I support fully the need for continuing education.

I am a Land Surveyor. I have been licensed for the last 17 years and have been surveying for almost 30 years. I began my surveying career using a transit and steel tape, pencil on paper drafting, moved to total stations and data collectors, robotic instruments, GPS receivers, digital scanners, and CADD.  

By the comments I have read, it is apparent that many comments are from individuals in the “I made it now leave me alone category.” In my opinion, this does not reflect the majority of educated professional land surveyors and engineers who understand the acquiring a license is not a God given right to the throne for a lifetime. It is the beginning of a professional career that will requires work and continuing education for the rest of your life.

The days of chaining and running a compass for forty years of a career are gone. Technology, the environment, the forever changing wave of governmental regulations and requirements has changed the way we do business. Our pool of potential employees from the next generation will be looking to us to lead them.

Recommendations and Concerns

Since the Board does not want the responsibility to pre-approve all education credits before an individual spends time and money on a class for continuing education credit, there should be a procedure to conditionally extend a valid license for say 3 months if credits are rejected by the Board after submission for renewal of a license with good faith continuing education credits included.    

I believe that a formal appeal process should be in place. This will allow an individual to insure that a group and not an individual determines the validity of the continuing education credits submitted and to voice the reasoning of the applicant for believing the credit valid.

Summary

I support approval of the continuing education requirements for Land Surveyors.

Thank you for your consideration.

Michael W. Hoover L.S.