I ran an analysis of the number of Licensed Surveyors in Massachusetts?ÿ I started this in 2019 after talking with the VP of the Association.?ÿ Neither of us knew how many licensed PLSs there were.?ÿ Seeing the numbers is sobering.
https://www.ese-llc.com/surveyor-stats
That is very interesting.?ÿ The analysis is helpful, also.?ÿ I'm guessing the state capitol area and the Boston area are the two largest concentrations.?ÿ I am surprised to see only 17 registrants west of the Mississippi River as many retirees traditionally head towards Arizona and southern California.?ÿ The percentage who are in-state is very high in my opinion.?ÿ That, at least, offers some hope of the younger ones staying in place.?ÿ In Kansas the number of land surveyor registrants actually increased by six between 9-30-19 and 9-30-20 from 670 to 676 and 12 new licensed surveying business entities increased by twelve.?ÿ The listed percentage of individuals licensed in 2020 as land surveyors was 50 percent in-state and 50 percent out-of-state?ÿ The percent of individuals licensed in 2020 as engineers, on the other hand, is 32 percent in-state and 68 percent out-of-state with a total number of 13,696 individual engineering registrants.?ÿ That suggests there are roughly 4380 professional engineers and 338 professional land surveyors residing in Kansas, with some of those being counted in both tallies, such as myself.?ÿ That's a ratio of 13 to 1 for engineers to surveyors
I still fail to see how this is a problem.?ÿ If supply drops and/or demand increases then people will move into the market to capitalize on that demand.?ÿ In the meantime those of us who are still working will enjoy steady work and fat checks. ????
I'm starting to wonder if these doomsaying articles are funded by realtor, title company, etc lobbies. ????ÿ
@bstrand?ÿ Yes, the supply and demand argument is a hopeful result.?ÿ
We are currently overwhelmed.?ÿ Every firm around here is out several months and clients are panicking.?ÿ There will be a critical point when the professional surveyors cannot provide their efforts within a reasonable time.?ÿ "They" will find a solution by giving our duties to Civil Engineers.
I recall being part of the conversation long ago.?ÿ The association had a round table meeting to discuss how to encourage more folks to enter the profession.?ÿ I was the only one in the room under 30.?ÿ It's going to get lonely.
@holy-cow The concentration to the west is Worcester.?ÿ Once you figure out how to pronounce it, try to pronounce Dorcester.?ÿ Our licenses require renewals so perhaps many of those retirees out west let their licenses lapse.
?ÿ
That may hold true in areas with high-end real estate.?ÿ In areas with a far lower average value on real estate people will simply do without the survey and not sweat the potential cost of making an error, such as building a fence over the line.
?ÿ
@holy-cow Very true, especially in states where surveys are not required for land transactions.?ÿ
The easy fix will be hand off to engineers or drop survey requirements. The mass will not wait for us.?ÿ
Are there states or cities that require a survey for land transactions?
All I've ever heard of is that a lender may require one.?ÿ
?ÿ
I've had a handful of jobs over the years where a city refused to give a building permit to someone until they had a survey to prove the boundaries.?ÿ In one recent case it was a well-known fact that the neighbors were fighting over the line so one side decided he would build a new fence to avoid being able to even see that neighbor.?ÿ Another case involved a lady who planned to set a new doublewide on the property.?ÿ Based on the size of the unit and the size of the lot there was only two feet to play with before crossing a setback line.
@holy-cow we don't have to prove the boundaries, it is Zoning Compliance that has to be proven for every building permit.?ÿ Setbacks, height, coverage, whether or not the lot itself conforms to the dimensional requirements.?ÿ I had a project almost sent for a zoning variance because the builder added some fancy trim and one corner violated the setback by 0.1'.?ÿ Fortunately the Zoning Enforcement Officer saw the light and let it slide.?ÿ It's a local ice cream shop, they paid me and named a smoothie after me...?ÿ The Eldredge Energizer.
@mightymoe new jersey requires a signed and sealed metes and bounds prepared by a PLS for a transfer of title.
?ÿ
However, most banks are ignorant of that fact or don't care. I try to educate the attorneys that I deal with so they don't get a malpractice suit
This shouldn't be a problem to any profession - but us, somehow.
A shortage should lead to higher fees and higher salaries, which should lead to more interest from potential employees, which should lead to more entering the profession.
Should, but somehow it's all a bit clunky and slower for this to happen for us.?ÿ
I didn't see any MA licenses living in the VI. When my renewal came up last summer,?ÿ the BOR was shut down and I couldn't get their website to work. So I'm probably no longer licensed there. The chances of me working in MA are next to none now anyway, but I liked having the license as it was hard to get - unlike the VI license.?ÿ
Larry,
They are listing you as expired as of June 30, 2020
@bob-freeman @larry-best There is a grace period for late renewals, though, isn't there?
