A land surveyor isn’t a job many people think of, but it’s one of the best ones you can get. You can get good pay and do fulfilling work learning about the land.
On top of that, there are quite a few positions available with private companies and governments. As of 2021, there were around 50,000 jobs in the United States.
Do you think you have what it takes to be a professional land surveyor and want to pursue it as a career? Keep reading to learn how to get started on the job.
Get Educated
The first thing you need to do when surveying residential or commercial land is to get an education. You need specialized knowledge to handle this job, so a bachelor’s degree is required by most companies.
However, it is possible to find companies that offer apprenticeships if you have a GED. However, it’s probably a good idea to get educated if you can to maximize your job prospects.
Get Licensed
Unfortunately, you can’t start working as a commercial or residential land surveyor right out of school. The people hiring surveyors want to be sure the people they hire can handle the job. Because of that, they look for licenses.
You’ll need to take a licensing exam before you start working in this industry. The first license to aim for is the Fundamentals of Surveying. This license will help you get your foot in the door at most companies hiring beginner surveyors.
Of course, you’ll still be new. You’ll be considered a surveying intern by the company hiring you.
Find a Job
You can start the job hunt once you get your surveyor’s license. This process will be the same as any other job on the market. You look on job boards and local classifieds to see available options.
As mentioned above, your first job will probably be as an intern. You’ll gain your first experience and learn how to use equipment like the ones from pilottrackhdd.com and other surveying information.
After you’ve been at your first job for some time, you’ll be able to advance to better positions. You can do this at your current company or begin looking for new opportunities if your current employer doesn’t offer enough advancement options.
Start Specializing
As you start your surveying career, you’ll start as a generalist. You’ll experience several career options in the field and be able to learn what each takes.
But as time goes on, you’ll probably decide to start specializing. This is important because you can find more opportunities in the field when you can advertise yourself as a specialist.
Once you find a specialty to grow into, begin learning everything you can about it. You can start getting advanced certifications when you do and get more lucrative positions.
You’re Ready to Become a Professional Land Surveyor
You’re taking a big step once you decide on being a professional land surveyor when considering your career choices. You may dedicate a lot of time learning your craft and more time working your way up in the industry.
That means you need to understand what’s involved with the process and how to do it right. Follow the guide above to learn how to survey all types of land.
Check out the blog if you want to learn more tips to help you figure out your career options.
