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I would offer the opinion that if a licensing board eliminated
from their state specific exams the deficiencies I have noted, NALS Remembers –
the licensing board would substantially reduce the contents of
the exam or even eliminate the state specific exam altogether - Todd Wittie
perhaps go with an on-line study course and test.
By: Frank B. Wittie, PLS
I will focus the remainder of this article discussing the future of
state specific exams by suggesting three options. One option is Sadly, I am writing again to say we
lost another surveyor this past Janu-
to eliminate state specific exams. The second option is to offer ary. Todd Wittie (my older brother)
alternatives to examination. The third option is to modify the was a lifelong field surveyor. He was
testing procedures of a state specific exam to be more flexible a proud second-generation land
and in line with NCEES testing. surveyor who surveyed all across the
state of Alaska before moving to Las
Eliminating a state specific exam may be appropriate where Vegas. Todd had aspirations of get-
there are few topics left after filtering them as previously noted ting licensed, but that was cut short
or for licensing in cases of comity. In cases of comity, if a sur- due to his diagnosis of Huntington’s
Disease. He passed away at 54 years
veyor has practiced in one state for a long period of time without old after a long battle with Hunting-
fault or discipline, experience and logic suggest the surveyor will ton’s Disease.
practice competently in another state when licensed.
Huntington’s Disease is a rare disease that can be described as
Alternatives to testing for state specific knowledge would combining Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease together
require surveyors watch a video explaining state specific law or and symptoms start to show around the age of 40. Todd was a
be sent a fact sheet on state specific law a surveyor should be kind soul who would do anything he could to help and, in that vein,
he arranged upon his passing for his brain to be sent to Harvard
aware of. Another option is to require attendance at a seminar or Medical School so it could be studied in hopes of finding a cure for
viewing videos where speakers explain state specific law. Huntington’s Disease. He will be missed.

The final option is to modify the state specific testing procedure.
Provide references for the test questions that an applicant can
study and allow on-line testing at test centers that can be taken
by applicants anywhere and during any reasonable day and time.

† Other books and articles by Knud can be found at https://
umaine.edu/svt/faculty/hermansen-articles/

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