Civil Engineering Technician

CampusStart DateTuition/Fees
MonctonJanuary 2025 (Blended Delivery) Domestic | International

Program Overview

The Civil Engineering Technician certificate program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills required to work as a technician in the building and civil engineering fields. This program offers a broad range of skill-based training in fundamental areas such as math, physical science, critical thinking, problem-solving, research, communication, construction materials, codes, and teamwork, as well as technical skills such as surveying, material testing (concrete, asphalt, soils, and aggregates), computer-aided drafting and design, and layout and design of buildings and infrastructure.
 
Throughout the program, students will learn and apply the knowledge and skills in a real, practical, and simulated environment through lectures, extensive hands-on activities, and individual or team projects.


Duration

The requirements for this certificate program may be achieved with one year of full-time study.


Admission Requirements

    Profile C

  • High School Diploma or Adult High School Diploma or GED Diploma of High School Equivalency or Essential Skills Achievement Pathway: Post-Secondary Entry High School Diploma
    • Foundations of Mathematics 110
      or
      Geometry and Applications in Mathematics 112 and Functions and Relations 112
      • Total of two (2) sciences, including at least one (1) from the following:
        • Biology 112 or 122
        • Chemistry 112 or 122
        • Physics 112 or 122 (recommended)

      NB Francophone High School Math Equivalencies
      International Student Admission Equivalencies


      Career Possibilities

      Civil Technicians are employed by consulting engineering and construction companies, public works, transportation, other government departments, and many other industries.



      Specific Considerations

      After completing their first year, graduates from the Civil Engineering Technician certificate program can choose to continue their studies in either a Building Engineering Technology Diploma or a Civil Engineering Technology diploma path. The diploma path requires one additional year of study.
       
      Local campuses can provide information on courses that are the prerequisites for technology programs at New Brunswick Community College. Many universities give credits for courses completed in this program; however, assessment is usually conducted on an individual basis.

      Important Note: Immediately following second term, students must complete a one-week surveying fieldwork course.

      Technology Requirements
      NBCC is a connected learning environment. All programs require a minimum specification, including access to the internet and a laptop. Your computer should meet your program technology requirements to ensure the software required for your program operates effectively. Free wifi is provided on all campuses.


      Areas of Study

      • Communication
      • Computer-Aided Drafting and Design
      • Technical Drawings
      • Asphalt / Concrete / Soils Technology
      • Math and Physics
      • Computer Tools and Applications
      • Ethics, Sustainability, Contracts and Codes
      • Surveying Theory and Field Skills
      • Materials and Methods
      • Employment Strategies
      • Health and Safety


      Program Courses

      Courses are subject to change.

      This course introduces students to common practices during construction stages. Students acquire knowledge in building materials used in buildings and infrastructures at beginning stages of construction. Students explore the influences of planning, designing and implementation to excavation and construction projects.

      This course introduces students to common practices during construction stages. Students acquire knowledge in building materials used in light wood framed commercial buildings at all stages of construction. Students explore the influences of planning, designing and implementation to construction projects.

      Prerequisites:

      • BTTB1027A

      This course is designed to introduce students to aggregates used in the construction industry. Students will learn the basics of aggregate testing and assessment of aggregate properties as it relates to PC concrete, asphalt concrete, and subgrade improvement (roadway base/subbase). Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience in a lab setting.

      This course provides students with the basic knowledge and skills required to properly use portland cement concrete. Students are applying industry standards on plastic and hardened portland cement concrete. Learning is achieved through the theory and hands on practices in a lab environment.

      Prerequisites:

      • BTTB1029A

      This course is designed to provide fundamental information required for the manufacture, construction and maintenance of asphalt concrete pavements. Students are going to conduct standard tests used by industry for the quality control and acceptance of asphalt concrete. Students will use PCI to evaluate pavement surface conditions. Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience in a lab setting.

      Prerequisites:

      • BTTB1029A

      This course introduces students to soils as a basic construction material used in civil engineering design and construction. Emphasis is on soil formation, soil exploration, laboratory tests, index properties, and classification systems. In the lab setting, students conduct standard industry soil tests and report their test findings. Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience in a lab setting.

      Prerequisites:

      • BTTB1029A

      This course is designed to help students strengthen their fundamental skills in writing clear, effective sentences and paragraphs, and enable them to create organized, unified and coherent documents. The writing process is introduced. Students will recognize the importance of writing for the intended purpose and audience.

      This course introduces students to the fundamentals of technical writing and research. Students will learn how to write a variety of technical documents and business correspondence suitable to a specific audience and purpose as well as learn how to conduct research and document sources.

      Prerequisites:

      • COMM1264A

      This course is designed for students to learn how to quickly make sketches and notes. Emphasis is on recognizing the important details and getting them clearly sketched and/or written down. Accuracy, neatness, and legibility are stressed throughout.  

      Learning is achieved through hands-on class activities and assignments. 

      This course introduces students to ethical principles and codes of conduct applicable to Professional Engineering Technology practice. It prepares students for being engineering technology professionals by exploring critical thinking, ethical behavior, and the legal and professional accountabilities that apply in the workplace. The industry's code(s) of ethics and practical case studies are used as the learning focus.

      Learning is achieved through lectures, case studies, and team projects.

      This course presents an overview of the building codes and standards, laws, regulations, and acts, etc. that govern building and infrastructure planning, design and construction in Canada. Students will examine major standards, acts and regulations including roles and responsibilities for various building regulatory systems at various levels of government. Students will learn how those regulatory systems serve to create a framework for establishing and maintaining a built environment that is safe, resilient, sustainable and efficient. They will understand the importance of complying with the applicable national, provincial, municipal building codes, standards, regulations, and acts, etc., in construction projects.

      This course forms the foundations of technical mathematics. Topics covered include fundamental numerical calculations, manipulation of algebraic expressions, and solving equations, system of equations, and word problems. Learning is achieved through lectures, classroom examples and working out problems.

      This course is designed for students to learn more advanced algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. Topics include quadratic equations, trigonometry, logarithms, and vectors.

      Learning will be achieved through lectures and classroom examples and work. Learning is achieved through lectures and in-class activities.

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1271B

      This course introduces students to advanced technical math required to solve applied problems in Engineering Technology. Topics include complex numbers, matrices, plane analytic geometry, graphs of trigonometric functions and trigonometric equations. Limits, as required for calculus, is also introduced. 
       
      Students will be able to apply the advanced technical math to solve technical problems and evaluate limits. Learning is achieved through lectures and in-class activities.

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1272B

      This course provides an introduction to the meaning of community service.  Students learn how community service can enhance a student’s educational experience, personal growth, employability, and civic responsibility. Students participate in one day of volunteering to enhance their understanding of civic responsibility and to help the New Brunswick Community College realize its vision of transforming lives and communities.

      This workshop introduces students to the process of finding employment. It explores the various strategies and resources available, and examines the role of social media.

      This course introduces students to scientific data, units of measurements and the relationships of angles and sides of angles. Students solve problems by learning the proper methodology of translating information and applying it to formulas. Learning will be achieved through in class lectures, class activities and assignments.  

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1271B

      This course introduces students to basic physics concepts including the introduction to fluids. Students apply mathematical skills to solve problems through the application of real-world engineering situations. Learning will be achieved through in class lectures, class activities and assignments.  

      Prerequisites:

      • PHYS1138A

      This course is designed to strengthen students problem-solving skills through the application of physics and statics to solve real-world engineering situations. Students apply principles of forces and learn methods to quantify internal and external forces between bodies. Learning will be achieved through in class lectures, class activities and assignments.

      Prerequisites:

      • PHYS1139A

      This course introduces students to basic computer applications and tools that are integral to all engineering disciplines, including word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and electronic file management and data sharing.

      Students learn how to select and use appropriate computer applications to perform tasks such as research, data analysis, data presentation and sharing, and preparation of technical documents and reports within their discipline. An emphasis is placed on the data security, and safe use and management of files in a collaborative networked environment. Learning is achieved through practical application of skills during hands-on class activities and assignments.

      This course introduces students to the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) tools that are integral to all engineering disciplines for making and annotating basic engineering drawings. Students will learn the application interface, options, and commands for producing basic engineering drawings. Learning is achieved through practical, hands-on activities while using the CAD software.

      The course is designed to build upon the Intro to CAD course to further enhance and apply the use of computer-aided drafting. Students become more proficient in producing engineering construction drawings for various fields of construction. Learning is achieved through in-class activities and hands-on experience with CAD software.

      Prerequisites:

      • SAAL1836A

      A safe and healthy workplace is the responsibility of the employer and the employee. This course introduces students to the importance of working safely and addresses how employers and employees can control the hazards and risks associated with the workplace. Students will also learn about the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders including WorkSafeNB, the employer and the employee in ensuring workplaces are safe.

      This course provides students with an understanding of statistical principles and methods.  Students will learn how to collect, organize and report statistical data using elementary statistical techniques such as construction of frequency distributions, histograms and scatterplots. They will also learn how to use descriptive statistics such as central tendency (mean, mode, median, midrange), variation (range, variable, standard deviation), and position (percentile rank, quartile rank) to analyze the data and solve problems.

      Prerequisites:

      • MATH1272B

      Students are introduced to strength of materials. Students learn how structural materials are subject to stresses and strains and how it reacts to loads. With the examination of material shapes and the reaction of loads, students analyze and select materials that can resist forces.  Learning will be achieved through in class lectures, class activities and assignments.  

      Prerequisites:

      • PHYS1140A

      This course introduces students to complete conventional survey field operations, data collection and survey calculations. Working in groups, students learn the essential skills and practices required to perform surveying techniques in the field, reduce field measurements, produce an accuracy statement, and submit electronic results for a total station or an automatic level. Students will also learn how to work in a team and work safely. Learning is achieved through in-class activities and hands-on experience in a field setting.

      This course is designed to apply the fundamentals of how Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positions are determined. Students plan a GNSS survey and identify types and categories of GNSS equipment. They will perform survey exercises using different categories of GNSS to collect 2D and 3D measurements. As part of the course, students will learn to setup and use a RTK GNSS system to collect, download and share precise survey results. Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience.

      Prerequisites:

      • SVAR1044A

      This course is designed to apply survey theory to perform coordinate calculations, adjust a closed traverse and a closed level loop. Students determine azimuths and bearings, apply map projections and geoid models, calculate earthworks areas and volumes, prepare CAD data for site grading. Students will learn to use survey software tools to support the workflow required to create, code, analyze, prepare, and complete standard survey construction tasks in a CAD environment. As part of the course, they will import and export raw measurements and 3D coordinate data from survey equipment and produce documentation for the results. Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience.

      Prerequisites:

      • SVAR1044A
      • SVAR1045A

      This course is a one week hands on intensive fieldwork survey activity. Students apply survey theory, calculations, and procedures performed by a survey crew in an engineering construction environment. They will work in groups to complete advanced survey activities using a Total Station, GNSS, and Construction Level to collect, document, analyze, report field measurements, and perform basic instruments checks and calibrations tests. Survey activities will focus on the workflow required to use electronic survey equipment and software to measure, inspect, stake, grade, analyze and report features on a construction site. All activities will require product deliverables supported by the group fieldwork. Learning is achieved through in class activities and hands on experience in a field work environment.

      Prerequisites:

      • SVAR1046A


      NOC Codes

      22210 - Architectural technologists and technicians
      22212 - Drafting technologists and technicians
      22213 - Land survey technologists and technicians
      22300 - Civil engineering technologists and technicians


      External Certifications

      Civil Engineering Technician graduates may have an opportunity to acquire the following external certifications upon meeting the external agencies certification requirements and paying any required fees to the external agency:

      Institution: NBSCETT - New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists
      External Certification: Certified Technician
      Information: Certification by the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists.

       


      Disclaimer: This web copy provides guidance to prospective students, applicants, current students, faculty and staff. Although advice is readily available on request, the responsibility for program selection ultimately rests with the student. Programs, admission requirements and other related information is subject to change.

      Ask us