Civil engineers are the masterminds behind bridges, tunnels, roads, dams and water supply systems. In other words, they design, build, supervise and maintain the infrastructure we use every day.

“Civil engineers are involved in all parts of the built environment and in the protection and restoration of the natural environment,” says Maria Lehman, U.S. infrastructure market leader for professional services firm GHD and 2022-2023 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) president. “I do this thing with middle school students: I challenge them to tell me something they don’t think a civil engineer has been involved in, and I haven’t been stumped in 30 years. Based on the broadness of the profession, it has (an) incredible impact on our daily lives.”

Some job responsibilities for civil engineers might include analyzing test results for soil or building materials, overseeing survey operations, reviewing potential costs and performing risk analysis for projects, or presenting information during public meetings.

“We’ve been doing the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure since 1998,” Lehman says. But in 2021, “When we got the (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) passed, there was a significant milestone in being able to talk about how important infrastructure is and the impacts of not investing in that. So I think we have more visibility and optics to the general public than we may have had in the past.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 5.0% employment growth for civil engineers between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 16,200 jobs should open up.

Students considering a career in engineering should be curious about how the world around them works. They should also have an aptitude for math and science, and take at least three years of each in high school to prepare for college. Civil engineering hopefuls must earn at least a bachelor’s degree. According to the BLS, this might be a degree in civil engineering, civil engineering technologies, or a related field, like construction. Some senior positions, such as managerial roles, may require a master’s or doctoral degree, and other roles may require additional certification such as a professional engineer license.

If you hope to obtain a professional engineer license, your bachelor’s degree should be from a program certified by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. As the first step in the process, graduates or soon-to-be-graduates must sit for the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. Those who pass the exam become engineers-in-training. After at least four years of work experience as an engineer-in-training, candidates can sit for the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. Passing this exam earns the professional engineer license. Engineers with a PE license can sign off on projects, approve design plans and oversee the work of other engineers.

Continuing education requirements to maintain a PE license vary by state or territory.

Engineers can also earn certifications specific to their work, and options are available in water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering, coastal engineering and more.

“It really depends on what you’re doing,” Lehman says. “For example, I’m a professional engineer, but I’m also a certified environmental sustainability professional. In what I’m doing, it’s important that we’re looking at a future vision.”