Some TAFE students may enrol in a Spatial Science degree course with advanced standing (articulation arrangements).

Qualified surveying technicians can enrol at university and graduate with professional qualifications in surveying or another related discipline. This is now a significant trend.

TAFE programs have a heavy emphasis on practical skills, developed to industry standards, and graduates find the transition to university natural and easy.

TAFE Institutions around Australia offer a range of technical level Associate Diploma and Diploma Courses relating to surveying.

Many people already have jobs as survey assistants or technicians and enrol in TAFE to enhance job opportunities. Sometimes they go on to complete a university degree.

TAFE courses differ from state to state but generally cover:

• Surveying
• Survey Drafting
• Land Information Systems/Land Information Science
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• traditional surveying equipment and techniques
• electronic surveying and global positioning system (GPS) surveying
• surveying calculations
• preparing drawings and reports
• project management

Most are studied part-time or full-time, with some available by distance education.

Courses are updated to suit rapid changes in surveying instrumentation and technology in the field.

Computers have reduced the need for drafting skills, with calculations and drawings done on computers.

Graduate technicians work for themselves or assist registered Cadastral, mining or engineering surveyors. Students may also work as computer technologists. Advances in surveying and mapping equipment and software give technicians a significant role in the industry with many becoming project managers.

Graduates enrolling in another related TAFE course receive advanced standing (recognition of prior learning).