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Technology & Design · course plan

GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations

11 courses · 1,800 clock hours · 9–12 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.

$17,790program tuition

11courses

103lessons

1,800hours

39assessments

TEC-GIS45-01 Universal core

Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career

148 hr · $1,185

Shared first block for every VoTechWorks program. OSHA 10 (30 for construction management), first aid/CPR/AED, applied trade math and measurement, technical reading and writing, digital literacy, and career readiness. Completed before students enter the lab and live systems unsupervised.

Outcomes

Hold an OSHA 10 card and current CPR/AED certification
Convert, measure and estimate with trade units, fractions, percentages and basic geometry
Read a specification, code excerpt or manual and write a clear technical report
Use email, spreadsheets, and the program's digital job-management tools
Present a resume, portfolio and interview answers to an employer panel

Course text

How the course runs. 7 blocks: OSHA 10: introduction, rights, hazard recognition; First aid, CPR and AED; Applied trade math I: units, fractions, conversion; Applied trade math II: geometry, ratio and estimating; Technical reading and writing; Digital literacy for the trade; Career readiness: resume, portfolio, interview.

Lessons · 7 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	OSHA 10: introduction, rights, hazard recognition	10	theory	Complete the OSHA 10-hour outreach course.	Authorized trainer sessions Hazard recognition walk Card exam	OSHA outreach materials	OSHA card issued
2	First aid, CPR and AED	8	practice	Respond to a collapse, bleed, burn or choke until help arrives.	Skills stations: CPR, AED, bleeding control Scenario drills Certification skills check	Manikins, AED trainer, first-aid kit	AHA/Red Cross card issued
3	Applied trade math I: units, fractions, conversion	20	theory	Convert, add and scale measurements used in the trade.	Measurement warm-ups from the shop Fraction and decimal drill Conversion problems from real orders	Trade math workbook, tape measures, calculators	Quiz ≥ 70%
4	Applied trade math II: geometry, ratio and estimating	20	theory	Lay out from a drawing and estimate quantity, time and cost.	Layout geometry: squares, angles, arcs Ratio and percentage: mixes, markups, loads Estimate a small job start to finish	Drawings, estimating sheets	Estimate within 10% of the key
5	Technical reading and writing	30	theory	Read a specification or manual and write a clear technical report.	Reading a spec: find the requirement, restate it Report structure: problem, standard, method, result Write and revise a report on a shop task	Spec excerpts, report template	Report rubric ≥ 3/4
6	Digital literacy for the trade	30	lab	Use email, spreadsheets, and the trade's job-management tools.	Email and calendar for a job Spreadsheet: a materials list with totals The program's job app: ticket, photos, sign-off	Lab computers/tablets, the job app	IC3/MOS-style practical passed
7	Career readiness: resume, portfolio, interview	30	practice	Present yourself to an employer panel.	Resume and portfolio build Mock interviews with feedback Employer panel	Portfolio templates, employer volunteers	Panel pass

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
OSHA 10 and first-aid written exams	Written exam	25%	OSHA card issued; CPR/AED card issued	Authorized outreach trainer exam plus AHA/Red Cross skills check. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Applied math & measurement exam	Written exam	25%	70%	Timed exam: conversions, layout math, estimating from a drawing or recipe/order. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Technical report	Project	25%	Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterion	A written report on a real task from the trade: problem, standard, method, result. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism
Employer panel interview	Oral / panel	25%	Panel pass	Resume, 3-minute portfolio walk-through, and interview with two employer advisors. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism

TEC-GIS45-02 Trade course

QGIS/ArcGIS

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in QGIS/ArcGIS for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in QGIS/ArcGIS and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern QGIS/ArcGIS
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for QGIS/ArcGIS
Perform the core tasks of QGIS/ArcGIS to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in QGIS/ArcGIS work and correct them
Document QGIS/ArcGIS work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, qGIS/ArcGIS is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

How the course runs. 12 blocks of about 12.2 hours: orientation and safety first, then the tools and the vocabulary, then the standard that governs the work. Guided practice becomes independent practice; measurement and inspection teach the student to judge their own work; the fault lab teaches what failure looks like before it happens on a job. A timed production run and the documentation block close the loop, and the course ends with the written exam and the observed skills demonstration.

What competent looks like. The student can explain qGIS/ArcGIS, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	theory	State the hazards of qGIS/ArcGIS work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where qGIS/ArcGIS work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of qGIS/ArcGIS; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in qGIS/ArcGIS, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for qGIS/ArcGIS, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern qGIS/ArcGIS.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for qGIS/ArcGIS with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of qGIS/ArcGIS step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of qGIS/ArcGIS to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect qGIS/ArcGIS work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for qGIS/ArcGIS: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe qGIS/ArcGIS work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of qGIS/ArcGIS failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: qGIS/ArcGIS to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic qGIS/ArcGIS job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	theory	Record qGIS/ArcGIS work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	practice	Apply qGIS/ArcGIS to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: qGIS/ArcGIS	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
QGIS/ArcGIS: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for QGIS/ArcGIS. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
QGIS/ArcGIS: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of QGIS/ArcGIS against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
QGIS/ArcGIS: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
QGIS/ArcGIS: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing QGIS/ArcGIS work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-03 Trade course

GNSS

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in GNSS for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in GNSS and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern GNSS
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for GNSS
Perform the core tasks of GNSS to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in GNSS work and correct them
Document GNSS work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, gNSS is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain gNSS, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for gNSS	12.2	theory	State the hazards of gNSS work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where gNSS work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of gNSS	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of gNSS; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in gNSS, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for gNSS, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs gNSS	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern gNSS.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for gNSS with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in gNSS	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of gNSS step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in gNSS	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of gNSS to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in gNSS	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect gNSS work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for gNSS: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in gNSS	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe gNSS work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of gNSS failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: gNSS to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic gNSS job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in gNSS	12.2	theory	Record gNSS work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for gNSS	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in gNSS	12.2	practice	Apply gNSS to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: gNSS	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
GNSS: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for GNSS. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
GNSS: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of GNSS against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
GNSS: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
GNSS: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing GNSS work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-04 Trade course

Total station

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in total station for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in total station and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern total station
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for total station
Perform the core tasks of total station to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in total station work and correct them
Document total station work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, total station is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain total station, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for total station	12.2	theory	State the hazards of total station work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where total station work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of total station	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of total station; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in total station, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for total station, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs total station	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern total station.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for total station with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in total station	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of total station step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in total station	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of total station to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in total station	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect total station work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for total station: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in total station	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe total station work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of total station failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: total station to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic total station job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in total station	12.2	theory	Record total station work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for total station	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in total station	12.2	practice	Apply total station to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: total station	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Total station: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for total station. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Total station: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of total station against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Total station: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Total station: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing total station work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-05 Trade course

Construction layout

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in construction layout for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in construction layout and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern construction layout
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for construction layout
Perform the core tasks of construction layout to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in construction layout work and correct them
Document construction layout work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, construction layout is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain construction layout, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for construction layout	12.2	theory	State the hazards of construction layout work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where construction layout work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of construction layout	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of construction layout; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in construction layout, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for construction layout, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs construction layout	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern construction layout.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for construction layout with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in construction layout	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of construction layout step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in construction layout	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of construction layout to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in construction layout	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect construction layout work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for construction layout: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in construction layout	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe construction layout work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of construction layout failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: construction layout to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic construction layout job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in construction layout	12.2	theory	Record construction layout work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for construction layout	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in construction layout	12.2	practice	Apply construction layout to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: construction layout	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Construction layout: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for construction layout. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Construction layout: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of construction layout against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Construction layout: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Construction layout: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing construction layout work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-06 Trade course

Photogrammetry

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in photogrammetry for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in photogrammetry and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern photogrammetry
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for photogrammetry
Perform the core tasks of photogrammetry to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in photogrammetry work and correct them
Document photogrammetry work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, photogrammetry is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain photogrammetry, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for photogrammetry	12.2	theory	State the hazards of photogrammetry work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where photogrammetry work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of photogrammetry	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of photogrammetry; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in photogrammetry, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for photogrammetry, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs photogrammetry	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern photogrammetry.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for photogrammetry with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in photogrammetry	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of photogrammetry step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in photogrammetry	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of photogrammetry to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in photogrammetry	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect photogrammetry work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for photogrammetry: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in photogrammetry	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe photogrammetry work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of photogrammetry failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: photogrammetry to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic photogrammetry job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in photogrammetry	12.2	theory	Record photogrammetry work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for photogrammetry	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in photogrammetry	12.2	practice	Apply photogrammetry to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: photogrammetry	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Photogrammetry: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for photogrammetry. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Photogrammetry: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of photogrammetry against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Photogrammetry: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Photogrammetry: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing photogrammetry work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-07 Trade course

Hydrography intro

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in hydrography intro for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in hydrography intro and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern hydrography intro
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for hydrography intro
Perform the core tasks of hydrography intro to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in hydrography intro work and correct them
Document hydrography intro work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, hydrography intro is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain hydrography intro, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for hydrography intro	12.2	theory	State the hazards of hydrography intro work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where hydrography intro work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of hydrography intro	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of hydrography intro; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in hydrography intro, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for hydrography intro, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs hydrography intro	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern hydrography intro.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for hydrography intro with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in hydrography intro	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of hydrography intro step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in hydrography intro	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of hydrography intro to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in hydrography intro	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect hydrography intro work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for hydrography intro: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in hydrography intro	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe hydrography intro work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of hydrography intro failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: hydrography intro to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic hydrography intro job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in hydrography intro	12.2	theory	Record hydrography intro work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for hydrography intro	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in hydrography intro	12.2	practice	Apply hydrography intro to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: hydrography intro	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Hydrography intro: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for hydrography intro. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Hydrography intro: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of hydrography intro against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Hydrography intro: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Hydrography intro: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing hydrography intro work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-08 Trade course

Cartography

146 hr · $1,750

Competency course in cartography for the GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations program. Instruction moves from demonstration to supervised practice to independent performance in the lab and live systems, measured against vendor documentation and industry standards. Students configure, secure and troubleshoot real work in cartography and keep a lab notebook signed off by the instructor.

Outcomes

Explain the principles, terminology and standards that govern cartography
Select and safely use the tools, equipment and materials for cartography
Perform the core tasks of cartography to the standard, within time, without rework
Identify faults, hazards and non-conformities in cartography work and correct them
Document cartography work in the lab notebook to industry format

Course text

Why it matters. In GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations, cartography is not a chapter to pass through but a skill an employer will pay for on day one; every credential exam in this program tests it directly or assumes it. The course runs in lab, against vendor documentation and the standard, with the lead engineer as the standard of judgment.

What competent looks like. The student can explain cartography, set up for it safely, perform it to the standard within time, spot and correct what is wrong, and write it up so that a stranger could verify the work.

Lessons · 12 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Orientation and safety for cartography	12.2	theory	State the hazards of cartography work and the controls for each; pass the safety brief.	Walk the lab: where cartography work happens, PPE station, emergency stops, first aid Hazard hunt: students list every hazard they can see and the control for it Safety brief and quiz; sign the safety agreement	PPE set, hazard cards, the program safety manual	Safety quiz 100% (retake until perfect); PPE donned correctly on demand
2	Tools, materials and terminology of cartography	12.2	demo	Name, select and care for the tools and materials of cartography; use the trade vocabulary correctly.	Instructor demonstration: every tool and material in cartography, what it does, how it fails Tool card exercise: match tool to task to hazard Care and storage: clean, inspect, return; a tool log entry	Full tool kit for cartography, material samples, tool cards	Oral check: 20 tools/terms named and their use stated
3	Reading the standard: what governs cartography	12.2	theory	Locate and apply the parts of vendor documentation and the standard that govern cartography.	Guided read of vendor documentation and the standard for cartography with a worked example Find-it drill: given a task, find the governing clause or spec Case study: a job that failed inspection and why	The code/standard excerpt, spec sheets, case file	Written check: 10 look-ups from the standard, 8 correct
4	Fundamentals I: guided practice in cartography	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of cartography step by step under direct supervision.	Instructor demo of the core task, slowed and narrated Students repeat each step with checklist in hand; instructor corrects at the step Log entry: what was done, what the standard was, what was learned	Practice stock/consumables, step checklists, the log	Checklist completed with instructor initials on every step
5	Fundamentals II: independent practice in cartography	12.2	practice	Perform the core tasks of cartography to the standard with the instructor observing, not assisting.	Task ticket issued; student plans the job before touching a tool Independent performance, timed Self-assessment against the rubric, then instructor assessment; compare	Task tickets, rubric, timer, practice stock	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every line; time within 150% of the standard
6	Measurement, layout and quality checks in cartography	12.2	lab	Measure, lay out and inspect cartography work; decide accept/reject against tolerance.	Measuring instruments for cartography: calibration and reading Layout exercise from a drawing/order; check against the instructor's key Inspection lab: 10 samples, accept or reject with a reason	Measuring instruments, drawings/orders, sample set	Inspection lab 9/10 correct with correct reasons
7	Faults, hazards and rework in cartography	12.2	lab	Identify defective or unsafe cartography work, explain the cause, and correct it.	Fault gallery: photographs and samples of cartography failures Diagnosis drill: cause → consequence → correction Rework lab: repair a planted fault to standard	Fault samples, diagnosis sheets, rework stock	Rework accepted by the lead engineer on inspection
8	Production run: cartography to standard, timed	12.2	practice	Complete a realistic cartography job to standard within the allotted time and materials.	Job briefing as on site: scope, standard, time, materials The run, with the log kept as it happens Debrief: what cost time, what cost material, what would be done differently	Job packet, materials at estimated quantity, timer	Job accepted; time and material within estimate
9	Documentation: the log and the report in cartography	12.2	theory	Record cartography work in the industry format so a stranger could verify it.	Anatomy of the trade's paperwork: log, report, sign-off, hours evidence Write the report for the production run Peer review against the documentation rubric	Report template, the certifying body's hours form	Report accepted by instructor; hours form correctly completed
10	Skills-check rehearsal for cartography	12.2	assessment	Rehearse the skills demonstration under exam conditions.	Exam conditions explained: critical steps, stop rules, timing Full rehearsal with a peer as observer using the checklist Remediation plan for any missed step	Skills checklist, timer, rehearsal stock	Rehearsal pass with zero critical misses, or a remediation plan on file
11	Advanced application and special cases in cartography	12.2	practice	Apply cartography to the non-standard situations met on real jobs.	Special cases from the trade: unusual materials, tight conditions, client changes Problem set: plan three special-case jobs Practice one special case to standard	Special-case packets, materials	Plan approved; special-case job accepted
12	Written exam and skills demonstration: cartography	12.2	assessment	Pass the course's written exam and the observed skills demonstration.	Written exam (see assessment plan) Skills demonstration, observed and scored Results conference: what the credential exam will ask of this skill	Exam, checklist, all tools and stock for the demonstration	Written ≥ 75%; demonstration competent on every critical step with zero safety faults

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Cartography: written exam	Written exam	25%	75%	Theory, terminology, standards and safety for cartography. Multiple choice plus short calculation/interpretation items drawn from the certification body's task list. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Cartography: skills demonstration	Skills demonstration	45%	Competent on every critical step; zero safety faults	Observed, timed performance of the core tasks of cartography against a checklist. A critical-step miss or a safety fault stops the assessment; re-attempt after remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Cartography: lab notebook	Log	15%	Complete, signed, ≥ 90% attendance of lab hours	Daily entries: task, standard, method, result, time; instructor sign-off. Serves as hours evidence for the licensing/certifying body. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation
Cartography: safety audit	Safety audit	15%	Pass/fail — must pass	Unannounced audit of PPE, housekeeping, lockout/guarding, and hazard communication while performing cartography work. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation

TEC-GIS45-09 Capstone

Capstone Project

216 hr · $2,160

An integrated, assessed piece of real work that draws on every trade course in GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations: planned, estimated, executed and documented by the student, reviewed by an employer advisor. Capstones are shown in the Student Yard or the Museum of VoTech where the work allows.

Outcomes

Plan and estimate a complete job from a specification
Execute the job to standard within the estimate
Present the finished work and its documentation to an employer panel

Course text

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Capstone brief and specification; Capstone build I; Capstone build II; Capstone presentation and defense.

Lessons · 4 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Capstone brief and specification	54	theory	Read the capstone specification and plan the job.	Spec walkthrough with the employer advisor Work breakdown and schedule Materials and cost estimate	Capstone spec, estimating sheets	Plan and estimate approved
2	Capstone build I	54	practice	Execute the first half of the capstone to standard.	Daily start-up brief Build, with log kept live Mid-point inspection	All materials per estimate	Mid-point inspection passed
3	Capstone build II	54	practice	Complete the capstone to standard within the estimate.	Build to completion Self-inspection against the spec Documentation package assembled	As above	Work complete; package complete
4	Capstone presentation and defense	54	assessment	Present the finished work and its documentation to the panel.	15-minute presentation Panel questions Scoring and feedback	Presentation space, the finished work	Rubric ≥ 3/4 on every criterion

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Capstone: finished work + documentation	Project	60%	Rubric ≥ 3 of 4 on every criterion	Employer advisor + instructor score the finished work against the specification, the estimate, and the documentation package. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation
Capstone: portfolio	Portfolio	20%	Complete	Photos/drawings/logs of every course skills demonstration plus the capstone, in the program portfolio format. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality
Capstone: defense	Oral / panel	20%	Panel pass	15-minute presentation and questions from the panel. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication

TEC-GIS45-10 Externship / clinical

Externship / Worksite Placement

324 hr · $1,295

Supervised placement with an employer partner in GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations work. Hours are logged against the certifying body's task list; the employer evaluates against the same rubric used in the shop.

Outcomes

Perform the trade's tasks in a real workplace under supervision
Meet employer expectations for attendance, safety and conduct
Log hours and tasks in the format the certifying body accepts

Course text

How the course runs. 4 blocks: Placement orientation; Supervised work: weeks 1–2; Supervised work: weeks 3–4; Supervised work: final weeks.

Lessons · 4 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	Placement orientation	81	theory	Know the site, its rules, and the competency list you will be evaluated on.	Site orientation and safety induction Competency list review with the supervisor Logging procedure	Site handbook, competency list, hours log	Induction signed
2	Supervised work: weeks 1–2	81	field	Perform entry tasks under close supervision.	Shadow and assist First independent tasks Weekly log review	Hours log	Log current; supervisor initials
3	Supervised work: weeks 3–4	81	field	Perform the trade's routine tasks with normal supervision.	Routine tasks assigned as to a new hire Mid-point evaluation Remediation targets if any	Hours log, evaluation form	Mid-point evaluation satisfactory
4	Supervised work: final weeks	81	field	Meet employer expectations for a new hire on the competency list.	Full task load Final evaluation Hours verified and submitted	Evaluation form, hours verification	Final evaluation satisfactory on every competency; hours verified

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Employer evaluation	Skills demonstration	70%	Satisfactory on every competency	Mid-point and final evaluation by the site supervisor on the program competency list. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative
Hours & task log	Log	30%	Required hours complete and verified	Signed log of hours and tasks; verified by the registrar for the board/certifying body. Complete · Verified

TEC-GIS45-11 Exam prep

Certification Exam Preparation

90 hr · $900

Structured preparation for Esri ArcGIS Pro; FAA Part 107; NSPS CST L1-2: content review mapped to the exam blueprint, timed practice exams, practical-exam rehearsal, and registration/eligibility paperwork with the registrar.

Outcomes

Score ≥ 80% on two timed mock exams
Complete the eligibility application and hours verification
Rehearse the practical exam format to time

Course text

How the course runs. 4 blocks: The exam blueprint; Mock exam I and review; Practical exam rehearsal; Mock exam II and registration.

Lessons · 4 blocks

#	Lesson	Hr	Type	Objective	Activities	Materials	Check
1	The exam blueprint	22.5	theory	Map the credential exam blueprint to what you have learned.	Blueprint walkthrough Self-rating by domain Study plan	Published blueprint, study plan template	Study plan on file
2	Mock exam I and review	22.5	assessment	Sit a timed full-length mock and review every miss.	Timed mock Item-by-item review Targeted study assignments	Mock exam, answer keys	Score recorded; review complete
3	Practical exam rehearsal	22.5	practice	Rehearse the practical/skills portion to the exam's time and format.	Format briefing Timed rehearsal Feedback	Practical exam materials	Rehearsal within time, no critical misses
4	Mock exam II and registration	22.5	assessment	Sit the second mock and complete exam registration.	Timed mock II Eligibility application and hours verification with the registrar Exam date booked	Registration forms, hours evidence	≥ 80%; registration submitted

Assessments

Assessment	Type	Weight	Pass standard	Method & rubric
Mock certification exam (×2)	Mock certification exam	100%	≥ 80% on both	Full-length timed mocks built from the certifying body's published blueprint; second attempt after targeted review. Score · Time management

Program completion

External credential: Esri ArcGIS Pro; FAA Part 107; NSPS CST L1-2

The program completion credential(s). Sat at the school's authorized testing center or the body's test site; results recorded in the student record and reported in the annual outcomes report. Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.

Back to GIS / Surveying / Drone Operations · How the school gets authority to award these credentials