Editing Civil engineer (section)

==Education and licensing==
In most countries, a civil engineer will have graduated from a post-secondary school with a degree in civil engineering, which requires a strong background in [[mathematics]] and the [[physical science]]s; this degree is typically a [[bachelor's degree]], though many civil engineers study further to obtain [[Master's degree|master's]], [[Engineer's degree|engineer]], [[doctoral]] and [[Postdoctoral researcher|post doctoral]] degrees. In many countries, civil engineers are subject to [[licensure]]. In some jurisdictions with mandatory licensing, people who do not obtain a license may not call themselves "civil engineers".

===Belgium ===
In Belgium, ''Civil Engineer'' (abbreviated '''Ir.''') ({{langx|fr|Ingénieur Civil}}, {{langx|nl|Burgerlijk Ingenieur}}) is a legally protected title applicable to graduates of the five-year engineering course of one of the six [[university|universities]] and the Royal Military Academy. Their speciality can be all fields of engineering: [[civil engineering|civil]], [[structural engineering|structural]], [[electrical engineering|electrical]], [[mechanical engineering|mechanical]], [[chemical engineering|chemical]], [[engineering physics|physics]] and even [[computer science]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.facsa.ulg.ac.be/cms/index.php?page=ingenieur-civil-2|title=Faculté des Sciences Appliquées – Ingénieur Civil|publisher=[[University of Liège]]|language=fr|access-date=2 January 2011|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706132448/http://www.facsa.ulg.ac.be/cms/index.php?page=ingenieur-civil-2|url-status=live}}</ref> This use of the title may cause confusion to the English speaker as the Belgian "civil" engineer can have a speciality other than civil engineering. In fact, Belgians use the adjective "civil" in the sense of "civilian", as opposed to military engineers.

The formation of the civil engineer has a strong [[mathematics|mathematical]] and [[science|scientific]] base and is more theoretical in approach than the practical oriented [[industrial engineer]] ('''Ing.''') educated in a five-year program at a [[institute of technology#Belgium and the Netherlands|polytechnic]]. Traditionally, students were required to pass an entrance [[exam]] on mathematics to start civil engineering studies. This exam was abolished in 2004 for the [[Flemish Community]], but is still organised in the [[French Community of Belgium|French Community]].

===Scandinavia===
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2023}}
In [[Scandinavia]]n countries, "civil engineer" ({{lang|sv|civilingenjör}} in Swedish; {{lang|no|sivilingeniør}} in Norwegian; {{lang|da|civilingeniør}} in Danish) is a [[first professional degree]], approximately equivalent to [[Master of Science in Engineering]], and a protected title granted to students by selected [[institute of technology|institutes of technology]]. As in English, the word has its origin in the distinction between civilian and military engineers; before the start of the 19th century only military engineers existed, and the prefix "civil" was a way to separate those who had studied engineering in a regular university from their military counterparts. Today the degree spans over all fields within engineering, including civil engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, and electronics engineering, among others.

There is generally a slight difference between a Master of Science in Engineering degree and the Scandinavian civil engineer degree, the latter's programme having closer ties with the industry's demands. A civil engineer is the better-known of the two; still, the area of expertise remains obfuscated for most of the public. A noteworthy difference is the mandatory courses in mathematics and physics, regardless of the equivalent master's degree, e.g. computer science.

Although a "college engineer" ({{lang|sv|högskoleingenjör, diplomingenjör,}} or {{lang|sv|mellaningenjör}} in Swedish; {{lang|no|høgskoleingeniør}} in Norwegian; {{lang|da|diplomingeniør}} in Danish) is roughly equivalent to a [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor of Science]] in Scandinavia, to become a "civil engineer" one often has had to do up to one extra year of overlapping studies compared to attaining a B.Sc./M.Sc. combination. This is because the higher educational system is not fully adapted to the international standard graduation system, since it is treated as a [[professional degree]]. Today (2009) this is starting to change due to the [[Bologna process]].

A Scandinavian {{lang|sv|civilingenjör}} will in international contexts commonly use the title of "Master of Science in Engineering" and will occasionally wear an engineering [[class ring]]. At the [[Norwegian Institute of Technology]] (now the [[Norwegian University of Science and Technology]]), the tradition with an [[NTH Ring]] goes back to 1914, before the Canadian [[Iron Ring|iron ring]].

===Spain ===
In [[Spain]], a [[civil engineering]] degree can be obtained after four years of study in the various branches of mathematics, physics, mechanics, etc. The earned degree is called ''Grado en Ingeniería Civil''. Further studies at a [[graduate school]] include master's and doctoral degrees.

Before the current situation, that is, before the implementation of [[Bologna Process]] in 2010, a degree in civil engineering in Spain could be obtained after three to six years of study and was divided into two main degrees. 
In the first case, the earned degree was called ''Ingeniero Técnico de Obras Públicas'' (''ITOP''), literally translated as "Public Works Engineer" obtained after three years of study and equivalent to a Bachelor of Civil Engineering. 
In the second case, the academic degree was called ''Ingeniero de Caminos, Canales y Puertos'' (often shortened to ''Ingeniero de Caminos'' or ''ICCP''), that literally means "Highways, Canals and Harbors Engineer", though civil engineers in Spain practice in the same fields as civil engineers do elsewhere. This degree is equivalent to a Master of Civil Engineering and is obtained after five or six years of study depending on the school granting the title.

The first Spanish Civil Engineering School was the ''Escuela Especial de Ingenieros de Caminos y Canales'' (now called ''Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Caminos, Canales y Puertos''), established in 1802 in Madrid, followed by the ''Escuela Especial de Ayudantes de Obras Públicas'' (now called ''Escuela Universitaria de Ingeniería Técnica de Obras Públicas de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid''), founded in 1854 in Madrid. Both schools now belong to the [[Technical University of Madrid]].

In Spain, a civil engineer has the technical and legal ability to design projects of any branch, so any Spanish civil engineer can oversee projects about structures, buildings (except residential structures which are reserved for architects), foundations, hydraulics, the environment, transportation, urbanism, etc. [[Mechanical engineering|Mechanical]] and [[Electrical engineering|Electrical]] engineering tasks are included under the [[Industrial engineering]] degree.

===United Kingdom===
A chartered civil engineer (known as certified or professional engineer in other countries) is a member of the [[Institution of Civil Engineers]], and has also passed membership exams. However, a non-chartered civil engineer may be a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers or the Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors. The description "civil engineer" is not restricted to members of any particular professional organisation although "chartered civil engineer" is.

===Eastern Europe===
In many Eastern European countries, civil engineering does not exist as a distinct degree or profession {{citation needed|date=October 2020}} but its various sub-professions are often studied in separate university faculties and performed as separate professions, whether they are taught in civilian universities or military engineering academies. Even many [[List of institutions using the term "institute of technology" or "polytechnic"|polytechnic]] tertiary schools give out separate degrees for each field of study. Typically study in [[geology]], [[geodesy]], [[structural engineering]] and [[urban engineering]] allows a person to obtain a degree in [[construction engineering]]. [[Mechanical engineering]], [[automotive engineering]], [[hydraulics]] and even sometimes [[metallurgy]] are fields in a degree in "Machinery Engineering". [[Computer sciences]], [[control engineering]] and [[electrical engineering]] are fields in a degree in electrical engineering, while [[security]], [[safety]], [[environmental engineering]], [[transportation]], [[hydrology]] and [[meteorology]] are in a category of their own, typically each with their own degrees, either in separate university faculties or at polytechnic schools.

===United States===
In the United States, civil engineers are typically employed by municipalities, construction firms, consulting engineering firms, architect/engineer firms, the military, state governments, and the federal government. Each state requires engineers who offer their services to the public to be licensed by the state.<ref>[http://www.ncees.org/Licensure.php National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying; Licensure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101230715/https://ncees.org/Licensure.php |date=2012-11-01 }}, retrieved November 24, 2010.</ref> Licensure is obtained by meeting specified education, examination, and work experience requirements. Specific requirements vary by state.

Typically, licensed engineers must graduate from an [[ABET]]-accredited university or college engineering program with a minimum of bachelor's degree,<ref name="study.com">[http://study.com/articles/Civil_Engineering_Requirements_for_Becoming_a_Civil_Engineer.html Civil Engineering Study.com; Requirements for Becoming a Civil Engineer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212013219/http://study.com/articles/Civil_Engineering_Requirements_for_Becoming_a_Civil_Engineer.html |date=2015-12-12 }}, retrieved December 19, 2015.</ref> pass the [[Fundamentals of Engineering exam]] (FE), obtain several years of engineering experience under the supervision of a licensed engineer, then pass the [[Principles and Practice of Engineering Exam]]. After completing these steps and the granting of licensure by a state board, engineers may use the title "Professional Engineer" or PE in advertising and documents. Most states have implemented mandatory continuing education requirements to maintain a license.<ref name="study.com"/>