Post Secondary Education

Um...CT doesn't not require a degree for a L.S....is that what your asking?

Thanks for replying. And, depending on the variety of info, I'll end up making a chart.

I started out trying to identify States that do not require any formal education after High School.

Kind regards

daw

Hmmmm, I think it's been done before. Possibly by ABET or NCEES, or maybe it was just on the other board. Oregon allows for experience in-lieu of a degree but there are hoops to jump through and its a case by case review. I don't have the exact rules in front of me right now.

The Oregon application for the FLS test has three options, Education(4 years), Education/Experience(combined 8 years) and Experience(8 years). The experience needs to qualify as more than just a technician. After the FLS then another 4 years under the eyes of a LS to take the final LS test.

Joe

I seem to remember Cali not requiring a degree.

California does not require any college training for the Civil PE or the LS. I'm not sure about the other PEs. Most Civil PEs have a BSCE degree but it is not required.

Attorneys have to have at least an Associates Degree but most go to Law School anyway.

CA does not require a degree to be an LS, a PE, or even an Atty. As long as you can show the relevant experience and pass the exams, you is one.

Yeah, I wondered about the AA to be a lawyer. T or F? I don't think you have to make it out of the 3rd grade to be any of those professionals if you can pass the tests, do you? If they try to require a 4th grade diploma, I'd be against it. There are other ways to gain an education than the standard system, and that's me with a BA saying that.

Georgia does not require a degree (yet), but for the LS there is a requirement for courses in hydrology.

Andy

NY statutes proclaim a bachelors degree but then give ways around it. My view is the legislative intent was to ease out the loopholes over the years, but it never happened.

So, currently no need for a college degree or courses in surveying for the LS.

The Board for engineering and land surveying claims this is also true for the PE. The way I read the legislation it is not true, but it does not appear to be an issue since they don't have people without degrees signing up for the exams (it's generally understood they wouldn't have a chance of passing).

From a practical standpoint, those without some type of college degree that actually pass the LS exam these days represent a very small proportion. It's really a turf war in my view. Educated LS charge more and perform some of the same tasks as PE. So the PE controlled board will not approve higher education (although they are currently considering requiring an associates degree in "anything"). But the current exam seems to be such that a degree that includes surveying topics is very nearly mandatory in order to pass.

I think many of the states that "require" a degree still have loopholes such as NY. But many times it is communicated that a degree is required, without actually saying it. For instance, PE's in NY think a degree is required for the PE, but when pressed the board says no. The argument is that "access to the professions" can not be limited by degree requirements. "If that soup was any thinner, even a politician could see through it."

I believe that's correct, Steve. With Attorneys, the only caveat is that if you did not graduate from an accredited law school, they make you take and pass what is commonly referred to as the "baby bar" exam before being allowed to take the real bar exam. I don't know exactly what that is, but it sounds something like our LSIT, sort of a watered down version of the real exam to see if one has at least some basic knowledge.

I agree that probably the easiest way to pass the tests is to get the degree.

The tests, at least the ones I took, are structured around a full educational program. So if you can force yourself through it all on your own more power to you.

Utah closed the door on experience only a couple years ago.