PLS vs RLS vs RPLS

Here in Tasmania our title is Registered Land Surveyor.

I still see people occasionally calling themselves Licensed or Authorised. Both of those terms were discontinued a long time back.

I can only assume it's habit and an element of laziness in not changing letterhead, etc.

Here in Ohio we have been "PS" or professional surveyor for a long time.

I think Michigan and maybe West Virginia are the same.

> My question is, if you are authorized to use PLS but still present yourself as an RLS, why do you do that?
There are a few, mostly old timers, here in Oklahoma that still use RLS. I suspect it is partly tradition, partly indifference, and partly because they don't want to spend the 20 bucks to have a new stamp made up.

Some states have 2 or more types of licenses and the initials may reflect the differences.

In NY it's just LS, economy of letters 🙂

> Starting 35+ years ago, when I started into surveying, there was a movement across the country to elevate the surveying occupation to a level of professionalism. Many states have adopted the designation of PLS on certificates instead of RLS. Some states also have RPLS.

Wow, this is weird. I was just researching a related topic tonight.

> Those that have shown resistance to this movement has been mostly from the engineering community and I am not sure why. Maybe they feel threatened or superior.

I found this on wikipedia: "All professions have power. This power is used to control its own members, and also its area of expertise and interests. A profession tends to dominate, police and protect its area of expertise and the conduct of its members, and exercises a dominating influence over its entire field which means that professions can act monopolist, rebuffing competition from ancillary trades and occupations, as well as subordinating and controlling lesser but related trades."

"A profession is characterized by the power and high prestige it has in society as a whole. It is the power, prestige and value that society confers upon a profession that more clearly defines it." (cites omitted, emphasis added)

Anyone wonder why engineering is never considered to be anything but a profession, but surveying has struggled for decades trying to achieve "professional" status. Especially when you consider we are either unable or unwilling to become self-regulated.

Characteristics of a profession:
"There is considerable agreement about defining the characteristic features of a profession. They have a 'professional association, cognitive base, institutionalized training, licensing, work autonomy, colleague control... (and) code of ethics,"

"high standards of professional and intellectual excellence," ... "professions are occupations with special power and prestige," and that they comprise "an exclusive elite group," ... "Members of a profession have also been defined as "workers whose qualities of detachment, autonomy, and group allegiance are more extensive than those found among other groups...their attributes include a high degree of systematic knowledge; strong community orientation and loyalty; self-regulation" (cites omitted, emphasis added)

Professional:
"A professional is someone who has completed formal education and training in one or more professions. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform the role of that profession. In addition, most professionals are subject to strict codes of conduct enshrining rigorous ethical and moral obligations. Professional standards of practice and ethics for a particular field are typically agreed upon and maintained through widely recognized professional associations."

But yet we allow others (engineers for the most part) to define our standards of practice, ethics, conduct, licensing requirements, educational requirements, applicability of continuing education, procedures, and otherwise regulate us and our profession. Why is that?

Like many of you, I have been referred to many times as an engineer instead of a professional land surveyor, which I object strongly to, but can understand considering both our past and present situation.

I always use "PLS".

Getting away from the Engineers is pretty much a hopeless quest.

There is almost three times as many Pre-1982 Civil Engineers (they can practice LS) as there are current PLSs in California.

The State is consolidating license boards, not separating them.

ABET pretty much has a hammer lock on Land Surveying education which I believe is a big reason for the very low enrollment rates. If I was going to go to all the trouble to get an Engineering degree well I would do any discipline other than Surveying.

I don't see that it makes a difference either way. Professionalism is in the manner in which you practice and present your work and yourself. Our state "registers" civil engineers, yet i don't know of many who would deny that a registered engineer is a licensed professional. Same goes for surveyors.

My license says that I am licensed as a LAND SURVEYOR with no pronoun attached. But our licensing Code chapter bears the title "Professional Land Surveyors' Act". I know that I am a professional, and hopefully so do others once they've had the opportunity to work or interact with me.

I've also heard a good argument against using the "P" with LS in that if you are a professional, there is no need to proclaim it.

Evan Page, PLS, RLS, LLS, RPLS, and just plain LS

Edit: If your taking a poll, I most often use PLS. It's an identifier, not a statement.

Personally I prefer just plain"LS" after my name in business communications. RPLS just comes across as overboard...if your professional then you are probably registered and if you are registered then you are most likely a professional. But I also like to sign my first name with a small case d because I prefer the look of the small case font regardless of any rules of the English language and how the establishment prefers me to sign it.

daryl moistner LS

My Oregon certificate says ""...has been registered as PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR and is authorized to..."

But, I do agree that just because you are labeled as one doesn't mean you conduct
yourself as one.

Scott

My MA license says "RPLS"
My VI license says "PLS"

I have a business card from a competitor that says
"LAND SURVEYOR (TECH. CERT./HRG. NATL. DIP)"
I think he may have been to a technical school in Jamaica or Dominica.

I personally use RLS because the Nebraska stamp I was issued by the Board has "Registered Land Surveyor" on it, but it also has "LS-504" on the same stamp. My South Dakota stamp likewise has "Registered Land Surveyor" and "Reg. No. 11542" on it. I believe that being registered implies that you are licensed and that you are a professional. The American Surveyor magazine wants its writers to use "PS" behind their names if licensed. It was very common to see "CE" for Civil Engineer" instead of the modern "PE".

Texas is codified as Registered Professional Land Surveyor. As a licensed RPLS, I cannot use another moniker.

"Some states have 2 or more types of licenses and the initials may reflect the differences."

That is the case in my state. My certificate says I am licensed as a Land Surveyor. I put RLS after my name because it was customary to do so at the time I was licensed. I am registered to vote...

The higher "professions" don't appear to use the term "professional" in their title. We (and engineers) seem to feel we need to codify the term that we are "professional" in the statutes. It doesn't seem to get us recognized as one even with that statutes (I know it's not in all states).

I don't have the answers but I don't see where the title has elevated us in the eyes of the general public. It seems like Real Estate agents have even brought themselves a higher public image. The have started a national society of realtors and brag that they have a "code of ethics" so you can trust them. I don't blame them, I am more jealous. Why can't the surveyor figure it out? (I know I can't). As far as I can tell, the only way to gain respect is gaining the respect of everyone else....not by changing out titles by statute.

Maybe we should not worry about it so much and just enjoy the diversity and skills the nature of the work brings us.

PLS vs RLS vs RPLS VS PSM

In Florida, we are Professional Surveyors and Mappers... PSM.

But if you were licensed before the change, you can use the older term.

OR, WA, & CA all say Professional Land Surveyor

Off topic but...
If any students out there are looking for a bit of a short cut. Ferris State University's Surveying program is both Surveying and Engineering ABET accredited. Only a few extra engineering classes and you can sit for both EIT and SIT at NCEES.

In Virginia I'm a LS. In North Carolina I'm a PLS.