Abstract

Raising Land Surveyor Applicant Quality in New York
Track: Training
Authors: Jennifer Mauer, Joseph Paiva

Ever-diminishing numbers of licensed land surveyors and the low number of new enrollees is a problem that faces the U.S. professional land surveying community, though with a few exceptions. This is not just a profession-problem; it affects society and especially the economy. In NY state, the state association decided to do something about the low passing rate on the licensing examination, by developing core study materials and an education program to improve the knowledge required to pass the state-specific exam. While the immediate benefit is that more applicants are able to pass the exam, the longer-term benefit is that the newly licensed surveyors have a much deeper and broader appreciation of the content required to pass the exam that will stay with them through their years of practice. This paper outlines the process that the society's education
committee followed to ensure a thorough development of the study
materials and course, including two pilot courses to help fine-tune the
materials and process, and to ensure that the educational approach used was to help surveyors be better, not simply to pass the examination. The final result: everyone benefits.