Virginia State Specific Exam
So I’m looking at the ”Suggested References” from the DPOR website for the LS (Not the LS-B) exam and that’s a lot of material for a two hour, 50 question exam: VDOT Drainage Manual, Road Design Manual, Work Area Protection Manual; Virginia ESC Handbook, SWM Handbook: USACE Wetland Delineation Manual; ad infinitum.
I’m aiming for the June application deadline for the October exam. If I’ve got to be familiar with, bind, tab, and haul all that into the exam, so be it (I darn near took a bookcase in with me for PA, and needed most of it); but the question for the room is “Do they really draw questions from that varied a knowledge base?”
- 23 Replies
Ha,
Been looking at the same list and so far have downloaded a lot of data.
My big question is the application, I HATE doing those report of experience forms.
Ha,
Been looking at the same list and so far have downloaded a lot of data.
My big question is the application, I HATE doing those report of experience forms.
I’m planning on doing the application the second week of May from the house I’m going to be renting in Oak Island, NC…that way I can put part of my vacation on my timesheet 🙂
You going to the Spring Conference? I’m going to be there on Friday only.
I HATE doing those report of experience forms
I asked the Board staff in PA before I started in and they only made me do them going back ten years, so I cut and pasted the same thing into each form: “Licensed Professional Land Surveyor in direct responsible charge of boundary, topographic, subdivision, condominium, control, and construction stakeout surveys”
I hate having to fill out all that stuff from State to State. I wish they would say no need to feel out if registered in another state over 5 or 10 years. Pretty soon I am going to have references dying off. One of my old bosses can’t read anymore.
I saved all of my answers for applications to a text file. Copy and paste is a beautiful thing…
I took the test 2 years ago. It is a challenging test. You may use 1/2 of the reference material. The answers do come from a wide range of the material. I felt that they were not testing so much on how much you remember but do you know “where” to find the correct answer. I tabbed the heck out of my reference material, so i could easily get to a specific chapter or subject. You may not need training but the VAS puts on a 4 day study session at VCU called “The John Foster School” for FS & PS preparation in July. The PS portion does focus more on state specific than PS. I have taken both sessions and the material they provide is the most valuable than the other reference material listed on DPOR. The class certainly put me over the edge to pass the tests on the first try. Focus on knowing the VDOT reference material
OK,
Application is in, Hope they accept it.
As far as materials go, 800+ page E & S Manual , I just don’t know, maybe try and make a fact sheet up from the book and take that. Too bad being open book you can’t take a PDF , HA!
Gary
Imagine how much time you will have at a little over 2’/question, subtract 45″ for arranging & understanding the question in your terms, 30″ to review the possible answers, and add some time for fidgeting & frustration; you’ll realize the 200# library you brought is superfluous. The best approach is to attempt to read the references (maybe do a keyword search in those references) & take and categorize your notes.
If anyone else would like to add some more information about this test, it would help. I will be sitting for it in October and have not found any great resources regarding exam content and have found only a few precious details about it beyond this thread. I have used several of the Board-suggested references in the course of my work. The VDOT drainage manual itself would provide enough questions for an 8-hour exam!
Vdot drainage manual a must. VA survey regulations a must. VA survey business regulations a must. Wouldn’t hurt to have vdot drainage and design manual. And as always a surveying book of definitions. However I took the exam over 10 years ago…not sure what’s been added since.
Easy answer to you question is yes, you will see questions from most if not every one of those references, including the regulations (White book as we referred to it)
Good Luck
I breezed through the exam in about 80 minutes. The questions will be straight forward. Good luck to those taking it.
Thanks for the information.
I have been debating on what to print.
Now its time to start studying.
G
Well the questions were all over the place: from Manning’s equation to oyster bed lease surveys. But that’s another one down….5-0 on state specific exams; think I’ll retire from testing undefeated. Well survey testing, I’ve developed an unnatural desire for an MBA. ???ñ
If’n you were going to Oak Island why waste time on another LS when you could go get the treasure?
That could be a good thread in itself! To sit and have a beer with Fred Nolan would have been amazing.
To late for an October exam, but if you can’t take it then, I would suggest going to the VAS convention and taking their exam review class in April. They do a good job reviewing possible questions.
VAS also just put on the John Foster School in July. Maybe they will do it again next year.
Good luck. I passed mine the first time by the way…no pressure.
Speaking of treasure, I’m recalling the guy in late 2014 who was asking about latitudes and longitudes to find a treasure in North Carolina. He either gave up or (very unlikely) quietly found it.
As I recall, he had “deciphered” something that he thought gave him astronomical lat-lon from 1870 and expected that to match his handheld GPS to sufficient precision to dig a hole at the treasure. I don’t think we ever got through to him that those are different animals and might be a football field apart.
.Although I’ve never been a part of a treasure hunt, I find it super fascinating! I’m sucked in to all of those treasure hunting shows lately. I love catching times when surveying is involved. Most untrained eyes would never catch it. As for what you were talking about, I’ll have to look that one up!
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