I have been thinking about licensure in another state. Arkansas, Tennessee, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma (maybe) or Texas (maybe). If any of you were to get a license in one of these states, which would be most preferred in light of getting license, work availability, and profitability. I have a BS degree and with some effort, probably would be able to get licensed in the aforementioned states.
Thanks
Tennessee and Texas are the growth states in that list. But you haven't said anything about quality of life issues that are important to you.
I would probably continue to live where I currently live, just looking to expand my sphere of influence and expand opportunities.
Can't speak to which of those states you mentioned would be most profitable but if you were to have to pick one, which would it be and why?
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
Why do this in the first place? Ego? Prestige?
It might make sense if you are physically very close to the second state, but, will the additional requirements truly produce more income than taking on another job 10 miles from your house. I could go 30 miles east to another state that operates off a different P.M. and has numerous situations that are unique to that area. I could go 50 miles south to another state that operates off multiple P.M. and has complexities unique to that state.
I have kept busy for decades focusing on one state.
TN is a great place in most areas for raising a family good quality of life in most areas. Get outside the big cities like Memphis Nashville and San he surrounding areas are usually great communities. I am a bit biased I was born there. And right across the line. Between TN MS. No state tax. Most people in the rural areas would not hesitate to give you the shirt off their back if they thought you needed it. I think surveying wise TAPS is a great organization I have not been involved in it in many many years but when I was it was a great group.
In my current local, I compete against unlicensed “surveyors” that charge a couple hundred dollars for a large survey, do poor work, and state board can’t/won’t do anything about them. The board only regulates licensed individuals. As long as they don’t stamp a plat with a stamp that is not theirs, they apparently are free to operate. Turned some of them in, they are still operating and are highly loved in the community and even the local lawyers have them on their list of surveyors.
Also, I have a situation that has me tied to my local and impossible to leave for now.
If it were me, a lot of the decision process would revolve around the type of survey work and markets I wanted to work in. The answer might be totally different if I was looking at transportation, utility, or land development related survey work
In my current local, I compete against unlicensed “surveyors” that charge a couple hundred dollars for a large survey, do poor work, and state board can’t/won’t do anything about them. The board only regulates licensed individuals. As long as they don’t stamp a plat with a stamp that is not theirs, they apparently are free to operate. Turned some of them in, they are still operating and are highly loved in the community and even the local lawyers have them on their list of surveyors.
When I was new in this business I loved doing small lot jobs for private property owners. But I wasn't much concerned with the profitability of the business in those days. Private property owners will always hire the lowest cost provider. They have no other way to differentiate the product. They commonly don't appreciate the consequences of licensed v. unlicensed.
So if you are finding it hard to compete in that market sector, try another market sector. Government agencies frequently have some sort of standards that bottom feeders can't meet, including simply being licensed and/or having E&O insurance. Construction contractors are usually more concerned with schedule than with lowest cost per hour.
I've been in the Portland, Oregon market for a lot of years. Vancouver, Washington is just across the Columbia River. Daily commutes are common. I've been licensed in both states for well over 20 years, but even when I was working out of offices in Vancouver a large majority of the work we did was in Oregon. The other state license simply hasn't got me much in terms of work. The Oklahoma license was of use when I was in Oklahoma. Not a whisper since I crossed the state line.
I appear to be a outlier on this thread. I'm currently licensed in 5 states, adding NV to the last month. Of those states, I regularly work in OR, CA & WA. I sat for the NV license because I have a long-time engineering client that asked me to for some upcoming projects.
Most of my work is for engineering clients on infrastructure or rail projects. On the rare occasion I do residential work, it is usually around the small town I live in. I spend a fair amount of time out of town. So far this year, 5 out of 8 new projects have been in a state other that OR, although my current project is just down the road from my house. In my case, it makes sense to be licensed in multiple states. I don't think I would go after state just for the sake of having another certificate on the wall, but if it fits in by business model I'll go after it.
Our office does work in about a dozen States. I am licensed in five and work hard to stay current where I'm active. This has to factor into your decision. The effort required to meet the laws, rules, and standard of care in a distant jurisdiction can be onerous. I chose my States with this in mind.
My advice would be put Texas on the bottom or off the list. I will never pursue licensure there unless I relocate. It isn't that Texas is a bad place to survey, in fact it's quite the opposite. The history is rich and surveying there is a fun challenge. I simply can't see doing it (properly) from a remote location.
The PNW has it's own quirks, but it's managable. I have one more State on my wish list but life may have other plans. If I can't do it right I'm not doing it. I would encourage you to make this a critical part of your decision matrix.
Best of luck, Tom
In my case, it makes sense to be licensed in multiple states. I don't think I would go after state just for the sake of having another certificate on the wall, but if it fits in by business model I'll go after it.
This - It's all about the business (even when you don't think it's about business). There are five states and the District of Columbia withing 60 miles as the drone fly's (assuming there is no restricted airspace) from where I am typing this. Our business model in public sector & utility work, so having five licenses makes sense. On there other hand land development regulations are controlled on the county and municipality level in Maryland, so I know plenty of surveyors and engineers who don't leave a two or three county radius for work in that market because they can't keep up with the regulations.