How To Become a Surveying Technician

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Surveying Technicians or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Surveying Technicians what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Surveying technicians generally need a high school diploma, but some have postsecondary training in survey technology. An associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as geomatics, is beneficial for these workers.

How hard is it

You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Surveying Technician. For example, an electrician must complete three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need 1 or 2 years of on-the-job training and informal training with experienced workers. These careers usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Similar careers include hydroelectric production managers, travel agents, electricians, court reporters, and medical assistants.

License and certifications

The growing need to make sure that data are useful to other professionals has caused certification to become more common. The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) offers certification for Surveying Technicians. The National Society of Professional Surveyors offers the Certified Survey Technician credential.

Skills required

We asked other Surveying Technicians if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Surveying Technicians are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

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