After Seeing many of you on here licensed in multiple states. I was wondering if any of you can list the "Harder" / "Easier" states to get licensed in, as in testing and requirements. Let's make one thing clear right of the bat. I AM IN NO WAY SAYING ONE STATES LICENSE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHERS. I'm currently licensed in Pennsylvania and thinking about taking the test for New York. I would like to know how Pennsylvania's test / requirements "stack up" against other states.
hahahahahaha. i was about to start a new, similar thread when i saw this, with similar disclaimers.
in the Texas/Lousiana comity thread, [USER=731]@Ric Moore[/USER] suggested the process by which taking the PS exam had been... loosened... by a handful of states. which intrigued me as i am very interested in eventually gettting licensed in adjoiner states. but i also have two teenagers and coach both their soccer teams and a wife who expects a little attention and all the extraneous demands that anyone else on here does, and it's just seemed a little more than i reasonably have in me to study for both the PS and a state specific concurrently. always hoped there was some way to sit for the PS on its own so that i could dedicate myself to properly acquiring the knowledge and background required to not only pass the test, but truly be competent in a different system. voila, thanks to Ric's suggestion i did some poking around and found the route into the PS exam that won't require committing both a chunk of change and a considerable amount of extra energy and time to learning state specific issues. (not to mention the exhaustive boot licking required to be approved with some sort of hybrid endorsement/education application.)
so... after i finish studying for and taking this private pilot's exam, the PS is on. that is, if i have any cash left after all this airplane education.
reido99, post: 410173, member: 1068 wrote: After Seeing many of you on here licensed in multiple states. I was wondering if any of you can list the "Harder" / "Easier" states to get licensed in, as in testing and requirements. Let's make one thing clear right of the bat. I AM IN NO WAY SAYING ONE STATES LICENSE IS BETTER THAN ANOTHERS. I'm currently licensed in Pennsylvania and thinking about taking the test for New York. I would like to know how Pennsylvania's test / requirements "stack up" against other states.
The variables around here almost require a complete resume to sort it out. If I had a 4 year degree I would have started with Idaho and followed with those around me. Instead I did Utah first. They had a more comprehensive application but an experience only track. The date of that license gets me in the door in all of the States I'm interested in.
As for the testing sequence it's all personal preference. For me the first license was all in one. I did the PS, then State, then FS in one weekend. I honestly think I did better than if I'd studied for and taken one at a time. You might rethink taking them together.
Good luck, Tom
MD: hard for an out of state surveyor to qualify because you need four classes in hydrology, storm water management, etc. or two years of verifiable design experience to sit (or a combination thereof - six months experience = one class). When I took there were two state specific exams: 2 hour law & 4 hour storm drain and drainage, not sure what the exams are like now.
DE: easiest comity application in the nation...fill out your name, address and existing licence information. If you're licensed in an adjoining state with similar requirements, or any state for more than five years, you're done in five minutes. No documenting experience. Exam was pretty rough, a lot of guys were in there on their third or fourth try, but it can be passed on the first shot, I did it.
PA: comity application wasn't bad..I applied under the old law and they just had me lay out the last ten years of experience, but it's still a hassle to fill out one experience form per year. I've been licensed in Maryland for longer than that, so my experience forms all said the same thing for describing my work experience "Licensed Professional Surveyor in direct supervision of...yada, yada, yada". I thought the PA state exam was the toughest of the three, just because there is such a broad range of questions and the way they write the problems to require multiple areas of knowledge to answer one questions.
PS - Are you actually from Erie or the "suburbs"? My wife grew up in Fairview.
The ID test is a joke IMO....or at least it was back in the day. It was essentially a take home test that you had proctored by an approved LS. This has most likely changed from the time i took it many moons ago,
The WA test has always proved to be a tough one based on the pass %s. It's short but tough.
WA-ID Surveyor, post: 410188, member: 6294 wrote: The ID test is a joke IMO....or at least it was back in the day. It was essentially a take home test that you had proctored by an approved LS. This has most likely changed from the time i took it many moons ago,
The WA test has always proved to be a tough one based on the pass %s. It's short but tough.
Idaho needs to tighten up the test. They rely on the application process to weed out the unqualified. I thought Washington was tough until I took Oregon...
Idaho's is way too easy. The Wyoming take home exam is the best exam that I have taken. Not sure if it is still the same format: 10 "questions" must get them all correct.
I am only licensed in PA. But, I can tell you that a friend who has 4 (I think) licenses said Michigan was the hardest.
I can not really speak about today's situation.
Worked at an engineering company 1979-81 or so and one of the 3 partners, Thomas, was hidden away in his corner office full of electronic gadgets that no one knocked on the door or entered without being summoned and he was responsible for all the crucial computations and detail work and was licensed as Surveyor and engineer in dozens of states and he absolutely refused to take the California test.
SD take home test and online questionaire. Experience only track recently eliminated.
ND 2 hour onsite open book test. Not hard but being open book you feel the urge to check every answer.
NE questionaire then essay type test onsite. About 4 hours.
Edward Reading, post: 410192, member: 132 wrote: Idaho's is way too easy. The Wyoming take home exam is the best exam that I have taken. Not sure if it is still the same format: 10 "questions" must get them all correct.
Agree on the Wyoming take home exam - covers nearly all pertinent subjects and serves as excellent preparation for the state specific exam, which was a good exam as well... mine was 20+ years ago, but a newly licensed peer had similar feelings regarding their experience.
MO & AR = Very similar. Can be difficult if your from a "Western" PLSS state. Both 2-hour open book
KS = Similar format, 2-hour open book.
All 3 are 1-hour rules & regs and 1-hour PLSS
NE= 4-hour, don't really need a calculator but comprehensive. I felt like this one taught me something.
There is an alternative:
NCEES Records program
The NCEES Records program is for currently licensed engineers and surveyors who are looking for an easier and faster way to complete the licensure process in multiple states. An established NCEES Record will include mostÛÓif not allÛÓof the materials you need to apply for comity licensure in additional states and territories.
Eliminate the hassle of resubmitting your
- College transcripts
- Exam results
- Employment verifications
- Professional references
When applying for a license in an additional state, NCEES will review your materials and electronically submit them directly to the state licensing board on your behalf. This saves time and simplifies the application process when you need to practice in multiple states.
Browse the frequently asked questions to learn more about the NCEES Records program.
Completing an application
The online application process can be completed in as few as 30 days and depends on the amount of time it takes to verify your work experience and receive professional references. To start, simply log in to your MyNCEES account, select Multi-State Licensure from your dashboard, and weÛªll guide you through the process.
Go to the NCEES Frequently asked Questions site:
http://ncees.org/records/records-faqs/
Here are a few pertinent answers:
Do all U.S. state licensing boards accept an NCEES record?
Yes. The NCEES Record is accepted by all U.S. state licensing boards.
How much does it cost?
There is no charge to complete the application process and no annual renewal fee. Fees are charged each time you transmit your Record to a state licensing board.
First transmittal: $175
All subsequent transmittals: $75
Does an NCEES record guarantee a license in all jurisdictions?
No. An NCEES Record does not guarantee licensure in any jurisdiction.
What types of information might a state board require in addition to NCEES record?
In most cases, requests for additional information are as simple as requiring the applicant to complete a state application and pay a state application fee. However, there may be times when an NCEES Record holder is required to provide additional information about their education, references, existing licenses, or experience information.
Do any states require an NCEES Record for comity license?
Yes. Candidates applying for a comity license in Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, or Wyoming must establish an NCEES Record before applying.
Paul in PA
Of my three NH was the toughest. Maine and VT were too easy in my opinion.
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thebionicman, post: 410189, member: 8136 wrote: I thought Washington was tough until I took Oregon...
Of the 3 states I've taken Oregon was toughest, Washington a close 2nd, Oklahoma 3rd. But that is also the order I took them in, so it might just be that they get easier with practice.
California traditionally has a very low pass rate. I've seen an example of their test and it is very challenging. But there are probably other reasons for the pass rate being so low.
