How to become a Civil Engineering Technician: Career Guide, Courses, Types, Job Profiles, Salary

Steps to Become a Civil Engineering Technician

The common steps for becoming a Civil Engineering Technician are mentioned below:

Decision Making

It is essential to take the right decision from the high school level onwards to pursue a career in civil engineering. Analyze the pros and cons to pursue a career as a civil technician. Question yourself whether you really have interest in pursuing such a career. Based on your decision, you would choose subjects, go for a diploma or graduation in a particular field and gain experience. So taking the right decision at such a stage plays a crucial role in shaping your future.

Subject Choices

To pursue a career in civil engineering, students should always opt for Science subjects with Mathematics as a compulsory subject. Since civil engineering technicians are required to study reports, plans and documents and communicate their findings to other members of their team, they should be conversant in reading and writing in English.

Entrance Exam Preparation

It is mandatory to clear entrance examinations to get enrolled in a top polytechnic college or engineering college to pursue a diploma course conducted by the universities and colleges. Entrance examinations such as Delhi Common Entrance Test, Uttarakhand Joint Entrance Exam Polytechnics, WB-JEXPO, Delhi University Arts, Chhattisgarh Pre-Polytechnic Test, etc are conducted for the diploma aspirants. It is essential to score good marks in entrance examinations to get enrolled in top Government engineering and polytechnic colleges.

Selecting Correct Colleges

Since top engineering colleges like IIT and NITs along with other colleges like Jamia Milia or Central Polytechnic College, Kolkata offer best placement opportunities along with high class infrastructural facilities including highly qualified and experienced faculties, a high rank in entrance examination is essential to reserve a berth in such colleges for pursuing diploma courses from such colleges and institutes.

After Qualifying the Exam

Most exam conducting bodies conduct a counseling process for final selection of candidates in different colleges and institutes. Preliminary round of interview followed by document verification comes under the ambit of the counseling process. Based on performance in entrance examination along with preference of college and seat availability candidate’s are offered admission in colleges. Candidates may now register themselves with the institute of their choice and make final payment for admission.

Types of Civil Engineering Technician

Based on preferences, work experience and infrastructural activities undertaken by private companies and govt agencies, civil engineering technicians have various job types to choose and work on. Most top engineering and polytechnic colleges offer campus placements during the last year of graduation. The various types of civil engineering technicians are the following:

Concrete engineering technicians

These are individuals involved in construction of buildings, highways, bridges etc using concrete. They are involved in overseeing construction at stages of development from planning to execution of infrastructure projects using concrete as a major constituent. In addition to these regular activities, they are also concerned with safety of structures along with analyzing a project’s overall budget.

Drafters

These are individuals who gather drawings and specifications, calculate material and equipment requirements and set up production methods. After collecting drawings from engineers and architects, drafters convert these drawings into technical drawings with computer-aided design (CAD) software for final execution of infrastructural projects. In addition, they are also involved in identifying potential operational issues and redesign products for improving functionality. 

Structural engineering technicians

These are individuals who are involved in designing, planning and construction of buildings along with assessing the suitability of building plans and materials. They calculate the load & stress that all components of the structure will bear, coupled with survey of sites and buildings. In most cases, these technicians work in close collaboration with design teams and architects. 

Surveying and Mapping Technicians

These are individuals who collect survey measurements & related data and make maps of the Earth’s surface. This involves visiting different sites to take measurements with surveying instruments, such as electronic distance-measuring equipment (robotic total stations), of land and finally using this data to create geographic maps showing water locations, boundaries and other features of the terrain. These collected data are fed into computers using computer aided design software, global positions system (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and maps are created. They are also involved in assisting surveyors, and cartographers and photogrammetrists.

Surveyors

These are experts who prepare and maintain sketches, maps and reports of legal description of surveys, verify data and calculations, calculate measures of sites, along with determining property boundaries. Final execution of engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects is very much dependent on the shape and contour of the Earth's surface information provided by these surveyors. Civil engineers are responsible for designing major transportation projects. They build, design, conceive, construct, supervise and operate infrastructure systems and projects in public and private sectors including buildings, roads, dams, tunnels, airports, and water supply systems.

Geotechnical Engineering Technicians

These are individuals who collect and analyze samples of soil, rock and other earth materials for determining the evidence of pollution and climate change. In addition, they are also involved in preparing daily reports either manually or digitally to record results of observations and test results. These individuals work in close collaboration with geotechnical and geologic engineers to record field observations & testing of materials.

How to Become a Civil Engineering Technician in India?

The preparation at different levels in a student's career has been discussed below.

School Level Preparation:

Since the job of a civil engineering technician involves a lot of mathematical calculations and studying plans and reports, students need to make their basics strong in Mathematics and English from school level only. They should practice mathematics every day along with reading newspapers and watching news on television to have a command over English. Since entrance examinations are taken by lakhs of candidates and getting into good colleges require high scores it is recommended to enroll students in coaching centres offering specialized coaching for such entrances.

How to Become a Civil Engineering Technician after 12th?

The preparation to become a Civil Engineering Technician after completion of school has been discussed below.

UG Preparation

Though enrolling oneself into diploma courses after 10th is sufficient to start a career as civil engineering technician, individuals who want to excel higher in this profession must complete B.Tech in Civil engineering. Thus for UG preparation, students should concentrate on practicing mathematics daily along with enhancing their reading and writing capability in English. Mock tests offered by various online educational platforms are the best ways to get accustomed with the pattern of such entrance examinations in addition to getting specialized coaching from some coaching centers.

PG Preparation

Many candidates prefer to work in managerial positions or work as professors in academic institutes after gaining sufficient experience in this field. Candidates preferring to start a managerial position should opt for an MBA program from some B Schools namely IIMs, ICFAI, IBS etc while candidates preferring to start an academic career should go for M.Tech in Civil Engineering. Whatever career option one chooses, it is mandatory to clear one of the entrance examinations namely GATE for pursuing M.Tech or CAT/ MAT for a management degree.

Courses to Become a Civil Engineering Technician

There are diploma and degree courses in Civil Engineering that help students understand the basic concepts of civil construction. Without completing such courses it will not be possible for the students to become a civil engineering technician.

Diploma in Civil Engineering

Diploma in Civil Engineering is a full-time three year diploma course offered by various govt and private colleges and polytechnic institutes. This course is about designing the process, maintenance and construction of roads, dams, bridges, buildings, etc.

Admission Process

Admission into such courses is done through merit as well as entrance examinations such as Odisha DET, DSRRAU PAT, WB JEXPO etc.The admission process to pursue this course is conducted online. Students need to clear the relevant entrance exams to pursue a diploma in civil engineering. Some colleges conduct counseling also after clearing the entrance exam.

Check: Diploma in Civil Engineering Colleges

Eligibility

• The eligibility criterion for the course is students have to clear 10th class or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized college or institute.
• 5% moderation for the reserved category students.

BTech in Civil Engineering

BTech in Civil Engineering course is an undergraduate engineering degree in civil discipline. It is a full-time course. Students who have completed diploma courses in civil engineering go for pursuing B.Tech in Civil Engineering through lateral entry system in the 2nd year of engineering courses. In such cases also, students are required to clear entrance examinations to register themselves for such a degree course.

Admission Process

BTech Civil Engineering Admission is generally entrance-based. Students should appear in various entrance exams such as JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, VITEEE, etc. for BTech Admission. The admission process to pursue this course is conducted online. Students need to clear the relevant entrance exams to pursue a bachelor of civil engineering course. Some colleges conduct counseling also after clearing the entrance exam.

Eligibility

To appear in the entrance examinations, students must complete 10+2 securing a minimum of 60% of average marks from any recognized university. Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics should be the compulsory subjects in 10+2.

Course Admission: Important Tips

• Follow the current syllabus and paper pattern of entrance examinations.
• Improve skills in the weaker sections.
• Download past papers and apply for mock examinations.
• Refer relevant books both online as well as offline for exam preparation.
• Go for mock tests with institutes offering practice mocks and follow time management.
• A good score in any of these entrances increases chances of admission in top colleges namely IITs, NITs, etc who provide good infrastructure facilities, good faculties, and above all excellent placement opportunities.
• Improve your basic knowledge on subjects taught in your diploma course to crack the personal interview where institutes test your basic skill in civil engineering.
• Improve your basics in Mathematics, Physics as all national and state level entrance examinations test your basic skill in Mathematics, Physics etc.

How to Become a Civil Engineering Technician Abroad?

Apart from pursuing civil engineering courses from India students also have the opportunity of pursuing a diploma in civil engineering from abroad. Many countries abroad like the USA, Australia, UK, and Canada, etc offer diploma and UG courses on engineering for the aspirants. The admission procedure is different in abroad countries from India and also the eligibility requirements for the students are different in foreign countries.

USA

Many US universities and polytechnic colleges offer full-time diploma and UG courses in civil engineering. The duration of this engineering course varies between 2 to 3 years. After completing this course, students get various job opportunities in the USA and also in other countries.

Australia

Australian Universities and institutes offer UG, diploma and certificate courses for candidates willing to pursue a career as civil engineering technician. Some of them have been discussed below.

UK

In terms of offering technical courses, especially engineering, the UK stands top among the foreign countries offering engineering courses. Certification, diploma programs and UG courses are available for pursuing a career as civil technician in the UK. Career growth and future job prospects are very good for the students pursuing engineering courses from the UK.

Canada

Diploma courses in Canada are available for students who have completed their 10+2 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject while pursuing engineering courses from Canada. Students need to pursue 10+2 in the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as compulsory subjects to pursue a career as Civil Engineering Technician.

Benefits of Career as a Civil Engineering Technician

The benefits of a Civil Engineering Technician as a career are as follows:

Salary: Civil Engineering technicians earn well with increase in work experience and expertise. The starting salary of a civil engineering technician is approximately INR 2,50,000 per annum which can increase upto INR 4,50,000 per annum depending on expertise and type of company an individual works.

Additional Benefits: Apart from a satisfying job and salary, top civil construction companies offer paid vacations and holidays, health insurance plans, and sometimes profit sharing to civil engineering technicians who provide value addition to these companies.

Exposure to Career Growth: Civil Engineering Technician who start their career as surveyor and gain relevant experience, can register for B.Tech in civil engineering and can get promoted to Civil Engineers, Managers etc within a short span of time along with a lucrative pay package. With the introduction of CAD/CAM software in engineering drawing and candidates conversant in working with these softwares have high probability of growth compared to their counterparts.

Higher Studies: A civil engineering technician can very well get registered for a engineering degree and excel higher after completing their graduation. If such candidates manage to complete a management degree in a relevant field then new avenues for job opportunities become available to them.

Skills Required for a Civil Engineering Technician

To be a civil engineering technician, students should possess certain skills. They can also develop certain skills while pursuing diploma courses. The important skills that are required for a civil engineering technician are as follows:

Salary of a Civil Engineering Technician in India

Most of these technicians get jobs within 4-6 months after completing their diploma with top colleges offering direct recruitment with top construction companies through college campus recruitment. The average starting salary of a civil engineering technician ranges from INR 2,00,000-INR to 2,50,000 per annum which can shoot upto INR 4,50,00 per annum depending on work experience and the company with which they are engaged.

Average Annual Salary

Designation Wise

Gender Wise Salary

Experience Wise

After the Civil Engineering Technician

After pursuing the career as a Civil Engineering Technician, candidates have the opportunity to pursue higher education or start working as a professional.

Higher Education

After completing a diploma course in civil engineering, a student can pursue B.Tech / B.E. in civil engineering and get better job opportunities and pay packages. Many candidates prefer to work in managerial positions or work as professors in academic institutes after gaining sufficient experience should opt for an MBA program while candidates preferring to start an academic career should go for M.Tech in Civil Engineering.

Start Job

Various job opportunities available after completing such diploma programs are Site Engineers, Surveyors, Surveying and Mapping Technicians etc. Candidates completing B.Tech in Civil Engineering or B.Arch are hired by architecture firms, consultancy companies, airports, ports and harbors, railways etc. There is huge demand for candidates from civil engineering background in construction companies especially in Gulf countries where they are paid hefty pay packages. In India, L&T, Simplex Infrastructure, Gammon India Ltd are few of the top construction companies recruiting civil engineering technicians.