Education · 1 of 5
The path
A specialised degree if you can get into one, otherwise mechanical engineering plus marine experience.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Calculus, Advanced Functions, Physics and Chemistry. Physics carries most of the weight.
- 2
Engineering degree
4 to 5 years with co-op
Memorial University in St. John's runs ocean and naval architectural engineering, the main route in Canada. Mechanical engineering with ship design electives also works.
- 3
Work terms in a yard or design office
During the degree
This is where you learn how steel is actually cut, welded and assembled. Employers hire heavily from their own students.
- 4
Engineer-in-training
About 4 years
About four years of supervised work with your provincial regulator, logging real design experience.
- 5
P.Eng (professional engineer) licence
After about 4 years
Law and ethics exam plus an experience record. Now you can seal drawings that a yard will build from.