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Studies & Degrees in Civil Engineering Technology

Civil engineering technology is the applied side of civil engineering. It trains the technologists and technicians who, in the words of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), help civil engineers plan, design and build highways, bridges, utilities and other infrastructure projects. Students learn to survey sites, prepare drawings with computer-aided design (CAD) software, test soils and construction materials, estimate costs and inspect work in progress.

The subject differs from a civil engineering degree in emphasis. ABET, the US accreditor, explains that engineering programmes often focus on theory and conceptual design, while engineering technology programmes usually focus on application and implementation. Typical course topics at SUNY Polytechnic Institute are structural analysis and design, water and wastewater systems, highway planning and design, construction administration, hydrology and hydraulics, and construction estimating and scheduling. Fieldwork is part of the training. Students at Idaho State University work with electronic total stations, levels, GPS, unmanned aerial systems and 3D laser scanners.

Qualifications and levels

The name and the level of the qualification depend on the country.

  • United States. ABET accredits engineering technology programmes at two levels: associate (two years) and bachelor (four years). Idaho State University offers an Associate of Applied Science in Civil Engineering Technology that takes two years and is ABET-accredited, and it links to a bachelor's degree in surveying and geomatics. At bachelor's level, SUNY Polytechnic Institute lets students choose emphases in transportation, structures or construction.
  • Canada. Colleges award a diploma. The Civil Engineering Technology diploma of Camosun College in Victoria lasts four semesters, includes a co-op or internship option and is open to international students. The college states that Technology Accreditation Canada recognises the programme. Graduates can apply for an eight-month bridge programme that leads into the third year of a civil engineering degree. For 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, Camosun estimates tuition for the whole programme at $14,514 for domestic students and $35,136 for international students.
  • Spain. Here the name refers to a full university engineering degree. The Grado en Tecnología de la Ingeniería Civil of the Universidad de A Coruña has 240 credits. The university describes it as a degree with a solid scientific base that prepares students for the Máster Universitario en Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales y Puertos. It also gives access to the regulated profession of Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas (public works engineer), which by law requires an official bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits. The university states that the degree obtained the EUR-ACE quality label in 2018 and that part of it can be taken in other languages.
  • Denmark. Short-cycle programmes are called Academy Profession (AP) degrees. VIA University College offers Construction Technology in Horsens: two years, 120 ECTS credits and a 10-week internship. It covers the planning and technical administration of construction projects.

Where to study it

This directory lists 13 active schools for civil engineering technology: 7 in the United States, 2 in Canada, 2 in Brazil, 1 in Spain and 1 in Denmark. Examples in the United States are Ferris State University, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Idaho State University, Eastern Maine Community College, Lansing Community College and Broward College. In Canada the directory lists Camosun College and Lethbridge College, in Brazil FAAP in São Paulo and the Universidade Estadual de Maringá, and in Spain the Universidad de A Coruña.

Programmes in the United States and Canada are taught in English. At the other schools, students should ask about the language of instruction. They should also ask which professional body recognises the qualification, because the right to sign off designs is regulated differently in each country.

Careers

Graduates work for engineering consultancies, construction companies and public works departments. In the United States, technologists and technicians work under licensed engineers. The BLS notes that, because they are not licensed, they cannot approve designs or supervise the overall project. According to ABET, graduates of ABET-accredited bachelor's programmes in engineering technology can become registered professional engineers in many, but not all, states.

The BLS counted about 70,900 civil engineering technologists and technicians in the United States in 2025. Engineering services employed 47% of them, state government 23% and local government 19%. Employment is projected to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations, with about 6,100 openings each year. An associate degree is the typical entry requirement, and some employers require a bachelor's degree for technologist posts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between civil engineering and civil engineering technology?

Civil engineering degrees focus more on theory and conceptual design. Civil engineering technology programmes focus on application: surveying, drafting, testing and site work. In Spain the name is used differently, for a full 240-credit engineering degree.

How long does it take to study civil engineering technology?

Two years for an associate degree in the United States or a college diploma in Canada (four semesters at Camosun College), and four years for a bachelor's degree. The Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 credits.

Can a civil engineering technologist become a civil engineer?

Often yes, with further study. Camosun College, for example, offers an eight-month bridge programme into the third year of a civil engineering degree. In the United States, bachelor's graduates of ABET-accredited programmes can seek a professional engineer licence in many states.

Is there work for graduates?

The BLS projects 3% employment growth in the United States from 2025 to 2035, with about 6,100 openings each year.