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. It??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 Green??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 won??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.
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.
I don't have a degree, I started surveying in 1983, almost directly out of high school.?ÿ At the time, the exam requirements included 10 years of documented progressive experience.?ÿ I had some excellent mentors and bought allot of books to learn all that I could.?ÿ After 10 years in the field, I took my exam and became licensed in 1993.?ÿ?ÿ
Seeing as you are a Pennsylvanian, I would recommend the B.S. or A.S. programs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, or the A.S. program at Penn College of Technology in Williamsport.?ÿ A B.S. will give you the most options for geographic mobility, and will also open the door to jobs in federal service that will otherwise remain closed to you these days if you stick with an A.S.?ÿ EDIT:?ÿ You already have a Master's degree, so this reasoning is probably not relevant.?ÿ?ÿ
That being said, going to the Ranger school in New York sounds more fun ????.
I graduated from Penn State Wilkes-Barre's B.S. program 20 years ago.?ÿ I don't know much about it now.?ÿ If you had a time machine, I would definitely recommend the program in its late 90s early 2000s vintage, with Chuck Ghilani at the helm.?ÿ These days, I frankly have no idea of the quality.
Not an either/or for me. The AAS in geomatics in late 90s opened the door to a five plus year internship that led towards my license. That was 2006 and I??m still an intern today, just paid a lot better. The learning never ceases. When it does I??m moving on.
I graduated with an Associates degree in Surveying Technology from State University of New York, Alfred NY in 1977. (yikes)
Worked for several years (upstate NY and Colorado) then went to Maine for a BS Surveying Engineering (a few years ahead of?ÿ
Peter Lothian).
I have been very happy with both of those programs and feel that I had a leg up on employment opportunities because of them.
As Peter mentioned, U. Maine offers on-line programs.
SUNY Alfred now offers both AAS and BS degrees in Surveying. I do not know if they offer on-line programs
I am a junior at Vincennes University in Indiana. I have to complete the degree and internship. I would recommend the degree because surveying is a career that requires a background of memorized information that is easier to learn in school than just in internship. I work full time and go to school.?ÿ I get the best of both worlds. Half of my internship can be done during school.
I just finished up a 2 year associates in Land Surveying and Geomatics from Western Colorado Community College last spring.?ÿ All the survey courses had online options and the other courses were offered through a joint venture with Colorado Mesa University.?ÿ It was a very affordable option as a CO resident.?ÿ Being the only degree program offered in Colorado it was an easy choice.?ÿ However, I would've preferred getting a 4-year degree at the same relative price.
@frozennorth Penn College has shuttered their survey program.?ÿ PSU WB's program is a mere shadow of its former self.?ÿ The intern program manager there is trying his best to hold it together but I suspect we are witnessing the death what was one of the best programs around.?ÿ What Dr. Ghilani had built was GREAT, but since the departure of him and a few others, as well as what appears to be a lack of support from the University, the program is sliding.
I am a junior at Vincennes University in Indiana. I have to complete the degree and internship. I would recommend the degree because surveying is a career that requires a background of memorized information that is easier to learn in school than just in internship. I work full time and go to school.?ÿ I get the best of both worlds. Half of my internship can be done during school.
@eagle1215 do they still have you take the CST 1 & 2 exams??ÿ We did after our first and second years.?ÿ I thought the VU Surveying curriculum was amazing back in the late 90's.?ÿ We didn't have half of what you have available now!?ÿ I'm jealous as can be.
