Surveyor
Assess land, buildings or environments to guide big decisions and solve real-world challenges. Your expertise helps projects take shape, from city skylines to countryside developments.
Also known as: chartered surveyor
About the job
What it's like
Surveyors are experts in measuring land, property and boundaries. You'll play a key role in construction, development and land management projects.
You'll focus on collecting accurate data about land, buildings and natural features. You'll use specialist equipment and technology to map sites, check boundaries and advise on property values. It's a rewarding job if you enjoy working outdoors, solving problems and seeing projects take shape from start to finish.
You might work on anything from new housing developments to historic building renovations or major infrastructure projects like roads and railways. Surveyors are needed in construction, property, engineering, mining and even environmental sectors. Some surveyors specialise in areas like quantity surveying, land surveying or building surveying, depending on their interests and skills.
Your tasks might include:
using GPS and laser equipment to measure land and buildings
creating detailed site plans and maps
checking legal boundaries and resolving disputes
inspecting properties for structural issues
advising clients on property values and regulations
preparing reports and presenting findings to clients
There are many more things you could get involved with as a surveyor. It’s a career with a lot of opportunities and different areas for you to specialise in.
Have a look at some of our other surveyor profiles to learn more about different specialisms:
Green job
In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You might:
assess land for renewable energy projects
support sustainable building developments
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Surveyor'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
-
Building surveyor -
General practice surveyor -
Land surveyor -
Planning and development surveyor -
UAV and aerial surveyor
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- managing resources
- attention to detail
- social conscience
- problem solving
- resourceful
- written communication
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- building relationships
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
-
Foundation Apprenticeship: Construction
-
Business Management
-
English
-
Geography
-
Information and Communications Technology - ICT
-
Maths (Mathematics)
-
Science
-
Foundation Apprenticeship: Civil Engineering
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are several paths into this career.
You might learn on the job and work towards a professional qualification. For example, through an apprenticeship or an employer's training scheme.
Use our job search to browse opportunities.
Find apprenticeship vacancies on apprenticeships.scot.
Many employers will value a degree or postgraduate qualification. This could be in surveying or a subject related to the type of surveying specialism you're interested in. For example, construction for a career as a building surveyor.
To enter a degree course, you'll likely need 4 Highers at BBCC or better. Some courses will allow entry if you have a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND).
Entry to HNC and HND course varies depending on the subject and type of course. It will be helpful to have at least 1 Higher at C, preferably in a relevant subject such as maths or science. You might also need National 5 qualifications or a National Certificate in a relevant subject.
You can search RICS accredited courses on their website. Search for the right course for you.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) offer many accreditations. These show that individuals and organisations have appropriate qualifications.
To work on a construction site, you'll also need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
For some jobs, you may need to have a full UK driving licence to travel to sites.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Surveyor'
