Why Should You Study Civil Construction?

Think about the bridges you drive across, the railways you commute on, or the roads that lead you home. In fact, think about any piece of infrastructure and chances are that civil construction has played a huge role in its design and construction.

Civil construction literally shapes the world we live in. The good news? You can too, if you decide to study and work in this fascinating sector of the industry.

To help you make a decision, we dig deeper into what the civil construction industry is like, why you should consider studying it, what careers are available, and how to get started.

What is civil construction?

Civil construction is a wing of civil engineering. It’s all about the design, construction and maintenance of physical and naturally built environments. For example, these include:

• Roads
• Buildings
• Bridges
• Dams
• Airports
• Canals
• Tunnels
• Railways

It’s one of the oldest – and most important – sectors of the building and construction industry.

Why study civil construction?

When it comes down to it, civil construction is all about making the infrastructure needed for day-to-day living. This means it’s a discipline that positively impacts many aspects of society, improving and progressing the quality of our lives.

Sound up your alley? Then you’ll find civil construction to be one of the most rewarding (and challenging) pathways in the building and construction industry. Plus, it’s crucial to the Australian economy, which means there are plenty of jobs going for people with the right skills and qualifications.

Depending on the project (and your role within in), civil construction is also one of the most varied pathways in the construction industry.

You could find yourself evaluating the suitability of a site, creating cost estimates, developing contracts, or liaising with government officials and high-flying clients. Or, you might be the one responsible for operating the excavator, digging up the ground, and ensuring its ready to build on.

What kinds of jobs are available?

Like many areas in the building and construction industry, there are varied career paths in the civil construction industry. Depending on your level of education and experience, you could find work in many environments, in roles such as:

• Loader
• Steel fixer
• Excavator
• Road marker
• Concreter
• Civil labourer
• Welder
• Roller
• Dump truck operator

At the higher end of the spectrum, you could even pursue roles such as:

• Civil Engineer
• Supervisor
• Surveyor
• Estimator
• Construction manager
• Project manager

As you can see, the list is extensive. But if you need help narrowing it down, just get in touch with Builders Academy Australia today and we’ll discuss your options.

Kickstarting your career

If you’re working in the building and construction industry already, it’s likely you started your journey with a trade. But to break into a career in civil construction, your next step is to enrol in a course such as our RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations.

In this course, you’ll develop hands-on skills across a range of areas, including plant operations and equipment, hand and power tools, and basic levelling and excavation. You’ll learn how to operate an excavator, skid steer, front-end loader, backhoe and dozer – key for many careers in building and construction.

When it comes to furthering your education, you might want to look into other courses such as the CPC40120 Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building). Armed with this qualification, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to become a licensed builder, and work towards employment in more supervisory roles in civil construction.

From here, you could then enrol in our CPC50220 Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) and pursue a career as a project supervisor, construction manager, site supervisor, or estimator. To become a civil engineer and work in senior management roles, you’ll have to enrol in a university degree.

One of the best parts of BAA is that all of these building and construction courses are online.

However you choose to study civil construction, there are many roles available. Plus, you’ll find that at the higher end of the spectrum – it’s one of the most lucrative career pathways in Australia.

Your next step

If you’re interested in civil construction, or any other careers in building and construction, get in touch with us today. We offer many building and construction courses online, and take pride in our commitment to our students.

At BAA, we support everyone working in the building and construction industry. With us, you’ll learn from some of the best in the business, be nurtured every step of the way, and come out the other end with a solid qualification and the skills needed to kickstart your career.