Where did you go to college and would you recommend it? Did anyone select interning instead of a degree?

I do not know whether there is a program in Pennsylvania like this one offered in Texas.?ÿ

I was an adjunct in the program until 2013. The intent was to help participants gain college credits needed for licensure in Texas.?ÿ

Have you talked to the folks at the surveying program at PSU Wilkes-Barre?

Good luck

Iƒ??d get my degree on line from a college in a metes and bounds state and work for a surveying firm at least part time. ?ÿSleep is overrated.

So many of the regulars here did not have the same options you have today.?ÿ We will try to stay silent.

I had been surveying for 10 years and went back to school at the Oregon Institute of Technology at the age of 34. I got a BS in Surveying. One of the best decisions I have ever made.

@holy-cow?ÿ

????? ?ÿThere where a couple of programs available in 1971 but nothing like today. ?ÿAt 70 Iƒ??m thinking about taking a couple of online courses myself. ?ÿI can sit in my rocking chair on the porch and study. LOL

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Until one has a few years of responsible charge under their belt they still have a lot to learn.

Posted by: @jacavell

Until one has a few years of responsible charge under their belt they still have a lot to learn.

I'd say, more like a few decades, unless their intended practice is very limited in scope and diversity (just say'n)

Posted by: @fairbanksls

Iƒ??d get my degree on line from a college in a metes and bounds state and work for a surveying firm at least part time. ?ÿSleep is overrated.

You'll get enough sleep when you're dead... ?????ÿ

University of Wyoming has a 30 credit certificate that is able to be completed online. ?ÿ95 percent of the people in the program are working full time at a surveying job already. People from all over the country in that one.?ÿ

Check out the University of Maine, they have an online program that may suit your needs.?ÿ Find a reputable surveyor in your area and develop a relationship with them.?ÿ The BEST path to being a good surveyor is thru a blend of formal education and "internship".?ÿ Can you become a good surveyor with one path and not the other, sure, but the best is a combination of the two.

I suggest you find a 30 hours certificate program in Land Surveying Technology.?ÿ Online would be convenient and I have always heard good things about the University of Wyoming program but surveying is very hands on and I think that you should consider on campus (in person) surveying classes.

Experience is the key.?ÿ With surveying you have to pay your dues if you want to play the blues.?ÿ Especially,?ÿ if someday you want to have your own surveying firm.?ÿ?ÿ

Find a good surveying company and be willing to start out in the field and have some fun and great experience working your way up to party chief.?ÿ Get that hand's on experience for at least two years.?ÿ Then some office management.

Whatever road you choose, You will never look back.

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My B.S. is from the University of Maine, Surveying Engineering program. The course of study has changed quite a bit since I was there. It is now a Surveying Engineering Technology degree. The program has more emphasis on what a practicing PLS will need for education than it did before (less GIS coursework), so I would recommend it even more strongly then when I first graduated. They have an online degree option.

https://umaine.edu/svt/

My degree from New Mexico State Univ. was after about 3-4 years of survey work and that was a?ÿ fantastic combination. I knew enough to know I needed to learn a lot more, but wasn't already deep into a job that I couldn't leave for school.?ÿ ?ÿThere wasn't much "on line" in 1996 ish like there is today, so I don't know if I'd move across the country again, but it was worth it, for sure!!

My entire career, 22+ years, has been all OTJ training. I've been lucky and worked with some great folks who were willing to teach me all they know/knew. Granted, I'm not licensed but that's how I've gotten to where I am today.

Posted by: @jd00

My end goal is to own my own land survey firm.

In that case I would STRONGLY recommend a degree in business. it could easily be more important that your knowledge of surveying...

For an AAS degree I would recommend the NYS Ranger School at Wanakena. You will only need to attend for one year. Itƒ??s an intensive program. ?ÿWhen I attended you had 4 hours of classroom instruction mornings and 4 hours of lab in the afternoon 5 days a week and classroom instruction on Saturday morning. ?ÿLee Greenƒ??s son ?ÿis attending this year so he will know more about the current Land Surveying program.

If it is anything like it used to be you wonƒ??t get much sleep.

I started out for a Civil PE degree.?ÿ Didn't finish or receive any credits.?ÿ Made a hasty decision to do 13 months at a "Trade type school".?ÿ A crash course with some credits transferrable, but not likely because the school, at the time, was not ABET accredited.

I chose the 10 year internship path to licensure in my state and wanted the OTJ experience and training.?ÿ Ten years and 2 months later I received my state license.?ÿ That path is no longer available in my state as they now require a 4 year degree.

No regrets on my decisions to get where I'm at.?ÿ I stay on top of the profession as much as I can as far as statute changes as well as the technological changes.?ÿ The 13 months of school learning the fundamentals of the profession and the application of the math and law to it was key to my success.?ÿ I don't get job offers because of my formal education, I get job offers because I am licensed and can work any project from start to finish.

I'm starting to feel my age and have slowed down performing field work.?ÿ I just can't do the physical work as fast as I could 10 years ago.?ÿ I still do it, but not as efficiently as before.?ÿ I gotta take more breaks and drink water now unlike the past.

I just wish my state still had the 10 years of experience/testing option available so I could be mentoring someone on the path to licensure.?ÿ The last of 9 or so people I have mentored over the years have received their license from the 10 year option.?ÿ Any of the degreed people I have worked with have either left the profession or specialized in some portion of surveying like cad drafting or career party chiefs and no desire to become licensed.?ÿ They have tested for the fundamentals and failed more than 3 times and gave up.

Just don't give up and find your path.?ÿ Our profession needs you!?ÿ There are opportunities coming for the Licensed Professional Land Surveyor as well as the Specialized Survey Technicians.

SD

BTW, I'm hiring!?ÿ I could use a cad tech and field techs or someone looking to get licensed.

@andy-j?ÿ

Guns up Go Aggies!!!

You have been provided numerous options.?ÿ Some are great if you want to be a hands-on, dirt-digging, land surveyor with the possibility of moving to an office job.?ÿ Others have promoted starting in the office, but having enough field experience to go with it.

Goals are nice.?ÿ But, owning a land surveying firm is a very different beast to tackle.?ÿ First, you need to do whatever is required to pass the examinations to become licensed.?ÿ Then you must have the knowledge of business and people management skills to make this a profitable business.?ÿ Being truly capable of the business/management end generally removes you from the day to day true surveying work.?ÿ This is why I would recommend a goal of doing what it takes to obtain your license while completing a four-year degree in engineering plus at least one additional year to pick up an MBA.?ÿ Then, if the surveying business is still your chosen business, hang out your shingle and don't look back at the could of's , should of's, would of's.