Why Certification

WHY BECOME CERTIFIED?

Professional certification is found in almost every industry in the United States today including law, nursing, information technology, software engineering, construction, accountancy, health services, and association management. These are amongst the many professions that have either voluntary or mandatory certification. In times of economic uncertainty, prospective candidates need an edge to compete and to be both marketable and employable. By diversifying and documenting one’s skills, the prospective candidate is ensured the ability to tackle new technologies and arrive prequalified for his or her new position. Certification also provides a means for a prospective employee to keep pace with changes in how surveying is performed while providing an industry recognized classification.

There are other tangible benefits to certification; it provides a valuable benchmark to assist employers in evaluating potential new hires. It also provides a means to analyze job performance on a quantitative basis. The pride associated with attaining certification can motivate employees and subcontractors as they enhance and document their skills and knowledge. Certification acknowledges recognition of competency and it shows commitment to one’s profession. It also helps with job advancement. The qualifications acquired through this process are earned by those individuals who have proven that they know their job and possess the skills to do the job well.

As the surveying industry becomes more technology driven, certification in the various classes of land survey apprenticeship, becomes increasingly important. Accordingly, companies and clients will take an interest in the value that certification brings to all employees. Certification also serves as an important distinction when compared to a non-certified candidate. When employees are qualified under a certification process augmented with a focused educational program, a vital forum is created for the free exchange of technology and information.

Land survey certification also gives professionals the edge they need in a highly competitive field. Experts agree that certified professionals are more trusted, and more readily hired at higher salaries. Certification in the land surveying technologies provides a path to the issuance of a license to practice land surveying. The issuance of a license to survey is governed by the Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. In order to obtain a license, eligible candidates are required to have qualifying experience and to pass an examination before the State Board licenses them. Certification provides a vehicle for prospective candidates to attain the necessary experience and education leading to a license to practice land surveying. Once licensed, a Land Surveyor can retrace property lines, perform boundary line adjustments, prepare topographic maps, prepare subdivision maps, and perform construction surveys, among other duties. Only licensed land surveyors can use the title “Land Surveyor.”

An added benefit to certification is the assurance that prospective employers will be able to hire with confidence, knowing that candidates will have demonstrated competency in a designated classification. The primary purpose of survey certification is to establish professional standards, and increase professionalism in the field. Certification also validates the employee’s professional knowledge and skills, as well as the level of achievement and competency.

Section 425 of the California Code of Regulations requires that a candidate for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor to fulfill the educational and experience requirements contained in Sections 8741 and 8742 of the Business and Professions Code, commonly referred to as the Land Surveyor’s Act. According to state rules, all qualifying work experience in land surveying shall be performed under the direction and review of a person legally authorized to practice land surveying. Moreover, an applicant shall possess at least two years of actual responsible training experience in land surveying which shall involve at least four primary land surveying activities. Qualifying experience is computed on an actual time worked basis, but not to exceed forty hours per week. Working under a person legally authorized to practice land surveying, the applicant is required to prove competency in numerous areas including satisfying the following requirements:

• Determination of field survey methods and procedures, including selection of accuracy standards.

• Selection or verification that the correct control monumentation is used to establish the designated survey datum(s) (horizontal and vertical) and selects on-the-ground locations for control monuments.

• Determination of the relevance of monuments and physical field evidence for the purpose of establishing boundary and property lines.

• Reviewing measurement observations for the determination of accuracy, completeness, and consistency.

• Reviewing field notes and records for application of proper field survey procedures.

• Planning, performing, and reviewing field checks and, based on such checks, determines if completed field surveys are accurate and sufficient.

• Searching for boundary and control monuments; assisting in analyzing field evidence for locating boundary points and lines; identifying and describing such evidence; comparing record data to found physical evidence; comparing record data to measured data; documenting discrepancies; assisting in acquiring and documenting testimony regarding boundary locations; recommending boundary location and/or establishment; selecting or verifying that the correct controlling monuments are used to locate or establish boundary points and lines; and prepares draft record documents.

• Coordinating the fieldwork necessary to prepare maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documents.

• Recommending when existing boundary monuments are to be replaced, selecting the method(s) to be used for replacing and resetting monuments, and preparing field documentation of such work, including that necessary for Parcel Maps, Final Maps, Record of Survey Maps, and Corner Records.

• Functioning as a party chief, chief of parties, or lead person in charge of field crew(s) in the performance of field surveys.

• Planning and performing field observations using Global Positioning System technology and determining if completed field surveys are accurate and sufficient in geodetic and land surveying applications.

• Performing surveys to facilitate the location or construction of infrastructure and fixed works of improvement.

• Performing the planning and analysis necessary for the preparation of survey documents, such as Parcel Maps, Final Maps, Record of Survey Maps, Corner Records, legal descriptions, topographic maps, plat maps, lot line adjustments, annexations, and boundary line agreements.

• Reducing and evaluating field data.

• Developing procedures and systems for the collection, reduction, adjustment, and use of land surveying data.

• Preparing data to be used by field surveyors or field crews.

• Coordinating the processing of maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documents with local agencies, other licensed surveyors, or County Surveyors Offices.

• Coordinating the office work necessary to prepare maps, plats, reports, descriptions, or other documents.

• Coordinating survey and design efforts for improvement plans as required for sufficiency to enable proper location of improvements in the field.

• Researching public and private records to obtain survey and title data.

• Performing boundary analysis and determination using record descriptions, survey, and title data.

• Planning and coordinating the application of Global Positioning System technology for geodetic and land surveying applications.

• Planning, coordinating, performing, and reviewing the entry of property boundary related geo-referenced data into an electronic database.

• Preparing topographic mapping utilizing photogrammetric methods.

In connection with a Landsurveyor4hire certification, prospective applicants are urged to obtain certification from the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), sponsors of a comprehensive national certification program for survey technicians. This program is recognized by the United States Department of Labor as part of the National Apprenticeship Program. For more information, visit the NSPS website at http://www.nspsmo.org/cst/get_certified.shtml.

INDUSTRY BENEFITS

The surveying community benefits by gaining recognition as an industry that encourages personal challenges, regional recognition, professional development, individual enrichment, employer awareness, and advancement opportunities. As clients and government agencies become familiar with the benefits and qualifications of certified individuals, they can hire firms and employees with a sense of confidence in the abilities of the prospective employee or consultant.

In connection with employee certification, Landsurveyor4hire’s affiliated programs assures that certificate holders keep up with changing technology and advanced procedures within the surveying profession. It also adds value to training events and serves as a forum and vehicle for vendors to provide educational opportunities to acquaint employees with the latest developments in surveying technology. With industry-wide certification comes efficiency and confidence in a vital and important industry. And with that confidence comes increased fees and wages, natural complements to a more efficient utilization of technologically enhanced equipment such as GPS devises and modern programs such as GIS and CAD.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

As an employee, certification is an attractive avenue to higher wages. It also provides your employer with an independent means to evaluate the technical expertise needed to make you a valued and sought after employee. This will help solidify your reputation as a competent and qualified land surveying expert. Your certification will enhance professional influence, credibility, and effectiveness in organizations while earning you respect within the surveying profession.

The goal of certification is also to establish a professional standard of expected knowledge that balances education, experience, job experience and employer referral. These are important criterion always considered by prospective employers. Certification informs others of your achievement level and that you have documented ability to get the job done right. Prospective employers may use certification as a condition of employment or reward certification with job advancement or promotions. In most instances, employers will give preference in hiring applicants with certification. They view this as proof that a new employee or subcontractor knows the procedures and is familiar with the equipment and technology required for any given project.

EMPLOYER BENEFITS

In the surveying industry as with other technical industries, every employer has an obligation to ensure the competency of its personnel. Certification provides employers with evidence that the certificate holder has demonstrated a certain level of job-related knowledge and abilities while providing a documented level of assurance that their employees are competent. Certification provides concrete evidence to clients and the community that a company is staffed with people who know what they are doing and that they are competitive and will provide a quality level of service. A certification program is designed to encourage professionals to expand their knowledge through training and education and ultimately enhance the safe and effective practices in the field. Employers can encourage participation in professional certification by integrating it as a goal in a training program and as an advancement incentive. To succeed, all certification programs necessitate that candidates have the support of their employers. Candidates that do not have employer support often find it difficult to prepare for industry related exams, resulting in a lower pass rate. If the employer places value in certification, the employee will respond accordingly. A Landsurveyor4hire certificate provides agencies and clients with written confirmation that the holder has demonstrated a certain level of job-related knowledge, skills and abilities. Customers will have more confidence when the employees can demonstrate competency, thus assuring that the client’s needs are met.

Certification can also be required as a prerequisite to attending a vendor’s course, allowing employers to offer advanced training to individuals who are already certified. As a company, being competitive means providing a level of competency both accepted and valued by the surveying industry. Employers will save money and increase productive work time by using certification as a promotional tool and as a prerequisite for employment. In order for certification to work, it must be embraced by all employers.

THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

Initial classification by Landsurveyor4hire results in a certification based upon the recommendation of a current or former employer/certified educator who is responsible for reviewing the criterion with the applicant. Together, they jointly establish the initial classification level. Advanced classifications are attained through a similar process involving employer validation and satisfaction of educational and apprenticeship requirements. Once certification is attained, the holder is permitted to use the certification in seeking employment and in providing documentary evidence of their skill level.

All prospective candidates need to be legally authorized to work in the United States on a regular full-time basis without restrictions. A high school diploma or equivalent educational background is required for all classifications. All work candidates shall have good verbal and written communication skills combined with the ability to work well with others. All prospective candidates will be considered for employment without regard to race, gender, color, religion, age, national origin handicap unrelated to position or place of birth.

The following provisions of the Business and Professions Code (The Land Surveyor’s Act) are provided for information only:

§8701: “Professional land surveyor” refers to one who practices or offers to practice land surveying. Whenever reference is made to a land surveyor by any statute, it shall be construed as referring to a professional land surveyor.

§8751: No person shall represent himself or herself as, or use the title of, or any abbreviation or combination of the words in the title of, professional land surveyor, licensed land surveyor, land surveyor, land survey engineer, survey engineer, geodetic engineer, geomatics engineer, or geometronic engineer unless he or she is the holder of a valid, unsuspended, and unrevoked license.

§8792: Every person is guilty of a misdemeanor who, unless he or she is exempt from licensing under this chapter, practices, or offers to practice, land surveying in this state without legal authorization; who represents himself or herself as, or uses the title of, professional land surveyor, or any other title whereby that person could be considered as practicing or offering to practice land surveying, unless he or she is correspondingly qualified by licensure as a land surveyor under this chapter. Who uses the title, or any combination of that title, of “professional land surveyor,” “licensed land surveyor,” “land surveyor,” or the titles specified in Sections 8751 and 8775, or “land surveyor-in-training,” or who makes use of any abbreviation of that title that might lead to the belief that he or she is a licensed land surveyor or holds a certificate as a land surveyor-in-training, without being licensed or certified as required by this chapter.

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