Page 28 - 2022- 49.4

Thoughts on knowledge, established by the profession that is thought
necessary for competent practice.
Professional Practice Let us not fool ourselves in thinking two or four years of
experience is a constant learning process for an individual. It is
and Education not. In many cases, experience is merely the repetition of a limited
number of survey tasks repeated over many years. An individual
that has spent four years surveying urban lots has probably
Prepared by Knud E. Hermansen, P.L.S., P.E., Ph.D., Esq.
gained the extent of new knowledge after only three months of
Article 3: Eliminate Experience Requirement for Licensing employment and after surveying one or two of their first urban
lots.
This is the third article I have prepared in a series giving thoughts
on professional practice and education. This topic, I have no doubt, Some readers will counter by claiming that rather than less
will leave blood on the walls – a metaphor only. I will have good experience, more detailed experience is required in the licensing
friends that take issue with some of my thoughts. Old age allows application. The application would have to show various
opinions to be expressed in a manner that youth cannot do or complexities and scope of services for experience to count toward
does so inappropriately. When I was young, I often cared what licensure. I would suggest that such specificity to experience
people thought of my opinions. Having reached an old age, I have qualifications will deny licensing for many individuals that work
come to realize another person’s opinion about me has never paid for small survey firms with limited clientele needs or individuals
a single bill I owed. Living to an old age allows friends to mature working for large firms that are slotted in specific services offered
and enemies to be cultivated. by the large firm. Such a move will further limit the number of
I will not give a long discourse on my experience, education, and licensees in our profession. The number of licensed surveyors is
practice. Suffice to say my first of many survey licenses was already declining from a lack of new and younger licensees.
achieved in 1978 before many that will read this article were born. Back to my days in the Marines, I have cause to look at the large
I will even surmise that my last professional license, that of an target over my head. There is a new hole from the shooter. The
attorney, was achieved before many readers of this article were shooter states that my suggestion would allow someone to
born. I have seen and experienced much in my life that allows for graduate, be licensed, and provide services to the public soon after
many opinions. graduation. Valuable property rights will be in jeopardy because
In this missive I will touch the often-sensitive topic of experience services will be entrusted to the licensed surveyor without
requirements for the surveying program graduate. I will begin any experience. Incompetence will run unchecked within the
by stating I am not so much advocating for change as I am profession. The professions’ good reputation will collapse. Millions
suggesting the profession consider changes. As is so often the of dollars in property values will be jeopardized.
case, the way a person did things in their past causes them to feel I think not. Over 34,000 lawyers graduate each year from
that way is the best way to do things in the future. I had six years law school. Every law school graduate can take the bar exam
of experience before obtaining my survey license based entirely on immediately following graduation. Within months of graduation
my experience. That is my story. Why isn’t my way the best way every one that passes the bar exam can legally practice law
in this case? Old age has taught me there is often a wide chasm without showing one single day of experience. These new,
between what was done and what should be done - what is inexperienced lawyers can prepare deeds, write estate plans,
wanted is not always what is needed. argue for clients in court, and so much more. Do they? Of course
I hoist the target as I once did fifty years ago as a young Marine not. A very few lawyers perhaps - but most work under the
working the ‘butts’ at the rifle range. Here is the target: I suggest guidance of experienced practitioners. I expect the vast majority of
that experience not be required for licensing of a graduate of an surveyors licensed upon graduation after passing their exams will
accredited surveying program. There I have made my statement work for experienced surveyors. Very few would set up a practice
and shown the target. I can already hear the shots and bullets on their own soon after graduation.
passing through my hoisted target from readers. Some reader I could go on and shall do so only to beat this argument to
is already writing to the editor stating in so many words, with reasonable size for some to swallow. There are over 14,000
heated passion, that my unsolicited advice is meddling and is not pharmacists that graduate each year, are licensed after
welcome. What is present, works. Perhaps that thought will be graduation, and dispense controlled and potentially dangerous
the consensus of most of the individuals that read this article. and deadly drugs. There are over 155,000 nurses that graduate
Why would I make such a statement? Surely as old as I am, I must each year and become licensed RNs mere weeks after graduation
recognize that experience has taught me far more than four years and make life and death health decisions for patients, dispensing
of surveying education, if not more. I must have learned important drugs, taking care of injuries, and so on. There are over 10,000
knowledge that was never available through education. My officers commissioned each year without any prior experience in
answer to both statements is a resounding ‘yes.’ combat leadership that are placed in charge of soldiers, sailors,
airmen, and marines or multi-million-dollar airplanes and make
I must emphasize that important knowledge, complete decision affecting lives in combat. (The Lord knows as a Marine
knowledge, or extensive knowledge is not the purpose of sergeant I had my concerns about some new 2 lieutenants.) I
nd
licensing. Licensing’s purpose is to protect the public. Licensing could go on with statistics and facts about ministers, doctors,
is to ensure the licensee has attained the minimum level of dentists, cosmetologists, teachers,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 31 u
26 The Nevada Traverse Vol.49, No.4, 2022