21331 Geological engineers

What this occupation covers

Geological engineers conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess suitability of locations for civil engineering, mining and oil and gas projects; and plan, design, develop and supervise programs of geological data acquisition and analysis and the preparation of geological engineering reports and recommendations. They are employed in consulting engineering companies, electrical utilities, mining and petroleum companies and in government and research and educational institutions.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 8 main duties for this code.

• Plan, develop and coordinate programs of geotechnical, geological, geophysical or geohydrological data acquisition, analysis and mapping to assist in the development of civil engineering, mining, petroleum and waste management projects or for regional development
• Analyze and prepare recommendations and reports for construction or improvements to foundations of civil engineering projects such as rock excavation, pressure grouting and hydraulic channel erosion control
• Analyze and prepare recommendations and reports on settlement of buildings, stability of slopes and fills, and probable effects of landslides and earthquakes to support construction and civil engineering projects
• Conduct theoretical and applied study of groundwater flow and contamination and develop prescriptions for site selection, treatment and construction
• Plan, develop, coordinate and conduct theoretical and experimental studies in mining exploration, mine evaluation and feasibility studies relative to the mining industry
• Conduct surveys and studies of ore deposits, ore reserve calculations and mine design
• Design, develop and implement computer applications for geophysics, geochemistry, geology, mapping and related fields
• Supervise technologists, technicians and other engineers and scientists.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 2 of its 8 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 21300 Civil engineers
• 20010 Engineering managers
• 21102 Geoscientists and oceanographers
• 21203 Land surveyors
• 21330 Mining engineers
• 21332 Petroleum engineers

Excluded from this code

• Civil engineers (See 21300 Civil engineers)
• Engineering managers (See 20010 Engineering managers)
• Geoscientists and oceanographers (See 21102 Geoscientists and oceanographers)
• Land surveyors (See 21203 Land surveyors)
• Mining engineers (See 21330 Mining engineers)
• Petroleum engineers (See 21332 Petroleum engineers)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

geological engineer · geophysical engineer · geotechnical engineer · hydrogeological engineer - engineering · hydrogeology engineer · supervising engineer - petrography · supervising engineer - rock sciences

Employment requirements

• A bachelor's degree in geological engineering or in a related discipline is required.
• A master's degree or doctorate in a related engineering discipline may be required.
• Licensing by a provincial or territorial association of professional engineers is required to approve engineering drawings and reports and to practise as a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.).
• Engineers are eligible for registration following graduation from an accredited educational program, three or four years of supervised work experience in engineering and passing a professional practice examination.