Becoming a Surveyor

The Surveying CareerThe Surveying Career• Offers a lot of Offers a lot of

opportunities for opportunities for advancement to the point advancement to the point of being a partner or of being a partner or ownerowner

• Is very challenging and Is very challenging and provides a high level of provides a high level of decision makingdecision making

• Requires a lot of Requires a lot of knowledge and skillknowledge and skill

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!10 positions are available for every 10 positions are available for every

Geomatics Engineer graduating in Geomatics Engineer graduating in North America, and every North America, and every Geomatics graduate from the Geomatics graduate from the University of Calgary has at least University of Calgary has at least two job offers in handtwo job offers in hand..

High SalariesAs an example, thAs an example, the average salary of an e average salary of an Alberta Land Surveyor is:Alberta Land Surveyor is:

- $149,556 if s$149,556 if sole proprietor or partnerole proprietor or partner

- $111,809 if employee in a private $111,809 if employee in a private practicepractice

- $89,333 if in government$89,333 if in government

2004 Income and Benefits Survey by ALSA

EducationThe 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.

The College RouteCollege diploma

A college degree will A college degree will train students to train students to function in a field function in a field surveying team or surveying team or provide computer provide computer skills and CAD skills and CAD mapping skills in an mapping skills in an office environmentoffice environment..

The College Route INSTITUTION LOCATION PROGRAM DURATION

British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

Burnaby, BC Geomatics Engineering Technology

2 years

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

Calgary, AB 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 (SIAST)

Moose Jaw, SK Geomatics Technology 3 years

Red River College Winnipeg, MB Geomatics Technology 2 years

The College RouteINSTITUTION LOCATION PROGRAM DURATION

Lethbridge College Lethbridge, AB Geomatics Engineering Technology

2 years

CEGEP d’Ahuntsic

Montréal, QC Geomatics Technology 3 years

CEGEP de Limoilou

Québec, QC Geomatics Technology 3 years

Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS)

Lawrencetown, NS Geomatics Engineering Technology

3 years

Fleming College Peterborough, ON Geomatics Technician 2 years

College of the North Atlantic

Stephenville, NF Geomatics Engineering Technology

3 years

The University RouteUniversity degree

For more advanced For more advanced education, the university education, the university route is appropriate. A route is appropriate. A university degree will university degree will open the doors to high-open the doors to high-level jobs such as level jobs such as researchresearch and and management positions. It management positions. It wwill also provide easier ill also provide easier access to taccess to the surveying he surveying profession.profession.

The University The University RouteRouteINSTITUTION 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

• After After obtaining your degree, or diploma, you obtaining your degree, or diploma, you may join the land surveying profession by may join the land surveying profession by applying for a commission with a professional applying for a commission with a professional surveying associationsurveying association– 10 provincial 10 provincial associationsassociations– The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors

(National) (National)

• Then must write a series of exams, dependsThen must write a series of exams, depends on the academic background.on the academic background.

What next?

How to Become a Professional Surveyor

Write CLS Professional Exams

Want to be a CLS?

Career Path?

College or University Graduate

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

NationalNationalProvincialProvincial

Articling Two years of

Practical Experience

CLS Commission

ACLS License

Provincial Association Membership/License

Practice Surveying

YesYes

NoNo

Graduate in GeomaticsEngineering at U. of C.

Or U.N.B. with required electives

Commission or Licence as a

Land Surveyorin a Province

ASSOCIATION OF CANADA LANDS SURVEYORS (ACLS)

The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) is a federally enacted professional (ACLS) is a federally enacted professional association for the association for the CCanada Lands Surveyor anada Lands Surveyor (CLS).(CLS). The ACLS The ACLS regulates the activities of its regulates the activities of its 570 members located across Canada who have 570 members located across Canada who have expertise in all disciplines related to geomatics.expertise in all disciplines related to geomatics.

The Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) CLSs are the only professionals authorized to CLSs are the only professionals authorized to

perform cadastral surveying services on perform cadastral surveying services on Canada Lands, which include:Canada Lands, which include:

• Yukon, Northwest Yukon, Northwest Territories & Nunavut Territories & Nunavut • Federal ParksFederal Parks• Aboriginal ReservesAboriginal Reserves• OffshoreOffshore

Page 8

Canada Lands