Civil Engineer - How to become a Civil Engineer

Civil Engineer is a professional responsible for the structural development of the landscape and urbanisation of the society. There was a time when civil engineering was synonymous of engineering itself. It was because of a few disciplines in engineering unlike now, when there are so many like mechanical, electrical, electronics, computer and genetics to name a few.

Civil Engineer working for the Government organization has to work within the guidelines of the local government authority and get plans approved by the relevant authority. He is also responsible for preparing the cost estimates of the projects along with setting construction schedules. Construction work involves dealing with clients, architects, government officials, contractors and the supervision of work according to standards. Their work also involves the maintenance and repair of the project.

The major specializations within the ambit of civil engineering are structural engineering, environmental engineering, construction engineering, transportation and geotechnical engineering etc. On most projects, the civil engineer works in teams or in coordination with the engineering official of the other related streams.

Civil Engineering Eligibility

Aspiring candidate must have a Diploma in Civil Engineering or a Degree in Civil Engineering to become a Civil Engineer.

Civil Engineer Required Skills

• Civil Engineers should have discipline, patience, commitment to excel in their respective field and self-confidence.
• Candidate with these traits in them has to compete in some of the most competitive engineering entrance exams like JEE  etc. to take admission in some of the top engineering colleges of India to get relevant knowledge and expertise.
• They also possess the ability to think methodically, to design, plan and manage projects; to maintain an overview of entire projects while continuing to attend to detailed technicalities.
• They also possess excellent verbal and written communication skills; negotiating, supervisory and leadership skills combined with the ability to delegate.

How to become a Civil Engineer?

Aspiring candidates have two options to become a Civil Engineer.

The first one is to get a Diploma in Civil Engineering after passing 10th class.

Step 1
After clearing 10 class interested candidates have to appear in an entrance test conducted by the Technical Education Boards of various State Governments and selected candidates are admitted in the Diploma colleges according to the rank of the candidate in the entrance exam. However, some polytechnic provides admission on the basis of marks secured in 10 class.

Step 2
After completing this three years Diploma in Civil Engineering, the diploma holder can either join some job as a junior engineer or compete to get admission in the second year of a degree in engineering course provided by some regional engineering colleges. OR

As another option, diploma engineer can complete its engineering studies through AMIE (Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers) - An alternate option for getting an engineering degree.

AMIE introduce non-formal engineering education programme, successful completion of which is recognised as equivalent to a degree in engineering by the Government of India, the union public service commission, state governments and public/ private sector organizations.

As a second option, engineering aspirant can opt for 10+2 followed by the admission in the degree college. 

Step 1
After completing 12 class aspiring candidates have to appear in the Engineering Entrance Test like JEE conducted by various reputed institutes IITs to get admission to BE (Civil Engineering). Candidate gets admission into these colleges for four-year degree programme according to their merit in the examination taken and the stream of their interest.

Step 2
After successful completion of degree course and completion of the required internship, the candidate is eligible to join Government, Semi Government or Privates sector as an Assistant Engineer. One can go for Combined Engineering Services exam to get to the top most technical post of the Government of India.

Candidates who want to go for research work or in teaching field can opt of higher qualification as M.E/M.Tech. (Civil Engineering) followed by PhD (Civil Engineering) and can pursue research work or academics.

Civil Engineer Job Description

Civil Engineer is responsible for planning, designing and constructing the project to the required scale, along with maintenance of the end product. To undertake all these works in an effective and efficient manner a Civil Engineer requires not only a high level of engineering knowledge but also extraordinary supervisory and administrative skills. The planning part of a civil engineer’s work involves site investigation, feasibility studies, looking for feasible solutions to complications that may occur during the construction work and the actual designing of structures.

Civil Engineer Career Prospects
A Civil Engineer's job involves planning, designing and constructing the project at hands to the required scale, along with maintenance of the end product.

Civil Engineer Salary

Civil Engineer in the private sector can expect Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 to start with and can go as high as Rs. 1,00,000 per month or more with little experience. A civil engineer can also work independently on various infrastructural projects and earn according to their calibre and expertise to handle the mega projects.

In Government sector civil engineer is appointed as Sub Divisional Officers (SDO) or Assistant Engineer and can go up to the post of Chief Engineer. Here these professionals are suitably compensated by other perks and allowances in addition to housing facilities, medical expenses as well as free/concessional air passages for their immediate family members and dependents (as LTC) and above all the status in lieu of little fewer wages.