Becoming a BC Land Surveyor

If you are interested in becoming a BC land surveyor, you must first enter articles with a practising land surveyor who has been commissioned for a minimum of three years. All candidates will be required to complete articling for two years, which is the initial term during which a land surveyor in training will receive training and experience in both core and supplementary knowledge areas to develop key land surveying skills. There are a number of steps involved in the articling process, and the candidate must secure employment under a practising land surveyor to enter and successfully complete the process. An articling agreement will be completed for approval during this process.

To enter into articles with a BC Land Surveyor, you must first become a Land Surveyor in Training by obtaining a Certificate of Completion from the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS). This typically involves obtaining a degree in geomatics from an accredited institution. This is to show that you have the required academic qualifications that are relevant to Land Surveying. Once you have your certificate, you can qualify to be a Land Surveyor in Training and start your articling process.

If you are currently a student in a geomatics engineering technology program, you should become a survey student with the Association of BC Land Surveyors if you are considering a career in this field. You will receive information about educational seminars, and no annual fee is required. If you are a graduate of a recognized two-year geomatics engineering technology diploma program, you may obtain a certificate of completion following the success of your exam, after which you may enter into a term of articling under a BC Land Surveyor and can register with the Association as a Land Surveyor in training.

During articling, you will receive more training and gain experience to help you complete the required field project reports, exams, and assessment interview. Field project reports are required to show your competency in practical elements of field surveying. They are to demonstrate an understanding and application of the various elements that are involved in completing a surveying project. Professional exams cover practical surveying and statutes and regulations. The assessment interview will be conducted before the Board of Management.

There are international land surveyors and Canadian land surveyors, and each one comes with different qualifications. If you are a land surveyor in a non-Canadian jurisdiction, you may qualify as a Land Surveyor in training in British Columbia and may be able to enter into a term of anticking under a BC Land Surveyor. If you are a licensed land surveyor in another Canadian jurisdiction, you may qualify as a Land Surveyor Associate in British Columbia. As an associate, you may be able to write a jurisdiction examination, which is designed to test your level of jurisdictional knowledge.

You will be glad to know that there are a number of BC Land Surveyors Foundation awards and scholarships that you can apply for. It is possible to receive support, so if you are a student who is studying geomatics in Canada, you may qualify.

Target Land Surveying can help you become a BC land surveyor. We will provide you with all the information you need regarding Land Surveyors, so if you are in the Lower Mainland area, contact us about your new career today!