quote:
Id bet an MD is easier to achieve than a PLS in La, baw. The barrier to entry is the other surveyor baws on the “board.” And who wants to chop fricking lines through a saw briar patch in August anyhow?

This is the case for all professional licensing in every state of the United States. The only thing it accomplishes, and in fact its only goal, is to limit competition. There is no liability on the part of the state, there is no risk mitigation to the public....the state is the least qualified entity on the planet to license professionals - if you doubt this consider that the state also licenses drivers. I have electrical contractors licenses in 7 states (not journeyman licenses, contractor licenses that allow me to stamp designs and pull permits), Conditioned air licenses in North and South Carolina and a reciprocal conditioned air license in Georgia, and a Georgia GC license. I have had EC licenses in Texas, New Mexico, Washington, Oregon and Colorado but I have not kept those up because I don't plan to use them in those states again. In every instance, except one, it was a board of licensed individuals who determined my qualifications to sit the exam. The lone exception was the SC Conditioned Air licensing exam which was, at the time I sat it, open to the public and the test itself weeded out potential licensees. Anyone who fails to see a conflict of interest in a group of business owners or high level employees of a business in an industry picking and choosing who can compete with them is blind to the possibility of conflict of interest.

SO what is the alternative? Exactly what takes place right now WITH licensing. Due diligence and litigation. That is all a consumer has with state licensing in place to protect their interests, the only thing state licensing does is drive up costs by eliminating competition. The other thing that state licensing does is create an atmosphere where less than knowledgeable consumers fail to do their due diligence...thinking that surely, if the person is licensed and insured they know what they are doing. They do not, they have a license because the industry decided they could compete in the industry and they have insurance because anyone can buy an insurance policy or a bond....either one being worth more than the paper its written on is a whole 'nother can of worms....