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Becoming a Surveyor
Becoming a Surveyor
• Offers opportunities for advancement to being a partner or owner of a firm
• Is very challenging and provides a high level of decision making
• Requires a lot of knowledge and skill
The Surveying Career
• 10 Geomatics positions are available for every Geomatics Engineer graduating in North America!
• Every Geomatics graduate from the University of Calgary has at least 2 job offers in hand!
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!
As an example, the average salary of an Alberta Land Surveyor is:
•$149,556 if sole proprietor or partner
•$111,809 if employee in a private practice
•$89,333 if in government
2004 Income and Benefits Survey by ALSA
High Salaries
The minimum requirement for becoming a surveyor in Canada is to have achieved at
least a college degree in survey technology from a Canadian college.
Therefore, you can choose between the college route or the university route.
Education
Trains students to: • Function in a field surveying team• Provide computer skills• Provide CAD mapping skills
College Diploma
Institution Location Program Duration
British Columbia
Institute of Technology
(BCIT)
Burnaby, BC Geomatics Engineering
Technology
2 years
Northern Alberta
Institute of Technology
(NAIT)
Edmonton, AB Geomatics Engineering
Technology
2 years
Saskatchewan Institute
of Applied Science and
Technology (SAIST)
Moose Jaw SK Geomatics Technology 3 years
Red River College Winnipeg, MB Geomatics Technology 2 years
The College Route
The College Route
Institution Location Program Duration
Southern Institute
of Technology
Calgary, AB Geomatics Technology 2 years
Lethbridge
College
Lethbridge, AB Geomatics Engineering
Technology
2 years
CEGEP Ahuntsic Montréal, QC Geomatics Technology 3 years
CEGEP Limoilou Québec, QC Geomatics Technology 3 years
Centre of
Geographic
Sciences (COGS)
Lawrencetown,
NS
Geomatics Engineering
Technology
College of the
North Atlantic
Stephenville,
NF
Geomatics Engineering
Technology
3 years
• More advanced education• Opens the doors to high-level
jobs such as research and management positions
• Provides easier access to the surveying profession
University Degree
The University Route
Institution Location Program Duration
University of New
Brunswick
Fredericton,
NB
Geomatics Engineering 4 years
Laval University Québec, QC Geomatics Engineering
and Geomatics
Sciences
4 years
Ryerson University Toronto, ON Geomatics Engineering 4 years
Queens University Kingston, ON Geographic Information
Management Studies
4 years
University of
Calgary
Calgary, AB Geomatics Engineering 4 years
BCIT Burnaby, BC Bachelor degree in
Geomatics Technology
4 years
• Join the land surveying profession by applying for a commission with a professional surveying association– 10 provincial associations– The Association of Canada Lands
Surveyors (National Lands) • Write a series of exams developed for your
academic background
What do I do with my surveying degree?
How to Become a Professional Surveyor
Write Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS) exams
(up to 13 depending on academic background)
CBEPS Certificate
College or other University Graduate
Write Provincial Association Professional
Exams
NationalProvincial
Two years of Practical Experience
CLS Commission
ACLS LicensePractice Surveying
Yes
No
Graduate in GeomaticsEngineering at U. of C.
Or U.N.B. with required electives
Commission or Licence as a
Land Surveyorin a Province
CareerPath
Want to be a CLS?
Articling
Write CLS Professional Exams
Provincial Association Membership/License
• A federally enacted professional association for the Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS)
• Regulates the activities of over 620 members located across Canada who have expertise in all disciplines related to geomatics
Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS)
CLSs are the only professionals authorized to perform cadastral surveying services on Canada Lands, which include:
• Yukon, Northwest
Territories & Nunavut • Federal Parks• Aboriginal Reserves• Offshore
Photo courtesy of Rob Stirling, CLS
The Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS)
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