How to Become a Structural Engineer

Co-authored by Felipe Corredor

Last Updated: June 1, 2023 Approved

Structural engineering is an exciting career of solving problems with a keen intellect and know-how of math. Structural engineers understand statistics and dynamics to understand real-world problems and issues to design strong and long-lasting structures. In 2012, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics reported that there were 273,000 engineers in the United States with a 20% increase on job outlook. ^{[1]
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US Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. government agency that collects and reports labor-related information
Go to source} How do you become a structural engineer? Learn how in this article!

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Qualifying for College in Structural Engineering

You must possess strong skills in decision making, math, organization, writing, and problem solving. You can start to hone these skills while you are still in high school or pursuing a GED by taking classes, or advanced college-prep classes, in math and science.
It takes years of education to become a structural engineer. Make sure you know the day-to-day responsibilities and expectations of the job. A structural engineer performs a lot of tasks such as creating drawings, writing reports, and observing construction sites. ^{[2]
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3
Practice math, problem solving, and writing. You need to have strong skills in math, problem solving, and writing in order to be a successful engineer. You should practice these skills in order to develop a familiarity with what you will be doing on the job.
- Consider investing in test prep books so you can brush up on your skills and be prepared for future entrance exams.
You can practice your skills and stand out as a job candidate by participating in extracurricular activities and clubs. ^{[3]
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Research source} Clubs such as speech and debate, chess club, trivia teams, and mock trial are designed to utilize skills such as math, writing, and public speaking. ^{[4]
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Most engineering schools - and all of the stop engineering schools like MIT -- require an ACT or an SAT. ^{[5]
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Research source} You should study and do well on these standardized tests as to meet the requirements of the schools. You can take practice tests or buy study guides for these tests through the companies that create them. ^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Comparing and Applying for College in Structural Engineering

Do your research on potential schools so you can compare them. Yearly, there is a list of rankings on the top engineering schools. ^{[7]
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Research source} Schools like MIT, University of California Berkeley, and Stanford are consistently ranked at the top of the list. ^{[8]
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Research source} Read through their websites and become familiar with what courses they offer as well as their curriculum.
Most schools provide a faculty page where you can learn about faculty members. If you want to know more about a school or ask questions about the curriculum, you may find contact information like an e-mail address or phone number to the department. Talk to mentors or potential professors in order to stand out as a serious candidate and learn more about the program.
Once you have learned more about a particular program, set up a tour on campus. You will learn more about the geography of campus as well as other campus amenities. Tours will also help you get a feel of the campus life, to see if you would be a good fit as a student there.
4
Ask about internships or career services. Talk to the college about how they will help you obtain a job after college. Some schools require internships as part of their curriculum. Often, schools will have a career service department in which students can talk about potential careers or even mock interview. Doing this will help you get a foot in the door for a potential career and make you stand out as a determined candidate.
- Certain jobs, like research positions in a lab, offer valuable "field experience" that demonstrates your readiness for a demanding program.
5
Get letters of recommendation. You will need letters of recommendation in order to apply to school. You want to ask professional references - like teachers, bosses, club leaders - to write these letters. You want someone to explain your skills and be a strong advocate to your studies.
- Maintain strong connections with your teachers and build rapport with them so they're more likely to write you extremely positive letters of recommendation.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Earning Your Degree in Structural Engineering

Show that you are a determined and studious student by getting good grades. Take you college courses seriously and study! You want to make sure you GPA is competitive on the job market.
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Make Connections. Take the time to get to know your professors, especially in engineering courses. You want to make connections for a number of reasons.
- You can use these potential connections to ask for letters of recommendation.
- You can use these connections to look for potential jobs.
- You can keep an eye on evolutions and changes in the field.
- Making connections show that you are determined to be the best in your field.
You will want to find a journal, like the International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical, Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering (IJAREEIE), to read up on advancements of the field. ^{[9]
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College is a wonderful time to try new things and find other people who share similar interests. Joining these activities will help you practice important new skills as well as make new connections.
5

Extracurriculars also demonstrate how consistent and serious you are. If you have a proven track record for being involved in a certain activity or field of study, colleges will know you're ready to jump into the program you chose right away.
Some colleges require an internship in order to graduate from specific programs. If your college does not, make sure you pursue an internship on your own. Internships help you make connection and practice your field. Internships sometimes lead to permanent positions.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Preparing to Take License Tests

You must have a license. The SE exam makes sure that you are able to practice structural engineering safely and competently. ^{[10]
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Research source} Different states, countries, or positions may require different licenses or requirements to obtain a license, so it is important that you do your research before applying for an exam or position.
To get insight on what is expected of you, talk to engineers that have their license. They can share what they struggled with or their experiences.
Like other standardized tests, there are materials out there to practice license tests. Look on the test websites for additional information on where to find these materials; often testing institutions will publish guides that are very similar to the actual tests. ^{[11]
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Make sure you are prepared with all the information you need in order to do well on the test. Make sure you know: the days of the test, the length of the test, what identification documents you need, etc.

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Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Starting Your Career as a Structural Engineer

Like colleges, you want to find the best engineering firms to work with. Research firms through the Better Business Bureau or other credible websites to research the best firms. ^{[12]
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Better Business Bureau
Nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting marketplace trustworthiness by educating consumers and reviewing businesses
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2
Talk to your old connections. Personal connections are great ways to find potential jobs. Talk to the people you have gotten to know to look for potential positions.
- Talk to your engineering professors to get connected with engineers in your area. They will have the best connections in order to help you get a foot in the door.
- Talk to your career counselors and go to university job fairs. You will find out about apprenticeships and internships if you take the initiative to seek them out. Job fairs and career counselors often have inside knowledge on what is available.
- Talk to your local engineering firms and read about them on their websites. One way you can get an internship is by asking. If you show interest and initiative, perhaps a firm will take interest in hiring you to their team.
You can search jobs on online job boards like Indeed or Monster. You can also look on engineering firm websites.
Make a portfolio and a strong resume that showcases all of the hard work you have accomplished. Be sure to list things like internships, licenses, education, extracurricular activities, and jobs. Becoming a structural engineer requires determination and patience! Show these skills off in your interview.

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Which subjects should I take when I am in high school to become a structural engineer?

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You'll need calculus, algebra, physics. Math is important to designing structures.

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I am 52 years old. How great are the odds to become a licensed structural engineer?

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The chance is likely lower than if you were younger, but you can still do it if you work hard!

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How many years will it take me to obtain a degree in structural engineering?

Liza Gaylord

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Four years, or however long it takes you to get a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

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Tips

Get licensed or take college courses in related fields or technology. Getting a CAD (Computer-aided Design) license is very beneficial in engineering fields. ^{[14]
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Stay abreast of the latest technologies and methods. You can do this by reading engineering journals (like the Journal of Engineering ^{[15]
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Stand out! You want to shine as a student and a scholar if you want to get a coveted position as a structural engineer. Make sure you give your education and your apprenticeship all of your hard work and focus in order to showcase the best of your abilities.

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How to Become a Structural Engineer

Steps

Qualifying for College in Structural Engineering

Comparing and Applying for College in Structural Engineering

Earning Your Degree in Structural Engineering

Preparing to Take License Tests

Starting Your Career as a Structural Engineer

Community Q&A

Tips

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