Environmental engineer to geological engineer
An environmental engineer already meets 47% of what the geological engineer role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.
57.9/ 100
1 How much of what a geological engineer is expected to do is already part of an environmental 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 12 of its required skills as things an environmental engineer already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adjust engineering designs
- approve engineering design
- civil engineering
- engineering principles
- engineering processes
- ensure compliance with safety legislation
What stands in the way is 8 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 16 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 an environmental engineer background worth leading with.
- already held environmental design engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held advise on waste management procedures communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held conduct field work information skills
- already held nuclear energy engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held civil engineering engineering, manufacturing and construction
All 16 carried skills, including the 12 the geological engineer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 29 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 execute feasibility study required
- still to learn perform sample testing required
- optional, not held collect geological data optional
- 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
- still to learn geology required
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- still to learn advise on building matters 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
- still to learn assess environmental impact required
- optional, not held develop geological databases optional
- optional, not held perform computer analyses of geotechnical structures optional
- optional, not held use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held use CAD software optional
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations 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 geographic information systems study this
- 02 monitor geotechnical structures practise this
- 03 advise on building matters 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 16 skills that carry over
- already held adjust engineering designs skill
- already held approve engineering design 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 environmental design knowledge
- already held environmental legislation knowledge
- already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
- already held perform scientific research skill
- already held technical drawings knowledge
- already held use technical drawing software skill
- already held advise on waste management procedures skill
- already held collect samples for analysis skill
- already held conduct field work skill
- already held nuclear energy knowledge
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held oversee construction project optional
21 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held advise on geology for mineral extraction optional
- optional, not held collect geological data 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 use geographic information systems optional
- optional, not held advise on construction materials optional
- optional, not held apply digital mapping optional
- optional, not held assess financial viability optional
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held oversee construction project optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
- optional, not held study aerial photos optional
- optional, not held use CAD software optional
67 held skills the geological engineer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role Internet of Things knowledge
- not needed by the target role abide by regulations on banned materials skill
- not needed by the target role address public health issues skill
- not needed by the target role advise on environmental remediation skill
- not needed by the target role advise on mining environmental issues skill
- not needed by the target role advise on pollution prevention skill
- not needed by the target role analyse big data skill
- not needed by the target role analyse energy consumption skill
- not needed by the target role analyse environmental data skill
- not needed by the target role analyse information processes skill
- not needed by the target role assess the life cycle of resources skill
- not needed by the target role augmented reality knowledge
- not needed by the target role biology knowledge
- not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
- not needed by the target role carry out environmental audits skill
- not needed by the target role chemistry knowledge
- not needed by the target role circular economy knowledge
- not needed by the target role cloud technologies knowledge
- not needed by the target role coastal management knowledge
- not needed by the target role conduct environmental surveys skill
- not needed by the target role conduct quality control analysis skill
- not needed by the target role conduct quantitative research skill
- not needed by the target role consumer protection knowledge
- not needed by the target role cyber security knowledge
- not needed by the target role data storage knowledge
- not needed by the target role design strategies for nuclear emergencies skill
- not needed by the target role develop environmental remediation strategies skill
- not needed by the target role develop hazardous waste management strategies skill
- not needed by the target role develop non-hazardous waste management strategies skill
- not needed by the target role ecosystem management knowledge
- not needed by the target role energy efficiency knowledge
- not needed by the target role ensure material compliance 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 ethics knowledge
- not needed by the target role hazardous waste storage knowledge
- not needed by the target role hazardous waste treatment knowledge
- not needed by the target role hazardous waste types knowledge
- not needed by the target role hydrology knowledge
- not needed by the target role implement traceability systems skill
27 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 geographic information systems required
- still to learn geological time scale required
- still to learn geology required
- optional, not held impact of geological factors on mining operations optional
- optional, not held geochemistry optional
- optional, not held geography optional
- optional, not held geophysics optional
- optional, not held soil science optional
Other moves recorded from environmental engineer
- waste treatment engineer 50% covered · substantial
- environmental mining engineer 48% covered · moderate
- hazardous waste inspector 46% covered · moderate
- wastewater engineer 42% covered · substantial
- environmental programme coordinator 41% covered · substantial
- environmental expert 39% covered · substantial
- manufacturing engineer 39% covered · substantial
- industrial waste inspector 39% covered · substantial
Common questions about this move
Can an environmental engineer become a geological engineer?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An environmental engineer already covers 47% of what a geological engineer is expected to do: 16 skills carry over, 12 of which the geological engineer role treats as required.
What skills does an environmental engineer need to become a geological engineer?
8 required skills are missing, plus 21 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by information skills. The single most important is geographic information systems.
How hard is the move from environmental engineer to geological engineer?
Its learning distance is 57.9 out of 100, which is the substantial 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.