Title: An act relating to continuing education for land surveyors.

Brief Description: Requiring continuing education for land surveyors.

Sponsors: Senators Parlette, Roach, Finkbeiner, Deccio and Swecker.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Labor, Commerce, Research & Development: 1/24/05, 2/3/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/8/05, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE, RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Franklin, Vice Chair; Parlette, Ranking Minority Member; Brown, Hewitt, Honeyford and Keiser.

Staff: Alison Mendiola (786-7483)

Background: Only registered land surveyors may practice land surveying in Washington. To become registered, a person must have at least eight years of land surveying work recognized by the Board of Registration for Engineers and Land Surveyors, and must pass the exams prescribed by the board. Graduation from a college offering an approved course of study in the field is equal to four years of experience. Land surveyor registrations periodically expire and may be renewed upon payment of a fee.

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) is an umbrella organization of the state and territorial professional engineering and land surveying authorities. NCEES has adopted model rules that require licensees to annually earn 15 "professional development hours" (PDH). Activities that NCEES accepts as qualifying for PDH include seminars, workshops, college courses, professional or technical presentations, and publishing a paper, as well as televised, video-taped, audio-taped and correspondence courses.

Summary of Bill: The board must adopt, by July 1, 2006, rules governing continuing professional development for land surveyors that are generally patterned after the model rules of NCEES. Beginning July 1, 2007, land surveyors renewing their registration certificates must verify to the board that they have competed 15 PDH per year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: Other states have continuing education requirements. Imposing this requirement is important for the profession as there are some land surveyors who've been in practice for a long time without any additional training. The profession supports this bill.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Gary Gervelis, Land Surveyors of WA; Patrick Beehler, Land Surveyor's Association of WA; Kenneth Swindaman, Land Surveyor's Association of WA.