by Holy Cow, Tuesday, January 03, 2012, 15:13 (1 day, 3 hours, 0 min. ago)
edited by Holy Cow, Tuesday, January 03, 2012, 15:19
A Modest Proposal for the Future of the Profession (Education/Training)
A few of the threads over the past couple of weeks have drawn attention to the strengths and weaknesses of our profession. So, what say we punt.....and radically change the definition of the profession and the mandatory education required to apply to take the examinations.
Here is an alternative that some state boards are using
http://www.affiliatedmonitors.com/
This is the type of thing we need to discuss more
Sometimes the status quo does not produce appropriate results. Many on this board have griped about a wide variety of topics that indicate our current system of licensure has some significant problems. Without discussion, nothing will happen. With discussion, there is some hope that really good ideas/improvements will eventually steer things in a better direction.
Most people seem to only want to focus on what will produce the best results for them alone at their current stage in life and business. That is worthless in the big picture. For progress to occur, individuals need to think about what is best OVERALL and help work towards that goal in some fashion. If baby steps aren't getting the job done, then toss out the baby. Hop on your horse in your white suit of armor and charge full ahead. Make your opinion heard. Show support for others with wise ideas. Castigate those who propose courses of action that you do not approve.
This forum is one of the best places to make all this happen. Get with it.
Sounds good to me.
I have to laugh when I see a gov't agency that won't comply with the standards and laws that a state board puts in place for a private surveyor. Gov't agencies would do well to have a private company monitor their professional performance also.
Jim
There was a mass. sjc case three years ago where the justices upheld that the government regulators did not need to meet the timing specified in the law. This was for a conservation commission to issue and order.
I would like to see more oversight based on simple review, not based on complaints. I'm not going to make a formal complaint about the guy who just botched up a boundary, or the other who is practicing without a license. Who are we, a bunch of tattlers?
> I would like to see more oversight based on simple review, not based on complaints. I'm not going to make a formal complaint about the guy who just botched up a boundary, or the other who is practicing without a license. Who are we, a bunch of tattlers?
Well for one thing, as a licensed professional, you have an obligation to report another licensee who you know to be in violation of law or board provisions. Ethics 101.
> I'm not going to make a formal complaint about the guy who just botched up a boundary, or the other who is practicing without a license. Who are we, a bunch of tattlers?
?!?!?!
The Future Starts Today
The BOR's and state survey societies are overloaded with people who have reaped the benefits of the "old" way. This profession will soon disappear if this is allowed to continue. YOU are the one who will have to pick up the ball and run with it to get the organizations and laws changed to adapt the professional practices to the everchanging technological standards. The real estate, construction, title insurance, lending and similar instiutions are changing rapidly as well. YOU are the one who needs to make your voice heard. Waiting around for us dinosaurs to fix it for you is futile.
One of mentors works down the road from a bad surveyor. Other employees talked about turning him in to the board and my boss simply said, if you turn him in and he loses his license, somebody competent will take his place. The firm does make a noticeable amount of money from fixing the mistakes made by this guy.
Can any surveyor out there say they never made a mistake? So, would you feel comfortable being sent to the Board for an honest mistake? People in glass houses should never throw stones.
The law here (I'd assume it's similar elsewhere) is that when there is a dispute, the two surveyors shall meet. I've made many calls to others and only had one with an honest outcome.
I had one surveyor yell at me telling me junior senior rights controlled the boundary, although he overlooked the road which was not defined until 10 years after the junior/senior deeds. My favorite part of that one, it was the first week after I had my license and during the interview with the Board of Registration, they asked me to explain how the boundaries work in the same situation. His proof by intimidation left me ready to call the board, but for what?
How about the amount of information you put on your finished plan? The only way to truly walk in the footsteps is for the surveyor to include most or all of the information used to make a determination. Where it's a reference to an ancient deed or the location of a monument 1000 feet away, how else can you see it. I have had interesting conversations with a surveyor who will never put all of the information on a plan. Therefore, you can never retrace his decision. He's holding the cards close to his chest to guarantee he continues to have the job, and that is wrong.
I would rather see a random review process where each surveyor is reviewed by the board or a group. Or make it an interview style review to renew your license.
We call ourselves professionals but yet we don't at like it. We spend 6 to 10 years of education and experience to be eligible to take the PS exam, when in many states it takes less time to become a dentist or even an attorney. If we don't regulate ourselves, who will? If a dentist messed up your teeth and causes harm to you, should he not be held accountable? If a surveyor caused harm to you and messed up your title or property lines, should he not be held accountable?
B. Porter
But I do not see dentists sending in other dentists for review.
I know the lawyers do, but I think we'd be better off going down a different track...
