Land Agent
Land agents negotiate and acquire interests in land for rights-of-way for well sites, pipelines, powerlines, coal mines, roadways and other surface uses.
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Avg. Salary $83,265.00
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Avg. Wage $41.68
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Minimum Education 2 years post-secondary
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Outlook below avg
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Employed 12,000
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In Demand Lower
Also Known As
Land Negotiator, Oil and Gas Company Land Agent, Petroleum Land Agent
NOC Codes
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
- 2006 NOC: Purchasing Agents and Officers (1225)
- 2006 NOC-S: Purchasing Agents and Officers (B315)
- 2011 NOC: Purchasing agents and officers (1225)
- 2016 NOC: Purchasing agents and officers (1225)
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
28%
28%
Average Wage
Starting
Overall
Top
Average Wage
| Starting | $33.29 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $41.68 |
| Top | $49.91 |
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Certification Provincially Regulated
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Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg
Interest Codes
The Land Agent is part of the following larger National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Purchasing Agents and Officers
- METHODICAL
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Interest in compiling information to establish delivery schedules and to monitor progress
- DIRECTIVE
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Interest in negotiating or determining contract terms and conditions and in awarding supplier contracts or recommending contract awards; may hire, train and supervise purchasing clerks
- social
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Interest in contacting clients and suppliers to resolve problems
Reading Interest Codes
A Quick Guide
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.
Duties
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Licensed land agents negotiate and acquire interest in land. They also may:
- acquire freehold surface mineral leases and easement agreements from private individuals who own the mineral right for the land
- assess and settle damages
- negotiate road use agreements
- act as a link between corporations, government agencies, the agriculture industry and land owners
- prepare reports and legal documentation for interests in land
- testify before regulatory boards
- act as a public affairs liaison in communities for their employers (for example, liaise with Indigenous peoples).
Working Conditions
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Land agents generally work in a field environment and may spend a considerable amount of time travelling in rural areas. Senior land agents may spend most of their time in office environments co-ordinating the activities of junior land agents and responding to questions.
Working hours may vary depending on the availability of stakeholders (for example, early morning and late night meetings). Some land agents may be required to be on-call 7 days a week, depending on the needs of the project.
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Strength Required Lift up to 5 kg
Skills & Abilities
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Land agents need the following characteristics:
- integrity and high ethical standards
- excellent oral and written communication skills
- excellent interpersonal, negotiation and public relations skills
- good organizational skills
- patience and attention to detail
- the ability to work with little supervision
- understanding of contracts and leasing agreements for interests in land or commitments to landowners and occupants
- knowledgeable on variety of subjects (for example. lease site construction techniques, farming and ranching practices and remediation and reclaiming processes).
They should enjoy co-ordinating office and field services, and dealing with legal matters and people from all walks of life.
Educational Requirements
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Employers prefer to hire applicants for entry level land agent positions who:
- have related post-secondary education
- are computer literate
- are eligible to become a Commissioner for Oaths
- have experience in the agriculture industry and the oil and gas industry
- have an Alberta Class 5 driver's licence
- are bondable (acceptable to an insurance company as a responsible, law-abiding person)
- are knowledgeable about drafting contracts.
To obtain a permanent land agent licence in Alberta, you must:
- first obtain an interim land agent licence (applicants must be at least 18 years of age, have 2 years of related post-secondary education, enter into a Training Agreement and successfully complete an examination)
- successfully complete the Land Agents Licensing distance learning program offered through Olds College
- train and work under the supervision of qualified permanent land agents for a minimum of 12 consecutive months
- complete at least 25 negotiations for an interest in land
- submit an evaluation completed by the trainer indicating that all requirements have been met
- successfully complete the permanent land agent examination.
For more information on obtaining an interim or permanent land agent licence visit the Land Agent licensing website.
Related Education
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
Olds College
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
Certification Requirements
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Land Agent
Land agents are responsible for the negotiation and acquisition of interests in land for rights-of-way and other surface uses. Typically this includes well sites, pipelines, powerlines, alternative energy installations, cell towers and roads.
Legislation
Under Alberta’s Land Agents Licensing Act [pdf] and Land Agents Licensing Regulation [pdf], you must be a licensed land agent to:
- Negotiate agreements with landowners to acquire certain surface interests in Alberta (unless exempted as set out in the Act and Regulation)
- Act as a Land Agent or advertise yourself a Land Agent
What You Need
To obtain an interim land agent licence, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have entered into a training agreement
- Have completed at least 2 years of post-secondary education that is relevant to the activities of a land agent
- Successfully complete an examination
To obtain a permanent land agent licence, you must:
- Have held an interim land agent license for a minimum of 12 consecutive months
- Have completed the legislated practice requirements
- Successfully complete an examination
For official, detailed information about licensing requirements, visit the Government of Alberta website.
Contact Details
Land Agents Licensing
Government of Alberta
3rd Floor, Labour Building
10808 99 Avenue NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 0G5
Canada
Call: 780-415-4600
Call toll-free (within Alberta): 310-0000, then 780-415-4600
Fax number: 780-422-7173
Website: www.alberta.ca/land-agents-licensing.aspx
Additional Information
Industry certification may be obtained for:
- Professional Landman (P.Land)
- Professional Surface Landman (PSL).
Individuals who are active permanent land agents in Alberta, or hold a provincial equivalent, may apply for certification through Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL). The requirements for obtaining certification include a combination of qualifying experience, completion of designated mandatory courses, academic achievement, payment of fees, and successful completion of written examination.
Employment & Advancement
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Land agents work for oil and gas companies, land service companies, engineering firms, pipeline companies, electric and gas utilities, railways, communications companies and government agencies. They may work in a variety of positions:
- surface land agent
- petroleum landman
- land representative
- municipal land agent
- land use technician
- lease negotiator
- public consultation co-ordinator
- right-of-way planner
- liaison co-ordinator
- land management technician
- contract land agent.
Some land agents are self-employed consultants. Work in this occupation may be seasonal.
Advancement opportunities vary depending on the agent's educational qualifications and experience.
Land agents are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 1225: Purchasing Agents and Officers. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:
- Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction (PDF)
- Manufacturing (PDF)
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (PDF)
- Wholesale Trade (PDF)
- Public Administration (PDF)
- Construction (PDF)
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
- trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
- location in Alberta
- employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
- occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
- size of the occupation.
In Alberta, the B315: Purchasing Agents and Officers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.2% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 137 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Wage & Salary
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Salaries for land agents can vary greatly depending on the type of work involved, the individual's background and the employer.
Hourly Wage
For full-time and part-time employees
- Low
- High
- Average
- Median
Starting
Overall
Top
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $18.00 | $54.57 | $33.29 | $30.62 |
| Overall | $21.54 | $73.60 | $41.68 | $39.74 |
| Top | $24.04 | $114.36 | $49.91 | $44.23 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* 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.
A: High Reliability
Data Reliability Code Definition
High Reliability, represents a CV of less than or equal to 6.00% and 30 survey observations and/or represents 50% or more of all estimated employment for the occupation.
Industry Information
| Oil & Gas Extraction | $109,401 |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | $88,843 |
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $83,265 |
| Public Administration | $82,590 |
| Professional, Scientific & Technical Services | $81,837 |
| Construction | $80,665 |
| Manufacturing | $78,659 |
| Business, Building and Other Support Services | $75,948 |
| Educational Services | $67,354 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $63,465 |
| Wholesale Trade | $59,934 |
| Retail Trade | $47,736 |
Skills Shortage
Employers that Recruited in the Last 2 Years
28%
28%)
Recruiting Employers that Experienced Hiring Difficulties
16%
16%
Employers with Unfilled Vacancies of over 4 Months
1%
1%
Vacancy Rate
N/A
Other Sources of Information
Updated Jan 30, 2017
Alberta Association of Surface Land Agents (AASLA) website: aasla.com
Canadian Association of Petroleum Land Administration website: caplacanada.org
Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen (CAPL) website: landman.ca
Careers in Oil + Gas website: www.careersinoilandgas.com
Land Agent Licensing website: work.alberta.ca/labour/land-agents-licensing.html
International Right of Way Association (IRWA) website: www.irwaonline.org
For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Supports Centre near you.
Updated Mar 02, 2016. 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.
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