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Step 1: Research Civil Engineer Career Duties and Education
The Civil Engineer Center for Integrating Information, www.thecivilengineer.org, states that Civil Engineers design and execute structural works that serve the public. Civil Engineers are responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, bridges and sewage systems. They also take into consideration how much it will cost to complete projects and how long infrastructure will last. Civil Engineers manage the projects and the people working on them to ensure they get done on time. Construction sites are the typical work environments for Civil Engineers. They usually work 40 hours a week with some business travel to different cities. Civil Engineers must have a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a license.
Step 2: Prepare for a Civil Engineering Education while in High School
Students interested in a Civil Engineering career should take advanced placement courses in physics, biology, chemistry, math, English and computer science. Students need excellent grades in order to get accepted into a college's Engineering degree program.
Step 3: Find an ABET-Accredited Civil Engineering Degree Program
Aspiring Civil Engineers can find colleges with Engineering degree programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) on www.abet.org. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), www.bls.gov, reports that ABET ensures the quality of college Engineering programs to meet industry standards.
Step 4: Earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Undergraduate students must take courses in basic engineering, math, physics, social sciences, life sciences and civil engineering. A Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program requires classroom, laboratory and independent study.
Step 5: Get a License
Civil Engineers who offer their services to the community or the public must be a licensed Professional Engineer (PE). In order to get a license, Civil Engineers must have a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from an accredited ABET program. They must also pass the Fundamentals of Engineering and Principles and Practice of Engineering exams. Four years of professional Civil Engineering experience are required for licensure.
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