fall under the field of surveying....

let me know if you have any other questions or if I have confused you more....I am sure other civils on this board could help you out as well....

 

Huh... up here in DCRC we just wrap our gang colors/flags around a light pole or some part of the house/land to steak our claim. Much easier than the whole survey thing. Now git off my turf be'fo I buss a cap in 'yo a$$ bee-yatch!

 

Yeah, I am very interested in that type of work. My dad isn't certified, but he has done that kind of stuff his whole life. He did all the surveying of his own land, and I will prolly have him come out and help me out with the land I am trying to get.

 

The "licensing" is basically just a way to hold an individual responsible for their work and accountable for their actions.....one could also argue that it is a way to "weed-out" the riff-raff.......but as any other engineer or surveyor out their could maintain this same opinion: they still make it into the profession......and personally, I know just as many licensed professionals that are competent in their work as I do unlicensed workers....so I would not let all the extensive education and testing get you too concerned.....there are plenty of doors in which to enter this field through.....

 

Thanks man. When looking for a position in this field, what would I need to look for? Civil Engineer? Plotter? Surveyor?

 

I would look at Civil Engineering, Surveying or construction....

 

Nothing posted anywhere in my area. I guess I need to know someone.