Education · 1 of 5

The path

The fastest route into surveying. Two years of college and a summer of field work.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   Grade 12 math, especially trigonometry. Physics helps.

2. 2

   College diploma in survey or geomatics technology

   2 years

   Two years, part classroom and part field. Programs exist in most provinces and fill quickly.

3. 3

   Summer field work

   4 months

   Take a crew job between first and second year. Employers hire the students they already know.

4. 4

   First job on a crew

   Start

   Instrument operator on a survey or construction crew, running the total station and satellite gear.

5. 5

   Crew chief

   3 to 5 years

   Run the crew, plan the job and own the numbers. Usually three to five years in.