I see those as part of the general stuff.
Things like monitoring, forensic survey, hydrographic, bathymetric, etc. Would be more specific, but I'm still just learning and my opinions are still pretty spurious at best.
Those things are also general -?ÿ things that would be included in my "etc." Rather not have a separate test in any of those.
@tim-v-pls The current plan would split the PS into modules. You could take all five and not experience a change. At the same time the colonial folks could pass on taking the PLSS module.
As deregulation sweeps the country, we need to improve our methods of determining competency. If we don't adapt, the public is in for serious pain.
I really just consider state laws as the real esoteric variable that makes it so onerous to be multi state licensed.
The current plan would split the PS into modules.
Why?
Edit: I do see a need for more standardized licensing requirements. While also acknowledging the stark differences in practice in different areas of the country.
From my perspective, I don't see deregulation sweeping the country in surveying. But maybe I'm isolated where I am.?ÿ
Also, can you direct me to where this current plan is coming from?
The current plan would split the PS into modules.
Why?
Edit: I do see a need for more standardized licensing requirements. While also acknowledging the stark differences in practice in different areas of the country.
From my perspective, I don't see deregulation sweeping the country in surveying. But maybe I'm isolated where I am.?ÿ
Also, can you direct me to where this current plan is coming from?
Why...stop by the residential plat being built and grab the surveyor there...drive to the high rise being built downtown, grab the surveyor there and put the residential guy in charge, then drive down to the corner where a surveyor that exclusively does ALTA surveyor is working, push the high rise guy out, and drag the ALTA guy to the plat.
How will that work out? Assuming each of the surveyors has only worked in their specialized field, each of the jobs will come to a grinding halt, or will be done incorrectly. Even if they have only specialized for the past few years, the productivity will falter. The ONLY purpose of a license is to protect the public.?ÿ
That is "Why". Are there reasons "No"??ÿ Yes, there are.
Now, we have a professional duty to only work in the areas of our expertise, so each one of those guys should simply refuse to do the work they are not experts at. But, that doesn't always work, and worse, we often thing we know things we don't.
They did this with Structural vs everything else a long time ago. What I do not want to see is where you can do a construction module and get the same stamp as if you did the boundary module. That happens in engineering with everything except structural.
I too would like to see who is pushing for this. Mostly I do not care, but I mildly think it is a good idea.
@dmyhill?ÿ
Ok, I agree that moving those folks to a different aspect of surveying could be disastrous. But, I'm of the mind that more regulatory hurdles wouldn't be helpful.
Too me, our profession - surveying - is more analogous to the practice of lawyers than it is to medicine.
Working in area of expertise: Good
Working outside of area of expertise: Bad
Here's a great example..
(Forgive me, I'm the one nimrod in my family that did t go into medicine)
Who does and performs most of the Colonoscopies?
Yep. General Surgeons.?ÿ
Why??ÿ Because they're the ones doing the resection and removal of the colon etc.
Sure, the gastrointestinal docs do them too, and some of those even do some surgery, but not most.
The broad base of the critical parts of Surveying should stay in a standardized and absolutely foundational process.
Where you decide to find more specific interest and comfortable application comes out of the passing of the big stuff, the grains of sand are last.
Great topic, another great read for this site to share with more people coming up the path.
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I disagree.
Surveying actually knows something about what they are doing.
Lawyers think they know everything once they have one little bit of information, and they are routinely making misdirection and obfuscation of facts about what's real or true to sway opinions.
Just my Unhumble opinion.
?ÿ
Um... surveying is not medicine.
?ÿ
A few years ago I was at a social event with a recently licensed hairdresser who was complaining about the licensing requirements for hairdressing. She turned to me and said something to the effect of "I know you're licensed too and the requirements are the same".?ÿ
I was literally dumbstruck... no the requirements aren't the same.
Hairdressing is not surveying.
And surveying is not medicine.
I didn't say they were.
I'm using the analogy of the USMLE as a natl standard for the benchmark all physicians are licensed by first, as a model of how survey could be regulated, that's all.
And yeah, I'm sure that was an awkward moment for sure.....hair dresser is an occupational license, not a licensed professional. Weird to think that is how people perceived your background.
And I disagree that the licensing of physicians is a model for licensing surveyors. Just as licensing surveyors is not a model for licensing hairdressers.
@jitterboogie I'm not seeing a problem with interstate licensure. I've run through the process in five States. The only problems I've had were States that pile every license into one agency and screw things up for everybody. Every State with subject matter expertise on staff has been straightforward.?ÿ
Every State has it's own unique history and laws. They also tailor thier test based on experiences unique to the state.
Um, why the desire to segregate a PLS license into specialties??ÿ I got my degree in Chemistry but BLM/USFS summer employment gravitated me to tromping around with chain, transit and shovel and it fitted in with my love of the woods.?ÿ A good liberal arts education prepares you to learn efficiently so after employment in engineering, land development firms, quality topo work, construction surveying, high order control gov'mnt work I easily passed the PLS exam in two States and became comfortably employed in challenging environments by continually educating myself.
I think the present stricture that no PLS can practice in any subspecialty in which he is not competent is fair.?ÿ I'm no drone topo or point cloud expert so except myself from such surveying.?ÿ But the stuff I did know I'm really good at and was a worthy consultant.
