Print this page Board's Rules for Practicing Land Surveying
Course Outline
Besides meeting specific requirements, such as education, experience, and examination, a land surveyor must get familiar with the Board Rules in order to practice land surveying in any state. While the Rules do vary from state to state, the basic requirements for the qualifications and the professional conduct are very similar throughout the United States. In this course, the student is required to study the Model Rules published by National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning Objective
At
the conclusion of this course, the student will be familiar with:
- The Model Rules published by NCEES;
- Qualifications of becoming a professional land surveyor;
- Rules of professional conducts;
- The mandatory continuing education requirements;
- Proper ways to sign and seal design documents; and
- The roles and responsibilities of a professional land surveyor.
Course Content
All state boards for PE & LS require that the licensed professional land surveyors get familiar with the Rules of State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (the Rules). Many state boards periodically disclose in their newsletters the disciplinary actions taken by the boards against the licensees who violated the Rules. The most common types of violations are:
1.
Performed services outside his/her area of competence.
2.
Practiced land surveying without being licensed in the state of the project.
3.
Practiced or offered to practice land surveying while not properly licensed.
4.
Failed to have a resident licensed professional in responsible charge in each
office.
5.
Failed to properly sign, seal and date documents.
6.
Affixed his/her seal to work not done under his/her direct supervision or
responsible charge.
7.
Affixed his/her seal to inadequate design documents, failing to protect the
public.
Other
types of violations include:
1.
Produced a deficient, substandard or inaccurate report, failing to protect
the public.
2.
Contracted with non-licensed individual to provide certain professional services.
3.
Failed to avoid conflicts of interests.
To avoid the above violations, it is highly recommended for all licensees to periodically review the Rules. As a professional land surveyor, the licensee shall at all times recognize the primary obligation to protect the safety, health, property and welfare of the public. If a licensee's professional judgment is overruled under circumstances where the safety, health or welfare of the public are endangered, he/she shall inform the proper authorities and his/her employer of the situation as may be appropriate.
In this course
you are required to study the following document:
Model Rules
of National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying
(the Rules, a PDF file, 40 pages).
The following contains an outline of the Rules:
NCEES MODEL RULE CONTENTS
210 INTRODUCTION
210.10 Introduction
210.20 Definitions
210.25 Inclusions and Exclusions to the Practice of Surveying
210.30 Clarifications to the Offering to Practice Engineering and Surveying
220 THE
LICENSING BOARD
220.10 Board Operations
220.20 Adoption and Amendment of Rules and Regulations
220.30 Fees
230
CANDIDATES FOR LICENSURE
230.10 Education Requirements Approved by the Board
230.20 Experience
230.30 References
230.40 Examinations
230.50 Classifications and Disciplines of Engineering and Surveying
230.60 Applications
240 LICENSEES
240.10 Licensure
240.15 Rules of Professional Conduct
240.20 Seals
240.30 Continuing Professional Competency
240.40 Expirations, Renewals, and Reinstatement to Active Practice
250
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
250.10 Knowledge of Rules
250.20 Compliance
250.30 Disciplinary Action of Licensees
250.40 Reinstatement of Licensure or Certification after Revocation
250.50 Bias
260
MISCELLANEOUS
260.10 Severability
260.20 Grandfathering of Model Law Engineers and Model Law Structural Engineers
APPENDIX A:
Suggested Guidelines for Evaluating Progressive Engineering Experience
APPENDIX B:
Suggested Guidelines for Evaluating Progressive Surveying Experience
APPENDIX C: Cross-Reference for Model Rules
APPENDIX D: NCEES Publications
Additional Readings
In addition, you are encouraged to visit the following websites or web pages for state-specific requirements:Alabama State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors: Board Rules (a PDF file)
Georgia Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors: Board Rules (a PDF file)
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Board Rules
Kansas State Board of Technical Professions: Board Rules
Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design: Board Rule Chapter 1800
Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design: Board Rule Chapter 1805
North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors: Board Rules - Chapter 21 (a PDF file)
Course Summary
To safeguard the safety, health, property and welfare of the public, licensed professional land surveyors must fully understand the requirements contained in Rules of State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (the Rules). A licensee who violates the Rules may be subject to disciplinary action, such as a fine, reprimand, suspension or revocation of his/her license.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at his/her own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
