Program Helps Contractors Meet State Requirements
DiPrete Engineering, in partnership with Building Futures, has launched Rhode Island’s first Registered Survey Apprenticeship program. This initiative establishes a reliable, long-term career pathway in land surveying, filling a critical workforce need as the industry faces a growing skills gap. “Surveying is the foundation of every engineering and construction project,” said Robert Babcock, Land Survey Department Manager at DiPrete Engineering. “By creating this apprenticeship, we are investing not only in the future of our firm but in the future of Rhode Island’s workforce.”
The program follows an “earn and learn” model, providing apprentices with wages from day one while combining rigorous on-the-job training with structured classroom instruction. Apprentices will complete more than 2,000 hours of supervised fieldwork alongside DiPrete’s veteran surveyors, paired with 280 hours of technical coursework covering boundary law, instrumentation, CAD, and more. Upon completion, apprentices will be eligible to take the NSPS/CST Level 1 Certified Survey Technician exam, earning a nationally recognized credential that opens doors to long-term career growth and advancement.
“Building Futures is excited to partner with DiPrete on this pioneering program,” said Andrew Cortes, President & CEO of Building Futures. “Together, we’re creating a clear pipeline into a profession that is essential to Rhode Island’s economy, while giving workers the opportunity to earn wages and advance in their careers.”
With veteran surveyors across the industry reaching retirement age, the new program provides a much-needed pathway to develop the next generation of surveying professionals, ensuring the stability, innovation, and growth of Rhode Island’s built environment.
Under Rhode Island state law, contractors working on state or federally funded projects are required to use firms with a registered apprenticeship program for construction layout services, when such a program is available. DiPrete’s new Registered Survey Apprenticeship helps contractors meet this requirement, similar to how teams must verify participation from MBE or WBE partners. By establishing this program, DiPrete is not only preparing future surveyors but also supporting contractors in fulfilling important contractual obligations on public-sector projects.
Land surveying is a professional discipline that is also deeply rooted in the trades. DiPrete Engineering values the craftsmanship, precision, and mentorship that define skilled trade professions, aligning the program with the same workforce principles that many contractors uphold within their own apprenticeship and training efforts.
