Education · 1 of 5

The path

A degree, then paid work under a licensed surveyor, then exams. Six to nine years in total.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 math is essential. Trigonometry is the daily tool of this job.

2. 2

   Surveying or geomatics degree

   4 years

   Four years. Geodesy and geomatics engineering at the University of New Brunswick, geomatics engineering at York University or the University of Calgary, or geomatic sciences at Universite Laval.

3. 3

   Academic assessment

   Months

   The Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors checks your degree against its syllabus and sets exams for anything missing. Quebec runs its own system.

4. 4

   Articling or competency assessment

   2 to 3 years

   Paid work under a licensed surveyor while you build a record of real projects.

5. 5

   Professional and law exams, then licence

   Final year

   Each province tests you on its own survey statutes before it will licence you.