Civil Engineering is a professional engineering discipline that specializes in the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment. It includes works like buildings, bridges, roads, canals, and dams. The areas of specializations include:
- Structural Engineering
- Hydraulic and Water Resources Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
The goal of civil engineering programs is to establish students as specialized professional engineers and lead members of the profession. Graduates will come out with the knowledge and ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data. An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety.
California is an important state for licensure and once licensed in California civil engineers can obtain a Civil PE in every other state once they have achieved the necessary work experience in the state for which you’re seeking licensure. California requires only two years of work experience for those with a BS degree from an ABET accredited program, and one year for those with a Masters degree from an ABET accredited program. All accredited programs are required to provide one year of mathematics and basic sciences, one and one-half years of engineering science and design, and one-half year of humanities and social sciences.
Licensure as a professional engineer in the state of California is a three step process.
- Individuals must pass the fundamentals of an engineering exam.
- Obtain six years of qualifying experience.
- The prospective engineer must take and pass the Professional Engineering exam along with the California specific Civil Engineering Surveying exam, and the Civil Seismic Principles exam.
Continuing education is not required for professional engineers licensed in California.
The average civil engineering salary in California is $95,750, making civil engineers in the state the top paid nationwide, according to the BLS. Civil engineer salaries for job postings in California are 8 percent higher than average Civil Engineer salaries for job postings nationwide so the continued outlook seems to look hopeful for prospective civil engineers.