Published: 20 Aug 2025
The exam results are nearly in! Now it’s time for school and college leavers to decide what to do next. They may have already thought about how to pursue a chosen career, or may be looking at various options, including which career to pursue. The next step might involve going to college or university, or working as an apprentice to learn while gaining practical experience, or getting a job. For those interested in geometry, geography, building, engineering, or who just like working outside, then a career in surveying could be a perfect fit.
Plotting a route to surveying
There are several ways to become a surveyor. A reliable route straight from school is to get a job with a surveying company that will then provide training. Worcester-based training centre The Survey School delivers TSA’s Surveying Course, which is the perfect introduction to the profession. The Surveying Course is the cornerstone of The School’s work and was created specifically by TSA to tutor and develop those within the geospatial profession. As well as for new starters, it’s suitable for those with some experience, but with no formal training. For anyone with partial experience, it is intended to broaden their practical knowledge and supplement existing theoretical experience.
Practically minded
For beginners and newcomers to the profession, the course provides a solid grounding in a wide range of surveying methods and skills. The course itself is broken down into six two-week blocks, which are spread across two years. As the course progresses, the subjects covered expand – as students gain more knowledge and experience – to cover all aspects of surveying. Theory makes up part of the course, as an introduction to understanding the principles behind the practical side of surveying. There are also some mathematical skills relevant to each tuition block. There’s an emphasis on students finding practical solutions to real-life surveying problems and learning the thought processes these entail. During the course, students are encouraged to share their experiences and methods of working – this will contribute to the knowledge they gain and also be mutually beneficial to everyone else on their course.
Building blocks for a career
There is an exam at the end of each study block, to ensure each student has gained the level of expertise to pass the course. Graduation, which involves passing all six blocks, will fulfil 100% of the academic requirement for those students wishing to upgrade from Student to Technical membership of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES). TSA’s Surveying Course also provides 50% of the points required for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ Associate (AssocRICS) qualification. Competence in Maths and English is recommended, but not essential, as all practical and theoretical guidance will be provided as part of the course. There’s no minimum age restriction, although it’s recommended that the student is at least 18 years old, for the practicalities of site work, responsibility and commitment.
Trainees may often work with a company for 6 to 12 months before starting the 2 year TSA Surveying Course, to give them some background experience before starting more formal training.
TSA’s Surveying Course can run alongside the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Engineering Surveying. This provides successful candidates with a recognised qualification and standard which is recognised by the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS). This course requires minimal additional effort for a candidate completing all six blocks of TSA’s course, so is worth considering as an add-on. The Survey School also has a series of Short Courses available too, which are skill-specific for the various areas of surveying.
To find out about job opportunities in surveying, or TSA’s surveying course and its fees, and more information on careers in surveying in general, then visit our website.
