QUANTITY SURVEYING

Surveyors work in a variety of different settings including people's homes, the sea bed, roads and motorways, collectables and large construction sites. They are also responsible for the protection of the environment in which they are working.

Quantity surveying is primarily centred on construction and the management of the costs and budgets of large projects. From the moment a plan is drawn until a large construction project has been completed, a quantity surveyor is likely to be involved in a legal, technical and financial capacity. The functions of a quantity surveyor are broadly concerned with the control of the cost on construction projects, the management and maintenance of the budget, valuations and any legal matters arising through the course of the project. They are required to make sure that the project remains profitable and efficient.

Quantity surveyors need to be highly numerate, commercially aware, professionally trained and great communicators. The job requires a combination of technical, financial and legal knowledge. There are a couple of routes into the profession. Most people will undertake a higher education qualification followed by a period of training within a relevant organisation.

Courses in quantity surveying vary in their content and structure. Some courses will have a sandwich year where you can undertake a year in industry where you can gain valuable experience in quantity surveying and learn relevant skills. Each course will have different teaching styles and different modules, so you will need to check with the institutions that you wish to apply to for up to date information. Some areas you may study include:

• Construction technology
• Business and construction economics
• Construction law
• Arbitration
• Building technology and services
• People and information management
• Facilities management
• Estate management
• Architecture and design appraisal
• Professional development
• Computer-aided design
• Value engineering
• Feasibility studies
• Planning law
• Risk analysis
• Estimating and valuation
• Substructures and drainage
• Floors and roofs
• Commercial management
• Conversion and refurbishment
• Property development

PROJECT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (PMP)

PMI’s Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential is the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. Globally recognized and demanded, the PMP®demonstrates that you have the experience, education and competency to lead and direct projects.

This recognition is seen through increased marketability to employers and higher salary; according to the PMI Project Management Salary Survey–Eighth Edition, certification positively impacts project manager salaries.

Who should apply?

The PMP recognizes demonstrated competence in leading and directing project teams. If you’re an experienced project manager looking to solidify your skills, stand out to employers and maximize your earning potential, the PMP credential is the right choice for you.

PMP Certification Requirements

To apply for the PMP, you need to have either:

A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate’s degree, or the global equivalent) with at least five years of project management experience, with 7,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education. 

OR 

A four-year degree (bachelor’s degree or the global equivalent) and at least three years of project management experience, with 4,500 hours leading and directing projects and 35 hours of project management education.

This is an overview of the requirements. For complete details regarding the PMP eligibility requirements, please view the PMP Handbook for further details.

If you do not meet the PMP eligibility requirements, you may want to look at the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)® certification.

How to apply and prepare for the exam

To apply for the PMP, register and log in to our online system to get started. A printablePMP application form is also available.

Need more information? 

Get more information on the PMP’s role and requirements. For a more detailed look, consult the PMP Handbook.

Ready to take the exam? 

Use the PMP Exam Guidance for information about the exam, tips for preparing, and important updates.

Maintain Your PMP Certification

As part of PMI’s Continuing Certification Requirements program, a PMP credential holder will need to earn 60 PDUs per three-year cycle. To learn more about the program, what are PDUs, how to earn and claim them, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to renew your certification, watch the CCR video. You can also reference the latest PMP Handbook found on PMI.org

If you’re ready to report your activities, visit PMI’s online CCR system to report PDUs and view your certification records. You can download a printable PDU activity reporting form.

Content courtesy Project Management Institute

CIVIL ENGINEERING

Engineering is a term applied to the profession in which a knowledge of the mathematical and natural sciences, gained by study, experience, and practice, is applied to the efficient use of the materials and forces of nature. Engineers are the ones who have received professional training in pure and applied science. Before the middle of the 18th century, large-scale construction work was usually placed in the hands of military engineers. Military engineering involved such work as the preparation of topographical maps, the location, design, and construction of roads and bridges; and the building of forts and docks; see Military Engineering below. In the 18th century, however, the term civil engineering came into use to describe engineering work that was performed by civilians for non-military purposes.

Civil engineering is the broadest of the engineering fields. Civil engineering focuses on the infrastructure of the world which include Water works, Sewers, Dams, Power Plants, Transmission Towers/Lines, Railroads, Highways, Bridges, Tunnels, Irrigation Canals, River Navigation, Shipping Canals, Traffic Control, Mass Transit, Airport Runways, Terminals, Industrial Plant Buildings, Skyscrapers, etc. Among the important subdivisions of the field are construction engineering, irrigation engineering, transportation engineering, soils and foundation engineering, geodetic engineering, hydraulic engineering, and coastal and ocean engineering.

Civil engineers build the world’s infrastructure. In doing so, they quietly shape the history of nations around the world. Most people cannot imagine life without the many contributions of civil engineers to the public’s health, safety and standard of living. Only by exploring civil engineering’s influence in shaping the world we know today, can we creatively envision the progress of our tomorrows.