The qualifications you need to become a pipeline construction professional depend on your area of specialization. Regardless of your specialty, you handle your job responsibilities at job sites, so you must be comfortable working outdoors. Pipeline engineers need an engineering degree and experience. A pipeline worker needs a high school diploma, the ability to perform physical labor and knowledge of machinery operation. Some backhoes and trucks require a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Welders and pipefitters can learn their skills through a vocational school or an apprenticeship.