Maine Exam RSA

[newtonsapple]

> I am currently applying to take the Maine State Exam. I became an LSIT in Pennsylvania where I went to school. I just received a call from the board stating their attorney has reread the RSA and thinks the prior interpretation of allowing out of state LSIT’s to sit for the exam is incorrect. His opinion is that your must be a Maine LSIT with Maine experience. (I qualify as a Maine LSIT, but never applied)
>
> Based on the following RSA do you think he is correct?
>
> (http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/02/chaps02.htm#360)
>
> Maine RSA
> QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSURE
>
> To be eligible for licensure as a professional land surveyor, the applicant must:
> 1. Hold a valid Maine license to act as a land surveyor-in-training or be qualified for issuance of a Land Surveyor-in-training pursuant to Chapter 60, section 1; and
>
> 2. Demonstrate twenty-four (24) months of full-time experience as a Maine land surveyor-in-training. An applicant’s experience must include significant responsibility in all of the areas described in paragraph A below. Experience may include teaching as described in paragraph B.
>
> A. Research, field work, computations, data analysis, plan development, drafting or written descriptions, reports and correspondence.
>
> B. Teaching topics in elementary or advanced surveying or the application of surveying to real property, in a curriculum acceptable to the Board may not exceed 50% of the 24 months; and
>
> 3. Pass an examination in the principles and practice of land surveying.

First and foremost, do you have 24 months of experience under a Maine PLS? If the answer is no, then I would fully agree with the Board’s decision; while they are both colonial, PA and ME remain very different jurisdictions.

If you do have 24 months of experience under a ME PLS but did not sit for the LSIT in ME that would seem to be an excessively strict interpretation. After all the LSIT as far as I know is a nationally standardized exam – the same exam is administered to CA residents as well as PA or ME.

I don’t know how much latitude the board has to interpret the statutory requirements – I assume they have the power to come to this conclusion. I don’t know if any of the board members are on this forum; they might be better able to address this.

[detz]

The opinon was not specific to my case but for all applying with an out of state LSIT.
I have 24+ months of experience under an LS (not Maine).

[big-daddy-v]

I want to keep an eye on this thread being that I have my LSIT from California, my bachelors degree from Fresno State and I now live in Maine.

So what is it Maine? Do I need to get my LS from CA first and then you will allow a licensed surveyor to sit for your test. I do plan to get my CA LS at some point too.

I know the CA LSIT is “valid until professional licensure is obtained” and in Maine a LSIT needs to be renewed every 2 years.

[swalton]

It was my understanding when i took my lsit exam, (ohio 1987) that it was a national test. not a state exam. I don’t believe now that they even call it a lsit.

[spledeus]

Get the 24 months experience.
The LSIT or FS exam is national. It’s like taking the PLS in another state, they don’t or shouldn’t make you retake the national portion.

[paul-in-pa]

Maine LSIT ?

Certain states require an application to be an LSIT in that state, other states accept the passing of the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying as making you a defacto LSIT.

Maine does have a formal application requiring submission to the board to become a Maine LSIT and you must pay a relicensing fee every 2 years. However when you began working in Maine under a Maine PLS you began accruing experience. One thing they cannot do is require you to retake the FS exam. Whether you apply as for a Maine LSIT license (that is dangerous for Maine to call it a license) after 2 years of Maine experience you can apply. However if that is 4 years from taking the FS then you have 4 years total and can apply in PA.

“To be eligible for licensure as a professional land surveyor, the applicant must:

1. Hold a valid Maine license to act as a land surveyor-in-training or be qualified for issuance of a Land Surveyor-in-training pursuant to Chapter 60, section 1; and

2. Demonstrate twenty-four (24) months of full-time experience as a Maine land surveyor-in-training. An applicant’s experience must include significant responsibility in all of the areas described in paragraph A below. Experience may include teaching as described in paragraph B.”

As I read it you do not have to hold an LSIT license, only be eligible for one. They are looking for money, so they may not bend or even follow the law. Apply for it.

Paul in PA

[jim-oneil]

Some States require that you obtain the LLS in your home state first.

For example, if you live in NH you must get NH before Mass.

Jim in NH

[detz]

Maine LSIT ?

I do not see anywhere that experience must be under a Maine LS, or in Maine.

[newtonsapple]

Maine LSIT ?

> I do not see anywhere that experience must be under a Maine LS, or in Maine.

Which may be the reason why they consulted their attorney for clarification. They may not have spelled it out, but the spirit of the experience rule may be that one learns ME surveying under a licensed ME professional.

So if that is the stance the board is taking, you appear to have 2 options:

1. Apply (by comity) for a ME LSIT, paying the ME LSIT licensure fee. Then work under a ME PLS for 24 months and apply then.

2. Test for your PLS in PA, then apply (by comity) for the state specific multiple choice and essay exam in ME once you have passed the PA state specific and national portion.

I’m sure you don’t like the answer, but simply put that’s how I see it.