@dave-reynolds the CLSA forums is pretty active. You don't have to be a CLSA member to join the forum and post. http://clsaforum.californiasurveyors.org/phpbb3/index.php There are always some folks that want to migrate. I believe an experienced Ca. PLS can still get Oregon registration without great difficulty.
I?ÿwork for several of the municipalities in the area?ÿand 2 local PUD's.?ÿ Also, Oregon's only producing natural gas field is in Columbia County and I survey gas wells and the associated gas line easements for the energy company that has?ÿthe leases tied up. I work for many of the local builders. I do lots or rural partitions?ÿ(1 to 5 acre parcels, depending on zoning)?ÿwhere I help the land owner through the land us process and then?ÿsurvey the partition boundaries and prepare the plats. That's my favorite type of?ÿwork. The?ÿprojects I do?ÿvary a lot, an aspect I really enjoy.?ÿ
It rains a lot in the winter?ÿbut the temperatures are moderate. Summers are pretty great. There are no poisonous snakes.
I'm actually having a hard time with the retirement thing, but I can't go on forever (something I'm just now beginning to realize;-)?ÿ and I would like to find a graceful way to transition out of it.
The reality is that?ÿthere's probably about 3 people in Oregon who:?ÿhave the ambition, SOME money?ÿand?ÿthe willingness to relocate... I just have to?ÿfind one of them.
I'm still looking for one of those three people...
Good Luck Dave. As you're finding out, selling is a tough thing unless you're promoting from within for an easy transition/buyout type situation.?ÿ I know of 4 small survey operations in my area that tried to sell but finally just gave up and closed shop. Unfortunately it's easier to start your own operation these days and substantially cheaper.?ÿ I believe Oregon is a recording state so you're records aren't of much value and there's plenty of work to go around for everyone so they don't necessarily need your client base(assuming your clients are going to stay with the new regime).?ÿ Its a tough sell for sure.
I'm still looking for one of those three people...
IMHO, the ghost of the former and long time County Surveyor still haunts the Columbia County survey scene. Development planning is notoriously protracted there, running off potential projects. By effectively discouraging any competition for generations he drastically reduced your pool of potential buyers. The effects of his antics will linger for decades.
For the record Clackamas County also continues to suffer the lingering effects of long term CS under-performance, although the offending person has been out of office for 20 years.?ÿ There are still not a great many survey firms headquartered there either.?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿ
I'll be in Portland before too long...Once I get a house sold in KY. We are gonna head to PDX as our reward and spend some time out there. How hard is it to get a comity license out there????ÿ
I don't believe I needed the references, but did have to take the State Specific Exam.?ÿ It wasn't a cake walk, and I thought it was a really good competency exam.?ÿ It has Section, homestead, construction and regulation questions.?ÿ?ÿ
This was in 2009 or 2010.?ÿ They may have went the way of all multiple choice, like California.
I moved from StL a bit over 20 years ago and took Oregon in 2017. The state test is 'robust and comprehensive'.
It is 4 hours and mostly essay. Other than the usual references, grab the binders for the OSU boundary classes. Make a binder of Oregon laws and rules. Making it yourself will get you in touch with the quirks.
Get used to using the methods in the manual. Oregon is 'newer' than Mo and doesnt have the oddities.
There are other plans that work. I cracked a very good score and have shared the recipe with several successful applicants. You should be fine.
How hard is it to get a comity license out there????ÿ
If you don't have an ABET accredited degree you will need 12 years of verifiable experience for Oregon.?ÿ Of the 3 state tests I've written Oregon's was the toughest - but it was also the first so that may have had something to do with it.
