Ɣ How to become a civil engineering technicianCivil engineering technicians plan and draw the technical details for building and repairing roads, bridges, buildings and other structures.

Qualifications needed

To become a civil engineering technician you must first complete the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering. This is an academically-based qualification provided at 11 polytechnics throughout New Zealand. Following this, you need to get work in an engineering environment, and then complete the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering Practice. This covers the practical elements of the role and is gained on the job while you work.

To become a civil engineering draughtsperson, ideally you need experience in a specific CAD (computer-aided design) software. A Diploma in Engineering is not necessary to become a draught-sperson, but it is useful.

Some companies offer cadetships, where you can train on the job and study part-time towards these diplomas.

→ WelTec website, information on cadetships in engineering: www.weltec.ac.nz/ABOUTWELTEC/TechnologyCadetships.aspx

→ Infratrain website, information on the National Diploma in Civil Engineering: www.infratrain.co.nz/Civil_engineering.htm

Cost of study

NZ Diploma in Engineering Level 6

$12,500 over two years

Average costs in 2015 for a domestic student. Costs vary between institutions. Further costs include materials, textbooks, and accommodation.

Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by re-gion, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services website.

The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.

→ Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills

→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz

→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner

Registration

Civil engineering technicians can be registered as Certified Engi-neering Technicians (CertETn) through the Institution of Profes-sional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ). This certification requires demonstrating competence to the required standard (to gain entry to the register); undertaking competence assessments at regular intervals (not exceeding 6 years); and complying with a Code of Ethical Conduct (to retain registration).

→ IPENZ – information on becoming a Certified Engineering Technician: www.ipenz.org.nz/ipenz/registration/Engineering-Technician/Certified_Engineering_Technician.cfm

Completed qualifications

The number of students completing civil engineering diplomas level 5 to 7 has grown to 175 in 2014, following a drop in 2013.

Source: Ministry of Education

Ɣ Income and employment prospectsIncome

In 2015, the estimated average income for civil engineering draftspersons and technicians was $68,000.

Estimated average income

$68,000

Average income estimated from the New Zealand Income Survey 2015.

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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Civil Engineering Diplomas/Certificates Level 5-7

CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS JOB PROSPECTS

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JOB PROSPECTS Prospects are good for qualified civil engineering technicians. The Canterbury rebuild, Auckland’s rapid growth and government investment in infrastructure and roading continues to generate demand for engineering skills, and there is currently a shortage of skilled civil engineering technicians. Falling student numbers should also push up demand in the future. This occupation is a viable option for those wanting to enter the field of engineering without needing to do a full degree.

At a glance

CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Pay for a civil engineering technician depends on where they work and how much experience they have:

• civil engineering cadets may start on the minimum wage or a little more

• junior civil engineering technicians usually earn between $30,000 and $50,000 a year

• intermediate civil engineering technicians usually earn between $50,000 and $70,000 a year

• senior civil engineering technicians may earn up to $80,000 a year

Employment and skill shortages

Engineering technicians’ employment

Current Projected growth*

2013 2014 2014–19 2019–24

15,800 15,8000.3%

2.9%per year

2.0%per year

Projected growth is for the broader category of “Building and Engineering Technicians”.

The number of civil engineering technicians has fallen slightly in recent years, but is expected to grow by 2.9 % until 2019.

Source: MBIE estimates

Civil engineering technicians and draughtspersons appear on Im-migration New Zealand’s long-term skill shortage list, indicating the government is actively encouraging skilled workers in those occupations to work in New Zealand. A full list is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.

→ Immigration NZ, skill shortage list: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz

Where to find job vacancies

Online vacancies for civil engineering draftspersons and techni-cians increased by 14% between September 2014 and Septem-ber 2015. This is well above the overall increase of 1.9% in all vacancies. Civil engineering technician vacancies are advertised through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs and Seek web-sites, as well as the IPENZ JobHunt website.

→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs

→ Seek: www.seek.co.nz

→ IPENZ JobHunt: www.jobhunt.co.nz

Career path

A common career pathway is to gain employment with a com-pany that offers cadetships to young men or women wishing to become civil engineering technicians. Cadets complete their diploma while working in industry. Once cadets have finished their tertiary qualification they are often promoted into higher-level full-time positions within the company.

Cadetships are offered by a variety of organisations including engineering and construction companies, local authorities and utility companies.

Civil engineering technicians can progress within an engineering firm up to partner level. Some become engineering technologists by completing a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEngTech) degree or professional engineers by completing a Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Ɣ Other informationLinks

More information on civil engineering technicians is available on the Careers New Zealand website.

→ Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz

CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

CIVIL ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS

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