PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2006.
Purpose: The purpose of amending WAC 196-16-035 is to implement the rules regarding continuing education for licensed land surveyors starting July 2006.
The purpose of amending WAC 196-27A-030 is to include language regarding the submission of false or fraudulent statements when reporting continuing education by licensed land surveyors.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 196-27A-030 and 196-16-035.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.43.035.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-06-060 on February 28, 2006.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 27 [May 1], 2006.
George A. Twiss
Executive Director
(1) Applications. Those persons wishing to obtain the status of a retired registration shall complete an application on a form as provided by the board. Applications shall be sent to the executive director at the address of the board. Upon receipt of said application and, if deemed eligible by the board, the retired status would become effective on the first scheduled renewal date of the certificate of registration that occurs on or after the applicant reaches the age of sixty-five. It shall not be necessary that an expired certificate of registration be renewed to be eligible for this status. The board will not provide refund of renewal fees if the application for "retired" status is made and granted before the date of expiration of the certificate of registration.
(2) Privileges. In addition to the waiver of the renewal fee, a retired registrant is permitted to:
(a) Retain the board issued wall certificate of registration;
(b) Use the title professional land surveyor (PLS), provided that it is supplemented by the term retired, or the abbreviation "ret";
(c) Work as a land surveyor in a volunteer capacity, provided that the retired registrant does not create a land surveying document, and does not use their seal, except as provided for in (d) of this subsection;
(d) Provide experience verifications and references for persons seeking registration under chapter 18.43 RCW. If using their professional seal the retired registrant may place the word "retired" in the space designated for the date of expiration;
(e) Serve in an instructional capacity on land surveying topics;
(f) Provide services as a technical expert before a court, or in preparation for pending litigation, on matters directly related to land surveying work performed by the registrant before they were granted a retired registration;
(g) Serve in a function that supports the principles of registration and/or promotes the profession of land surveying, such as members of commissions, boards or committees;
(h) Serve in a land surveying capacity as a "good samaritan," as set forth in RCW 38.52.195 and 38.52.1951, provided said work is otherwise performed in accordance with chapter 18.43 RCW.
(i) A professional land surveyor in retired status is not required to complete continuing professional development as provided in WAC 196-16-110. However, if a retired status land surveyor wishes to return to active status, the licensee will need to complete an additional 15 PDH during their first year of reactivated practice.
(3) Restrictions. A retired registrant is not permitted to:
(a) Perform any land surveying activity, as provided for in RCW 18.43.020, unless said activity is under the direct supervision of a Washington state professional land surveyor who has a valid/active registration in the records of the board;
(b) Act as the designated land surveyor or land surveyor in responsible charge for a Washington land surveying corporation or Washington land surveying limited liability company;
(c) Apply their professional land surveyors seal, as provided for in RCW 18.43.070, to any plan, specification, plat or report, except as provided for in subsection (2)(d) of this section.
(4) Certificate of registration reinstatement. A retired registrant, upon written request to the board and payment of the current renewal fee, may resume active land surveying practice. At that time the retired registrant shall be removed from retired status and placed on valid/active status in the records of the board. All rights and responsibilities of a valid/active registration will be in effect. At the date of expiration of the reinstated certificate of registration, the registrant may elect to either continue active registration or may again apply for retired registration in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) Exemptions. Under no circumstances shall a registrant be eligible for a retired registration if their certificate of registration has been revoked, surrendered or in any way permanently terminated by the board under RCW 18.43.110. Registrants who are suspended from practice and/or who are subject to terms of a board order at the time they reach age sixty-five shall not be eligible for a retired registration until such time that the board has removed the restricting conditions.
(6) Penalties for noncompliance. Any violations of this section shall be considered "misconduct and/or malpractice" as defined in RCW 18.43.105. Such violations are subject to penalties as provided for in RCW 18.235.110 and 18.43.120.
[Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.43 and 18.235 RCW. 04-04-001, § 196-16-035, filed 1/21/04, effective 2/21/04.]
(1) Aiding or abetting the unsupervised practice of engineering or land surveying in the state by a person or firm that is not registered in accordance with chapter 18.43 RCW, or, aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice or operate a business or profession when a license is required.
(2) The practice of engineering or land surveying by a registrant when the registrant's license is retired (see WAC 196-25-100(6)), expired, suspended or revoked.
(3) Failing to comply with the terms and conditions of an order issued by the board.
(4) Failing to provide relevant information on plans and surveys in a clear manner consistent with prudent practice.
(5) Failing to comply with the provisions of the Survey Recording Act, chapter 58.09 RCW and the survey standards, chapter 332-130 WAC.
(6) Failing to respond to inquiries from clients, or other professionals regarding conflicts with the registrant's work, opinions or procedures, in a manner that would be expected from a prudent practitioner.
(7) Failing to correct engineering or land surveying documents or drawings known to contain substantive errors.
(8) Failing to notify a client or employer that a project could not, or would not, be completed once that assessment is made.
(9) Modifying another licensee's work without notifying that licensee, and clearly delineating the modifications and sealing and signing the modifications made; EXCEPT where the plans, maps, or documents are modified by the owner to reflect changes over time for their own purposes and are not used for submittals or bid documents.
(10) Offering or accepting money, goods or other favors as inducement to receive favorable consideration for a professional assignment, or as an inducement to approve, authorize or influence the granting of a professional assignment.
(11) Soliciting or accepting gratuities, directly or indirectly, from contractors, their agents, or other parties dealing with clients or employers in connection with work for which the registrant is responsible.
(12) Using privileged information coming to registrants in the course of their assignments as a means of making personal profit beyond their professional compensation.
(13) Requesting, proposing, or accepting professional commissions on a contingent basis under circumstances in which the registrant's integrity may be compromised.
(14) Willfully attempting to interfere with a board investigation by falsifying records, making false statements and intimidating or influencing witnesses.
(15) Willfully attempting to suborn another person to violate the law or administrative code, public policy or their code of professional ethics.
(16) Willfully making false statements or submitting fraudulent documents when reporting the completion of continuing professional development requirements.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.43.035. 02-23-027, § 196-27A-030, filed 11/12/02, effective 12/13/02.]