We have a client that is wanting us to do a small amount of surveying on a couple of projects in MT. I am licensed in 2 other states (non PLSS) but have a fair amount of experience in OK and AL and have a pretty fair understanding the PLSS concept. I also have several friends licensed in PLSS states to use as references. Do any of you MT guys have any pointers or suggestions about MT surveying? Any weird quirks to be aware of etc. Also a suggestion of any reference materials that I should purchase for the exam or otherwise would also be a help.
Thanks
Since it is just a small amount of surveying, I have usually just found a surveyor in that state who I could work with and let them be the licensed person while I made sure my client was taken care of the way they expect from me. In the long run, I think it was the least expensive way to go and built very close relationships with surveyors in those other states. As is probably the case for you, your client knows what they will get from you and you have that type of expertise that most surveyors don’t have. We worked both ways where 1) we did most of the work and the LS was involved enough to feel comfortable signing the work or 2) they did most of the work under my strict supervision.
Just to set the record straight, this did not always go well at the start because I was very critical of the way the work was done and not all survey crews could perform adequately. The goal is to identify that early on (like by noon the first day) and get on another horse! Not always convenient, but necessary. You get better choosing the LS to work with as you have more experience doing that.
I am thinking of the states that I worked in using that method: Montana, Idaho, Washington, California, Utah, New Mexico, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. Some of those states I later became registered in.
I suggest that getting some experience “under” a Montana PLS would make you a better Montana surveyor and would be better for your client when you do take the test and become one.
:good: All that and more timely also.
You got some sound advice from SWAG. I've worked numerous PLSS States over the years (and a handful of M&B). A few are very similar, especially those that started as parts of the same territory. Others might as well be in different Countries.
I would not go for the Montana license without developing a relationship with a few Montana Surveyors. Learn the Laws, but just as important learn the day to day unwritten customs. If you are willing to invest that kind of time go for it. Even after you get the ticket keep your work to what you know.
Good luck, Tom
