To become a surveyor trainee, an individual should have the right combination of surveying education, drive and experience. Although this is an entry-level position and it’s possible to become a surveyor trainee without prior experience or education, surveying is a technical field with a lot of competition. In most cases, a surveying trainee should have at least a two-year college degree in surveying or geomatics, and a four-year degree is a plus. It’s necessary to have mathematical ability, knowledge of legal regulations, the ability to use a computer and the ability to research records. Finally, it can be helpful, although not always necessary, to have experience as an apprentice or a surveying intern in the area of interest.
Surveyors measure land formations and determine exact locations of boundaries using special equipment. There are different specializations, such as land surveying, which involves measurement of land structures for construction or utility companies, or hydrographic surveying, which is the surveying of underwater structures for marine construction or drilling. Experience working in the area of specialization, even in disciplines that do not involve surveying, can provide good background to become a surveyor trainee. Jobs in these types of fields can also give a prospective surveyor valuable connections to influential people who make hiring decisions.
Typically, most regions have a governing body for the surveying profession which sets licensing requirements. To become a registered, licensed surveyor, most jurisdictions require a combination of education in the form of an appropriate degree and a certain amount of experience working under a licensed surveyor. In most cases, to become a surveyor trainee, it is necessary to have either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree from an accredited program for eventual licensure, depending on the the jurisdiction. Many companies will not consider an applicant for a surveyor trainee position without this educational requirement.
Qualified applicants can apply for a jobs as a surveyor’s assistant at companies that provide surveying services, utility companies or drilling companies. Many smaller companies that need surveying services hire freelance surveyors or firms that specialize in providing specific areas of surveying. Although many job hunters focus on larger companies, it also can be helpful to look at smaller companies and individual surveyors when trying to become a surveyor trainee. Even freelance surveyors need helpers and occasionally hire assistants.
After an applicant has gotten a position as a surveyor trainee, the resulting experience will provide the final requirement for sitting for the licensing exam. A surveyor trainee will spend a lot of time working in the field with an experienced surveyor, setting up equipment, recording readings and measurements and carrying heavy equipment. In the office, a surveyor trainee will work with computer-aided design and drafting software (CAD or CADD) to visually represent the information collected in the field. A surveyor trainee also will do research either by visiting government websites or visiting government offices.