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Thoughts on degree. Thirty years in college teaching has shown a degree is
easily initiated at an institution based on the attraction of the de-
gree name among the inexperienced youth rather than the needs
Professional Practice of society or demands of the society.

and Education I am not going to discuss how to obtain two or more licenses
in detail since state law often governs the ease or difficulty of
such endeavors. I believe two or more licenses is best obtained
while young with grand plans or while old and unfulfilled dreams
By: Knud E. Hermansen, P.L.S., P.E., Ph.D., Esq. (bucket list), or frustrated with just one license. I make this state-
Part 9: Multiple Discipline Licenses and Certifications ment because the work and effort required for the second license
is not always commiserate with employment, family, and other
This is the ninth article I have prepared in the series offering commitments that the typical life of a middle age married adult
thoughts on professional practice and education. In this article, with children will allow.
I discuss multiple discipline licenses ance certifications. Con-
trary to many of my other articles, I doubt there are opposing I should note that often one license can be obtained with just an
sides that wish to argue or advocate for or against what I write. undergraduate degree in surveying and a second license obtained
with a graduate school degree in another field. Such is the case
Though I suppose there will always be one or two readers that
may wish to dispute what I have written. when obtaining a law degree.
I use the term ‘license’ and the term ‘certificate’ to indicate sepa- Certificates are easier to obtain as they seldom require a specific
rate and distinct achievements. As I will use these terms in this degree, though wetlands specialist is often an exception requir-
ing a degree focused on soil science, biology, or botany. Most
article, a license is an authorization to practice that is governed
by a separate government board. Various state laws require a certificates are gained by experience and testing or in a few
person have this authorization in order to provide some defined cases, just testing. Information for obtaining certifications is
service to the public. readily available on the internet. Experience has shown that
many certifications are gained by happenstances where services
A certificate, on the other hand, is generally an accomplishment are performed in the area leading the practitioner to conclude
used to indicate some special knowledge, achievement, or skill the next step toward certification is easily taken or they wish to
set of the certificate holder. Many certifications are controlled focus on providing certain services where a certification makes it
by private or government organizations that have taken it upon more likely they will be contracted for the services.
themselves to exert knowledge or skilled based dominion over
some special body of knowledge or skill. The necessity of having I would encourage surveyors to seek licenses or certifications in
the certificate to provide a service is usually governed by private fields or services they enjoy or wish to pursue. I would encourage
contract, local law, or agency regulation rather than state statute young people about to embark on the path to a surveying career
to examine their options and to make the most of their college
or mandatory regulation. experience. I suspect I am not the only person that wishes they
What I mean by multiple licenses or certifications is that the had deviated somewhat in youthful pursuits to make the most of
licensed surveyor is also licensed or certified in some other a professional career.
profession, specialty, practice, or trade. For example, in addition † Other books and articles by Knud can be found at https://
to my surveying license, I also hold licenses as a professional
engineer and attorney at law. umaine.edu/svt/faculty/hermansen-articles/
I don’t think multiple discipline licenses or certificates are always
necessary. I do think other professional licenses and certifica-
tions can be helpful and profitable especially if connected to
land surveying services. I would estimate that half the licensed
surveyors that have practiced for ten or more years hold other
professional licenses or certificates along with their survey
ors in conjunction with their survey license include: professional YOUR AD
license. I think a vast majority find their licenses and certificates
useful and profitable. After all, if not useful or profitable, licenses
and certificates can be dropped or relinquished.
Some of the most common licenses that are held by land survey-

engineer, forester, landscape architect, attorney, realtor, and HERE!
septic system designer.
Certifications are more numerous and widespread among sur-
veyors. Certifications that are popular among licensed surveyors
include: photogrammetrist, wetlands specialist, notary, OSHA,
federal surveyor, project manager, floodplain manager, drone
operator, and hydrographer, to name a few. The term ‘certification’
is often attached to the name of the specialty, the entirety ab-
breviated, and placed after the surveyor license such as a certified Due Dates:
floodplain manager (CFM) or certified federal surveyor (CFedS). January 25th, April 25th, July 25th, October 25th
Additional licenses are not easy to obtain and often require To submit and article or to request information regarding
advertising, please contact the NALS Executive Office
extra college courses, additional degrees, experience, and test-
ing. Though there are exceptions to this statement such as the NALS Executive Office
licensed real estate agent (realtor). I am unaware of any state T. (888) 994-3510
that offers a realtor degree though I would not be surprised to E. nals@nvlandsurveyors.org
be informed of some university program that does offer such a

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