Civil Engineering

Build Your Civil Engineering Career in the United States

To work as a Civil Engineer in the United States, whether you're a US citizen or an international/foreign student, you must meet specific education, licensing, and immigration requirements.

Civil Engineers design, build, and supervise infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector, including roads, buildings, airports, tunnels, dams, bridges, and systems for water supply and sewage treatment.

Educational Requirements:

  • US students must complete a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
  • Foreign students studying in the US must be accepted into an ABET-accredited civil engineering program and obtain appropriate student visa status (F-1, J-1).
  • Foreign students, educated outside the US must have their foreign engineering degree evaluated for equivalency to US standards through organizations like NCEES or WES.

Professional Engineering (PE) License Requirements:

  1. Pass the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam to become an Engineer in Training (EIT) or Engineer Intern (EI).
  2. Gain 4 years of progressive engineering experience under the supervision of a licensed Professional Engineer.
  3. Pass the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam in civil engineering.
  4. Apply for PE licensure in the state where you plan to practice (each state has its own licensing board).
  5. International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency and obtain proper work authorization (H-1B visa, Green Card, etc.).
  6. Foreign-educated engineers may need to complete additional coursework or examinations to meet US civil engineering standards and demonstrate competency in US codes and standards.