Civil engineering technicians provide technical support to civil engineers on engineering construction projects. Projects fall into several categories, including:

• structural – bridges, dams, buildings, offshore platforms and pipelines
• transportation – roads, railways, tunnels and airports
• environmental – public water supply networks, irrigation, drainage, waste disposal and sewerage treatment
• maritime – ports, harbours and sea defences.

A technician's duties vary depending on the nature of the project but can cover:

Research and design – assisting with initial site surveys, arranging for lab analysis of soil, rock and materials samples, and developing engineering design plans, by hand or with computer-aided design (CAD) software.

Planning and estimating - preparing detailed estimates and specifications on the quantity and type of materials required; the materials and labour costs; and drawing up schedules and timescales for delivery of supplies, equipment and labour with completion dates for each stage of the project.

Buying – negotiating with suppliers to purchase resources, ensuring best value for money.

Monitoring – supervising progress, inspecting construction projects, reporting problems to site managers and preparing reports for senior engineers.

Hours and Environment

Most civil engineering technicians work in offices and on construction sites. Office work is normally 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. On-site there may be shiftwork, weekends and nights. Technicians may be on-call in case problems arise.

Site work takes place in all weathers and may be at heights, and technicians wear personal protective equipment on-site

Skills and Interests

To be a civil engineering technician you should:

• have an aptitude for maths and science
• have excellent numeracy skills
• have good analytical skills
• understand engineering drawings and principles
• be computer literate, particularly for CAD work
• be well organised and able to organise others
• work well in a team
• have good communication, presentation and negotiating skills.

Entry

You can enter this job as an engineering technician apprentice. Most apprentices begin training at 16 to 19, but you may be able to join later (see the Training section for contacts). You will need four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3), including maths, science or design and technology, or an appropriate equivalent.

Alternative entry qualifications open to all age groups, include:

• BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Civil Engineering
• Foundation Degree in Civil Engineering
• BTEC Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Civil Engineering.

These awards are available at colleges and universities throughout the country. Please check with them for details.

For information about foundation degrees see Foundation Degree Forward

To search for colleges and universities offering foundation degrees, HNDs and degrees see Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You may be able to start a trainee position with a company after completing a more general engineering or construction qualification.

For more detailed information about relevant qualifications and civil engineering as a career, see the websites for:

• the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
• the Institution of Structural Engineers.

For general information about engineering as a career, see SEMTA and Women into Science and Engineering. In addition, the Engineering Training Council (Northern Ireland) has careers information and a course database for local colleges. See their websites in Further Information.

Training

You receive on-the-job training and you can work towards one of several NVQ/SVQ awards at level 3, depending on your role. These include:

• Technical Design (Built Environment)
• Engineering Technical Support
• Construction Site Supervision
• Construction Plant and Equipment Supervision
• Laboratory and Associated Technical Activities
• Transportation (technical options).

For more details about relevant on-the-job training, contact the ICE in Further Information.

If you are a qualified/experienced civil engineering technician, you could consider registering with the Engineering Council to achieve EngTech status for professional development purposes. For more details, see the ICE and EngTech websites in Further Information.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

There is a wide range of opportunities for technicians in civil engineering in most parts of the country. Examples include:

• public and private sector building works
• power and water distribution networks
• transport and mining projects.

Progression routes normally involve movement into supervisory or site management roles; or specialising in particular aspects of the role, such as construction design or estimating.

With additional academic training, technicians can become fully qualified civil engineers. See the Civil Engineer profile.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

New entrants start between £17,000 and £19,000 a year.
Experienced technicians can earn between £20,000 and £26,000 a year.
Senior technicians may earn up to £33,000 a year.

Further information

1 Great George Street
London
SW1P 3AA
Tel: 020 7222 7722 14 Upton Road
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD18 0JT
Tel: 0800 282 167 Interpoint
20-24 York Street
Belfast
BT15 1AQ
Tel: 028 9032 9878 11 Upper Belgrave Street
London
SW1X 8BH
Tel: 020 7235 4535