Land surveyor - College or university?

[gibguitar]

Ok so, I wasn't sure whether to ask this here or in the education section. But I really do love the knowledge and people here in the careers section so I'm looking to you guys.

I'm 25, going on 26, years old and going back to school (again). I would like to work full-time as soon as possible as I am a broke as* and have student loans to pay.

I would really like to work in the civil engineering or geomatics field, as a land surveyor or something very similar.

My question is... should I get a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology (college) or should I get a degree in Civil Engineering (university).

University would mean much more tuition costs and much longer since it's very difficult to complete an Engineering degree in just 4 years.

I could rush the college diploma and be done in 2.5 years if I try. It's also much cheaper. I don't care about the difficulty or anything like that, I am very motivated, it's just I have to be realistic in terms of money and time. Do you guys think at this point it matters? Or should I just get the diploma and start working? I look at a lot of job boards and it seems some employers ask for a university degree when hiring a land surveyor, but some mining and construction companies would accept a diploma as well.

Any help is appreciated.

[squagles]

If you take an advanced technologist course (3 year diploma), some universities will let you transfer when you're done to finish a BEng/BASc. It would be another ~2 years. So you can do the college route, pay less and try and get a job and if you still feel you want to get the degree you have that option.

Lakehead I know has a transfer program for engineers, not sure about other Ontario universities. Check with your college to make sure they have an articulation agreement.

[brian.gerson]

You wouldn't hire a graduated engineer to be a surveyor unless it was just part of a company's orientation program. Surveying is a 3 week course in a typical 4-year civil engineering program. Study engineering only if you want to be an engineer, and make sure you are motivated otherwise you will wash out.

[BoogieWilliams]

Like the poster above said a land surveyor isn't an engineer, usually some of the job postings ask for engineering degrees because they most likely are looking for young graduates that need experience. If you want to be an engineer go to Ryerson for Geomatics Engineering it's one of the best programs in the country for that particular field, you'll find jobs in an instant, its also relatively cheap compared to other engineering university programs. If you want to take the other route best bet would be to finish 2 years of college and start looking for work, if no luck in the GTA then you should definitely move out West.

[engamaneer]

My question is... should I get a diploma in Civil Engineering Technology (college) or should I get a degree in Civil Engineering (university).

University would mean much more tuition costs and much longer since it's very difficult to complete an Engineering degree in just 4 years.



To get a commission as a land surveyor in Canada (except Quebec) you need to have your Western Board exams completed. They are run by an independent organization that administers the exams and judges applicants. They are the gate keepers Their website is here:
http://cbeps-cceag.ca/cms/

You have four options from a Western Canadian perspective:
a) Go to University (UofC or UNB - not sure on Ryerson or others), complete a geomatics engineering degree with the land surveying route. You graduate, you get your CBEPS ticket and then you can article.
b) Go to a 4 yr Tech program (BCIT is the only one I know of) and complete the required courses. You graduate, you get your CBEPS ticket and then you can article.
c) Go to a 2-3yr Tech program (BCIT, NAIT/SAIT, SIAST, etc.) you get *some* of the required courses. You then write the rest on your own :-0, hopefully get your CBEPS before your old exams expire ( use to be a rolling 7yr period) and then you can article.
d) Go work for a survey company, write all of the exams on your own within the time-frame, get your CBEPs...you know the rest.

As other posters have mentioned, *check with the colleges re: transfers*. AND - check with CBEPS and/or the colleges to see how many courses you can get credit for. Not all tech diplomas are equal.

And yeah - if you want more options. Do an engineering degree but it's a lot harder than a tech diploma. And as for jobs - they are a ton of surveying jobs out West. Companies can not hire enough field staff and plenty of articling opportunities...

Good luck!