21203

Land surveyors

TEER 1 — Usually require a university degree

Express Entry skill level: Yes
Regulated in Québec: Yes
In demand in Manitoba: Yes

Classification

Natural & applied sciences

2 › 21 › 212 › 2120

Definition

Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys. They are employed by federal, provincial and municipal governments, private sector land surveying establishments, real estate development, natural resource, engineering and construction firms, or they may be self-employed.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Develop survey plans, methods and procedures for conducting legal surveys
Plan, direct and supervise or conduct surveys to establish and mark legal boundaries of properties, parcels of lands, provincial and Canada Lands, Aboriginal land claims, wellsites, mining claims, utility rights-of-way, roadways and highways
Survey and lay out subdivisions for rural and urban development
Determine precise locations using electronic distance measuring equipment, global positioning systems (GPS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)/drones
Analyze, manage and display data using geographic information systems (GIS) and computer-aided design and drafting (CAD)
Record all measurements and other information obtained during survey activities
Prepare or supervise the preparation and compilation of all data, plans, charts, records and documents related to surveys of real property boundaries
Certify and assume liability for surveys made to establish real property boundaries
Advise, provide consultation and testify as an expert witness on matters related to legal surveys
May supervise other land surveyors, and land survey technologists and technicians.

Example job titles

•cadastral surveyor
•Canada lands surveyor
•city surveyor
•land surveyor
•property surveyor

Overview

Under Canada's NOC 2021 classification system, land surveyors are classified under NOC 21203 within the TEER 1 category. These professionals play a vital role in planning, directing, and conducting legal surveys to establish official real property boundaries, as well as preparing maps, plans, and other geographical data. They are commonly employed by private sector surveying establishments, real estate development firms, and municipal, provincial, and federal government departments.

To practice as a land surveyor in Canada under this NOC code, specific employment requirements must be met. Candidates typically require a bachelor's degree in geomatics engineering, survey engineering, or a closely related field. Alternatively, a college diploma in survey technology, combined with extensive practical experience and passing examinations, may be accepted. Crucially, licensing and a commission from a provincial land surveyors' association are mandatory to practice as a professional land surveyor in any Canadian province or territory.

For immigration purposes, the TEER 1 designation makes land surveyors eligible for high-skilled immigration pathways, including the Express Entry system under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. They may also qualify for targeted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or professional immigration advice. For official regulatory guidelines, please consult Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or a licensed immigration professional.

Educational overview summarizing this occupation. Always confirm against the official NOC profile and IRCC before relying on it.

Commonly confused codes

22213Land survey technologists and technicians

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Occupation data: Statistics Canada / ESDC — National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021.