I defined a traditional student as one who attends college (2 or 4 years) right after high school or right after military service. Working as a surveyor while attending school does not eliminate you as a traditional student, nor does not completing the degree in the minimum time. Finances for a higher education can occassionally require work breaks away from class time.
The responses of 57 surveyors were:
A/ Education as a traditional student, 20
B/ Education as a non-traditional student, 25
C/ On the job education only, non-student (experience only), 7
D/ Other, i.e. pursuing surveying after a degree in another field, 5
It was very apparent that very few repliers easily fit perfectly into any one slot.
I did not expect the number of experience only surveyors to be so low.
Paul in PA
I'm not too surprised at the number for experience only. People in other professions keep telling me that the "majority" of licensed surveyors don't have an education or degree, and yet I'm not sure if I've ever actually met one that didn't. As noted from the survey there might be a difference in which degree or if none there might be many college credits in varying topics.
Surveyors as a group are the best problem solvers I've ever known. The varied paths to licensure may be an early sign of those capabilities.