How Do I Become a Transport Engineer?

To become a transport engineer, you will typically have to earn a high school diploma and a college degree in civil engineering or a related engineering major. A bachelor’s degree may help you land a job, but a graduate degree may lead to more job opportunities and possibly even higher pay. Additionally, you will likely need a range of skills to land this job and succeed in this career, including those related to leading others, problem solving and negotiating contracts.

Your journey toward becoming a transport engineer will typically start with earning a secondary-level education, and you will typically need a high school diploma to gain acceptance to college. Your high school education also may help you develop basic knowledge that proves helpful throughout the rest of your education and into your career. All of the classes you take may help you in some way, but those you take in science and math may prove particularly helpful. Likewise, if you have the opportunity to take computer courses, especially those that focus on computer design, they also may prove helpful. If you do not complete high school, many colleges will accept a General Educational Development (GED) diploma or a jurisdiction-approved equivalent in lieu of a high school diploma.

Most employers require aspiring transport engineers to have college degrees. To become a transport engineer, you most likely will need a four-year degree in engineering or a related major. For example, a civil engineering program that ends with a bachelor’s degree is a common choice for a person who wants to pursue this career. You may, however, boost your chances of qualifying for the job you want and earning the pay you desire by earning a graduate degree instead. Additionally, earning a graduate degree rather than stopping with a bachelor’s degree may open doors for you to teach or focus on research.

You typically will have to develop a number of skills to become a transport engineer. Among them are analysis and problem-solving skills as well as interpersonal and communication skills. Employers will typically expect you to have mathematical ability and measurement skills as well as knowledge and experience with computer-aided design. Leadership, surveying and estimation skills are often important when you want to become a transport engineer. Additionally, employers will likely expect you to be well organized, reliable and capable of creating plans and negotiating contracts.