Civil engineer to geological engineer
A civil engineer already meets 54% of what the geological engineer role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.
52/ 100
1 How much of what a geological engineer is expected to do is already part of a civil engineer’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the geological engineer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A geological engineer role treats 13 of its required skills as things a civil engineer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adjust engineering designs
- advise on building matters
- approve engineering design
- assess environmental impact
- civil engineering
- engineering principles
What stands in the way is 7 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 20 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A geological engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a civil engineer background worth leading with.
- already held geochemistry natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held advise on building matters communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held oversee construction project management skills
- already held geophysics natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
- already held collect geological data information skills
- already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 20 carried skills, including the 13 the geological engineer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 25 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn monitor geotechnical structures required
- still to learn perform sample testing required
- still to learn perform scientific research required
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
- optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
- optional, not held assess financial viability optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- still to learn geographic information systems required
- still to learn geological time scale required
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- still to learn environmental design required
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held nuclear energy optional
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
- optional, not held advise on construction materials optional
- optional, not held advise on waste management procedures optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a geological engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 environmental design study this
- 02 geographic information systems study this
- 03 monitor geotechnical structures practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 20 skills that carry over
- already held adjust engineering designs skill
- already held advise on building matters skill
- already held approve engineering design skill
- already held assess environmental impact skill
- already held civil engineering knowledge
- already held engineering principles knowledge
- already held engineering processes knowledge
- already held ensure compliance with safety legislation skill
- already held execute feasibility study skill
- already held geology knowledge
- already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
- already held technical drawings knowledge
- already held use technical drawing software skill
- already held collect geological data skill
- already held conduct field work skill
- already held geochemistry knowledge
- already held geophysics knowledge
- already held oversee construction project skill
- already held use CAD software skill
- already held use geographic information systems skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
- optional, not held conduct land surveys optional
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held examine geochemical samples optional
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held interpret geophysical data optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held prepare geological map sections optional
- optional, not held provide information on geological characteristics optional
- optional, not held advise on construction materials optional
- optional, not held advise on waste management procedures optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held assess financial viability optional
- optional, not held collect samples for analysis optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held nuclear energy optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
76 held skills the geological engineer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role advise architects skill
- not needed by the target role assess project resource needs skill
- not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
- not needed by the target role bridge engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role business management principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role cartography knowledge
- not needed by the target role check quality of raw materials skill
- not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct quality control analysis skill
- not needed by the target role construction methods knowledge
- not needed by the target role construction products knowledge
- not needed by the target role cost management knowledge
- not needed by the target role create CAD drawings skill
- not needed by the target role create cadastral maps skill
- not needed by the target role demonstrate disciplinary expertise skill
- not needed by the target role design building envelope systems skill
- not needed by the target role design principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role design wind turbines skill
- not needed by the target role draft design specifications skill
- not needed by the target role draw blueprints skill
- not needed by the target role electric generators knowledge
- not needed by the target role electrical engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role electricity consumption knowledge
- not needed by the target role energy efficiency knowledge
- not needed by the target role energy performance of buildings knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure compliance with environmental legislation skill
- not needed by the target role environmental engineering knowledge
- not needed by the target role environmental policy knowledge
- not needed by the target role examine engineering principles skill
- not needed by the target role execute analytical mathematical calculations skill
- not needed by the target role geodesy knowledge
- not needed by the target role geomatics knowledge
- not needed by the target role identify energy needs skill
- not needed by the target role inspect construction supplies skill
- not needed by the target role inspect industrial equipment skill
- not needed by the target role integrated design knowledge
- not needed by the target role interact professionally in research and professional environments skill
- not needed by the target role liaise with architects skill
- not needed by the target role logistics knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage a team skill
36 further entries not listed here
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn environmental design required
- still to learn geographic information systems required
- still to learn environmental legislation required
- still to learn geological time scale required
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held nuclear energy optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
Other moves recorded from civil engineer
- transport engineer 66% covered · moderate
- land surveyor 56% covered · moderate
- environmental mining engineer 52% covered · moderate
- equipment engineer 47% covered · moderate
- land planner 47% covered · substantial
- surveying technician 47% covered · substantial
- logistics engineer 46% covered · moderate
- wood technology engineer 45% covered · substantial
Common questions about this move
Can a civil engineer become a geological engineer?
Yes, and it is a moderate move. A civil engineer already covers 54% of what a geological engineer is expected to do: 20 skills carry over, 13 of which the geological engineer role treats as required.
What skills does a civil engineer need to become a geological engineer?
7 required skills are missing, plus 18 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is environmental design.
How hard is the move from civil engineer to geological engineer?
Its learning distance is 52 out of 100, which is the moderate band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.