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Construction Design & Engineering
Posted: November 14, 2025
DiPrete Engineering and Building Futures launch Registered Survey Apprenticeship program
Cranston, RI DiPrete Engineering, in partnership with Building Futures, have launched the state’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 dept. manager at DiPrete. “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 prepared to sit for 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 and CEO at 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.
DiPrete Engineering is a leading civil engineering, planning and surveying firm in New England. The firm has offices in Cranston, RI, Newport, RI, Dedham, MA, and Milford, MA.
Building Futures is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to meet employer need for skilled workers through Registered Apprenticeship, creating equitable paths to family-sustaining careers for Rhode Islanders.
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