This certificate series is designed to help local agencies advance their current employees into hard-to-fill civil engineering technician positions. It is also a great way to engage and train employees who have demonstrated interest and aptitude so they are qualified when career advancement opportunities become available.
The Civil Engineering Technician Certificate series consists of three levels. Each level builds upon the last to align with civil technician position skill requirements and responsibilities at local agencies:
- Civil Engineering Technician Certificate Level I aligns with Civil Technician I positions
- Civil Engineering Technician Certificate Level II aligns with Civil Technician II positions
- Civil Engineering Technician Certificate Level III aligns with Civil Technician III positions
Students can enroll to start working toward their Level I certificate now! Curriculum for Level II and Level III certificates is still in development.
Certificates
Expand the sections below to see requirements for each certificate level.
Level I
The Level I certificate focuses on foundational skills and knowledge. Students must complete the following courses:
- AutoCAD Software Skills and Construction Concepts
- Communicating with the Public for Field Staff Online Course
- Fundamentals of Construction Inspection Online Course
- Introduction to Angles and Mapping
- Introduction to Construction Staking
- Introduction to Roadway Design Online Course Series
- Introduction to Surveying and Leveling
- Writing that Works! Communications Skills for Construction
Agencies may require students to complete additional MnDOT and industry certifications to be qualified for Civil Technician I positions. Those certifications will be determined by each local agency. Minnesota LTAP will not track the completion of these additional requirements, but certificates will include a space for supervisors or other agency representatives to validate that the requirements have been met.
We recommend individuals use the Training Roadmap for Civil Engineering Technicians to document the completion of their courses and any additional certifications.
Levels II and III
Curriculum for these certificates is still in development. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.
Credits
After completing an online course, webinar, or workshop, please email your certificate of completion to mnltap@umn.edu so credit can be added to your Roads Scholar account. If you’ve watched a webinar recording, please fill out this attendance certification form and email it to mnltap@umn.edu for credit. Attendees at in-person courses or workshops should complete the instructor-provided Roads Scholar attendance certification form and return the form to the instructor.
Recognition
Your accomplishment won't go unnoticed. When you complete your final course, MnLTAP will send confirmation letters to you and your supervisor and a press release to your local newspaper. Graduates for the year are honored during a ceremony at the Minnesota Roadway Maintenance Training and Demo Day or the Fall Maintenance Expo and announced in MnLTAP publications.
Students who complete their coursework by December 31 are considered part of the graduating class for that year.
More Information
With questions, please contact Natalie Niskanen at niskanen@umn.edu.