How to become a cartographer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- the armed forces
University
You can take a degree in:
- geography
- geographical information systems (GIS)
- land surveying
- earth sciences
- oceanography
Employers may also accept degrees in other subjects like computer science, software engineering or graphic design.
A postgraduate qualification may help you to find work in a specialist field of cartography like GIS.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
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Apprenticeship
The following apprenticeships may be relevant to this role;
- Level 6 Geospatial mapping
- Level 3 Geospatial survey technician
You may be able to train for similar roles, such as air cartographer in the armed forces.
You can find out more information from:
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
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Work
You may be able to get into this job by starting as a trainee cartographic technician and working your way up.
Employers may look for an apprenticeship in geospatial surveying, or A levels or equivalent, in geography, art and design, mathematics or computing.
Other Routes
If you want to work as a cartographer in the armed forces, you can apply to the British army as a geographic technician, or the Royal Air Force as an air cartographer.
After you leave the services, you could use your experience to find work in commercial cartography and mapping.
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Career tips
Cartographers are employed in the armed services and public sector organisations like Ordnance Survey. In the private sector they may work in a variety of industries like publishing, surveying or oil companies.
Further information
You can find out more about a career in cartography from the British Cartographic Society and Ordnance Survey.