Engineer, Professional Engineer
Interest in synthesizing information to conduct studies of ground-water flow and contamination; to develop guidelines for site selection, treatment and construction; to analyze and prepare recommendations for construction and improvement projects such as rock excavation, pressure grouting and hydraulic-channel erosion control; and to analyze and prepare reports on settlement of buildings, stability of slopes and fills, and probable effects of landslides, and earthquakes to support construction and civil engineering projects
Interest in precision working to design, develop and implement computer applications for geophysics, geochemistry, geology, mapping and related fields, and to plan, develop, co-ordinate and conduct studies in mining exploration, evaluation and feasibility
Interest in supervising technologists, technicians, and other engineers and scientists; and in providing recommendations on the suitability of locations for civil engineers, mining and oil and gas projects
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation. It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Geotechnical engineers work with geologists, other scientists and engineers to solve engineering and environmental problems. They investigate the engineering feasibility of planned projects, and help design cost-effective solutions to problems while maintaining recognized standards. They may be involved in a wide variety of projects:
Geotechnical engineers usually specialize in a particular type of work such as land remediation, rock mechanics or groundwater hydrology. They may be generalists within an area or specialize further. In the oil and gas industry, they may work primarily on oil sands projects, Arctic projects, or the hydrogeological or geomechanical aspects of exploration, production or pipeline projects.
In general, geotechnical engineers:
Geotechnical engineers may spend up to half of their working hours outdoors conducting field investigations or supervising construction. They may work on projects in remote locations. A significant amount of travel may be required.
Geotechnical engineers need the following characteristics:
They should enjoy analyzing and synthesizing information, performing tasks that require precision, working outdoors and supervising the work of others.
The basic educational requirement for geotechnical engineers is a four year Bachelor's degree with suitable course selections in a related engineering discipline such as civil engineering or chemical engineering.
The following schools offer programs and courses that meet this occupation’s educational requirements. Other eligible programs and courses may be available.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Professional Engineers design, construct, evaluate, advise, monitor and report on the performance of materials, equipment, systems, works, processes and structures.
Under Alberta's Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, you must be a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) to practice as a professional engineer. You do not have to be registered if you work under the direct supervision of a professional engineer and do not call yourself a professional engineer or use the word engineer in your job title.
Registration as a Professional Engineer requires: (1) a 4-year bachelor's degree in a recognized engineering program and at least 4 years of acceptable work experience under the supervision of a Professional Engineer, or an equivalent combination of education and experience, (2) a minimum of 3 acceptable references and (3) successful completion of an approved examination in law, ethics and professionalism. A new Provisional Member category has been introduced. For official, detailed information about registration requirements, visit APEGA's website or contact APEGA.
Engineers who are registered and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for registration in Alberta if registered engineers in the 2 jurisdictions have similar responsibilities and competencies. For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory? and the Alberta regulatory authority (below).
To find more information on the certification process for internationally educated engineers, see Professional Engineer Licensing Process on AlbertaCanada.com.
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta
1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T5J 4A2
Phone number: 780-426-3990
Toll-free phone number (within North America): 1-800-661-7020
Fax: 780-426-1877
Email: email@apega.ca
Website: www.apega.ca
Geotechnical engineers may be employed by or work on a contract basis for:
Experienced geotechnical engineers may become technical specialists, set up their own consulting companies, become construction contractors or business engineering analysts, or move into management positions. Working in a multidisciplinary environment may allow geotechnical engineers to develop the expertise required to move into associated areas of engineering, science, sales, marketing or management.
Geotechnical engineers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2144: Geological Engineers. In Alberta, 90% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $18.00 | $44.30 | $32.83 | $29.81 |
| Overall | $21.00 | $66.22 | $45.07 | $36.37 |
| Top | $45.19 | $90.38 | $65.93 | $54.98 |
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* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Lower Reliability, represents a CV of between 15.01% and 33.00% and/or if fewer than 20 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 33% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) website: www.apega.ca
Engineers Canada website: www.engineerscanada.ca
Geological Association of Canada (GAC) website: www.gac.ca
Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada (PHRC) website: www.petrohrsc.ca
PHRC's Oil and Gas Careers website: www.oilandgascareerinfo.ca
For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.
Updated Apr 09, 2014. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.