I am unfamiliar with the specifics, but here’s my overall understanding. The North Carolina Society Surveyors has been working to pass a bill related to creating Right of Entry for professional surveyors. While working through that, language was added that would create a new class of professional licensure, a Limited License for Professional Land Surveyor. Qualifying for this license would require only ONE of the following:
a. Rightful possession of an associate degree in surveying technology approved by the Board.
b. Passage of the State-specific exam offered by the Board.
c. At least one and one-half years of progressive practical experience in land surveying
Someone possessing a ‘Limited’ License would be limited to:
If a professional land surveyor possesses a limited license under this Chapter, the surveyor shall only practice in subdivisions consisting of 10 individual lots or less or conduct a perimeter survey of any tract of land.
Some obvious ambiguity as how to interpret those limits.
This unexpected addition to a bill that would otherwise be a big win for NC surveyors has sounded alarm bells within the state society. The legislature is on a one week recess giving some time for organization of efforts to combat this change.
I have not heard of other jurisdictions attempting a move like this and thought other surveyors would be interested in tracking this issue. For more information: Here’s a link to the text of the proposed bill. The added portions dealing with this provisional license are underlined. And here’s a quote of the urgent message sent from the NC State Society of Surveyors to members.
By now, many of you are aware of Senate Bill 677, filed on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Added wording to the bill seriously undermines surveying licensure in North Carolina by including a section for a provisional license requiring little or no testing, education, or experience. I write to assure you that the NCSS Board of Directors is aware and actively concerned about the effects of this potential legislation on the public first, the profession, and your businesses.
NC Society of Surveyors and the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBEES) met with one of the bill’s sponsors on Wednesday, April 5, along with our lobbyists, when we first heard that the provisional license addition was being considered. Much to our disappointment, the bill was filed despite our counsel.
The Executive Committee met on Thursday and will meet again on Monday to discuss strategies to address our concerns. There is communication between NCSS and NCBEES, the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES), and the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).
This email aims to inform you that your leadership is working diligently to address the concerns and formulate the best strategies to make our voices heard. Fortunately, the North Carolina General Assembly is on recess this week, giving us time to develop our plan to present the most effective unified front possible. We will be communicating with you further as we know more.
This content was originally published here.
