Professional Land Surveyor

Registration for Professional Land Surveying

Definitions

1. Surveying Curriculum
   
   

   To be approved by the Board, a minimum surveying core curriculum shall include the following accredited college courses or their equivalents:
   
   

   1. Plane Surveying (3 credit hours)
      
      
   2. Advanced Plane Surveying (3 credit hours)
      
      
   3. Boundary Law (3 credit hours)
      
      
   4. English Composition (3 credit hours)
      
      
   5. Mathematics (6 credit hours)
      
      
      • advanced algebra
        
      • analytical trigonometry
        
      • analytical geometry
        
      • differential calculus
        
      • integral calculus
        
      • spherical trigonometry
        
      • or statistical analysis
   6. Advanced Communication (3 credit hours)
      
      
      • technical writing
      • creative writing
      • or speech

      
      

   7. Business and Law (3 credit hours)
      
      
      • legal principles
      • accounting
      • business administration
      • contracts
      • business law
      • or professional ethics

      
      

   8. Science (3 credit hours)
      
      
      • physics
      • geology
      • astronomy
      • soils
      • dendrology
      • chemistry
      • biology
      • botany
      • or ecology

      
      

   9. Computer Usage (3 credit hours)
      
      
   10. computer science
   11. computer programming
   12. or computer assisted drafting
       
2. Experience Satisfactory to the Board
   
   
   1. Land surveying experience shall include experience in each of the following: research, field work, computations, data analysis, plan development, drafting of deed descriptions, and report writing.
      
      
   2. Time spent teaching subjects pertaining to elementary or advanced surveying or the application of surveying to real property, in a curriculum acceptable to the Board, may be considered acceptable experience.
      
      
   3. Part-time work shall be expressed in terms of the actual amount of time spent on the job.
      
      
   4. Experience shall be progressively more complex in nature.
      
      
   5. Experience shall be verified.
      
      

Section 2. Applications for Licensure

1. For licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training
   
   An applicant for licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training shall submit to the Board
   
   
   1. a Request for Examination, and
      
      
   2. an Application for Licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training. These submissions need not be simultaneous. The applicant shall complete all education and/or experience requirements and submit a complete application within twenty-four (24) months of passing the examination. The date of passing the examination is the date the Board determines the passing grade, not the date the examination was taken. If all qualifications are not met within twenty-four (24) months, then the applicant shall be required to repass the examination before a license is issued.
      
      

   Requests for Examination received fewer than forty-five (45) days before an examination date will be considered for the next following examination.
   
   

2. For licensure as a Land Surveyor
   
   An applicant for licensure as a Land Surveyor shall submit to the Board an Application for Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor. This submission shall also serve as a request for examination. Complete applications reviewed at the October, December and February Board meetings will be considered for the April examination, and those reviewed at the April, June and August meetings will be considered for the October examination.
   
   
3. Required of all licensure applicants
   
   
   1. Submission Procedures
      
      
      1. Applications must be made upon Board-supplied forms. Attachments to the applications shall be submitted on 8-1/2" x 11" paper.
         
         
      2. Applications must be complete. A complete application is one which has every question fully answered, all necessary attachments submitted, all fees paid, and all supplementary documents received by the Board clerk, whether directly from the applicant or from others on the applicant's behalf.
         
         
      3. Applicants shall provide (an) original attested transcript(s) showing thirty (30) earned credit hours comprised of courses listed in Section 1.A. above.
         
         
      4. Applicants for comity licensure shall provide:
         
         
         1. Verification of licensure and good standing by the licensing authority;
            
            
         2. A summary of the requirements under which the license was granted;
            
            
         3. A copy of the current licensing standards;
            
            
         4. A summary of experience satisfactory to the Board as defined in Section 1. B. of this chapter; and
            
            
         5. A summary of relevant continuing education.
            
            
   2. Period application in effect
      
      a. Approved applications will be valid for 24 months from the date of approval.
      
      b. Incomplete applications will be held for not more than six months from the date of receipt.
      
      
   3. Applications must be notarized.
      
      

Section 3. Qualifications

1. Land Surveyor-in-Training
   
   
   1. An applicant for licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training shall demonstrate to the Board mastery of the fundamentals of land surveying by successfully passing an eight-hour examination on the Fundamentals of Land Surveying and by submitting evidence of no fewer than seven years of experience satisfactory to the Board. For the purposes of this paragraph only, successful completion of a core curriculum is equivalent to one year of experience, completion of a core curriculum and an associate's degree is equivalent to five years of experience, and completion of a core curriculum and a baccalaureate is equivalent to seven years of experience.
      
      
   2. The applicant may meet these requirements in any order provided however, that the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination shall have been passed within twenty-four (24) months of the date the application for licensure is received in the Board Office.
      
      
   3. Applicants holding a license or certificate as a Land Surveyor-in-Training issued on comparable qualifications by any state, territory, or possession of the United States, with experience satisfactory to the Board, shall be given comity consideration. Such applicants may be required to pass examinations deemed necessary by the Board.
      
      
2. Professional Land Surveyor
   
   
   1. An applicant for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor, who holds a valid Maine license as a Land Surveyor-in-Training, shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that he is qualified to practice Land Surveying in Maine by:
      
      
      1. Submitting a complete application showing evidence of twenty-four (24) months of experience satisfactory to the Board as a Maine Land Surveyor in-Training,
         
         
      2. Passing the Principles and Practices Examination, and
         
         
      3. Paying all required fees.
         
         
   2. An applicant holding a certificate or license as a Land Surveyor-in-Training issued on comparable qualifications from another state, territory, (or possession of the United States shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that he is qualified to practice Land Surveying in Maine by:
      
      
      1. Submitting a complete application showing evidence of twenty-four (24) months of experience satisfactory to the Board after the issuance of the Land Surveyor-in-Training license,
         
         
      2. Passing the Principles and Practices Examination, and
         
         
      3. Paying all required fees.

      
      
      

   3. An applicant holding a valid certificate or license as a Land Surveyor issued on comparable qualifications from another state, territory, or possession of the United States shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that he is qualified to practice Land Surveying in Maine by:
      
      
      
      1. Submitting a complete application showing evidence of twenty-four . (24) months of experience satisfactory to the Board after the issuance of the Land Surveyor-in-Training or Land Surveyor license,
         
         
      2. Passing the Principles and Practices Examination, and
         
         
      3. Paying all required fees.

Section 4. Examinations

1. Examinations shall be held in April and October of each year.
   
   
2. Examinations shall test technical and professional competence in land surveying.
   
   
   1. The Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination (required for licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training) shall be an eight-hour examination testing knowledge of basic principles and the application of mathematical formulae in the solution of basic surveying problems.
      
      
   2. The Principles and Practices of Land Surveying examination (required for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor) shall be a two-part examination. Part I shall be the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying prepared by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Part II shall consist of an examination on Maine specific surveying practices.
      
      
   3. The minimum passing grade shall be established by the Board for each specific examination.

   
   
   

3. Conditions of Examination
   
   
   
   1. No copies of examinations may be kept by examinees, and none will be furnished for study.
      
      
   2. Battery-powered, non-printing, silent calculators may be used. Bound books or notebooks may also be used in the "open-book" parts of the examination. No loose papers shall be permitted in any portion of any examination.
      
      

Section 5. Fees

1. Fees charged by the Board shall be in accordance with the following schedule:

   Land Surveyor-in-Training Exam Fee $75.00
   Land Surveyor-in-Training Application Fee 50.00
   Land Surveyor-in-Training License Fee* 75.00
   Land Surveyor-in-Training Renewal Fee 75.00
   Professional Land Surveyor Exam Fee 150.00
   PLS Re-examination fee (1 Part) 100.00
   Professional Land Surveyor Application Fee 50.00
   Professional Land Surveyor License Fee* 140.00
   Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Fee 140.00
   Late Renewal Fee (up to 90 days late) 10.00
   Replacement Certificate 25.00
   

2. *License fees paid in the second half of the biennium (odd numbered years) shall be equal to one-half the full license fee.
3. All fees shall be paid directly to the Maine Board of Licensure for -Professional Land Surveyors, and made payable to the Maine State Treasurer.
4. All fees are non-refundable.
   
   

Section 6. Certificates

Each surveyor shall display a current certificate of licensure in a conspicuous place in his principal place of business.

Professional Engineers

Registration for Professional Engineering

1. Any person desiring to practice professional engineering in the State of Maine may apply to the Board for a Certificate of Registration and submit evidence of qualifications to the Board on Forms furnished by the Board, and upon the approval of the Board, be issued a certificate as a Professional Engineer.
   
   
2. Professional Engineers registered under this Act are requested to keep their certificates of registration issued by the Board posted conspicuously in their principal place of business.
   
   
3. Professional Engineers registered under this Act are expected to practice within their area of competence. The Act makes no specific designations as to the branches of engineering practice for which certificates of registration are issued. The Board recognizes each accredited branch of engineering for which degrees are offered in the curricula of engineering schools and colleges approved by the Board and issues certificates of registration to applicants who demonstrate qualifications for practice under the provisions of the Act and in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Board.
   
   
4. In administering the Act and formulating its procedures, the Board recognizes the following fundamental obligations:
   
   
   1. To respect the right to means of a livelihood of any individual who has conscientiously and properly prepared to practice professional engineering.
      
      
   2. To protect the public, as far as possible, within the limits of the Act from such dangers, affecting life, health and property, as may arise from the attempt of incompetent or unethical persons to practice this profession.
      
      
   3. All engineers and engineer-interns must conform to the Code of Ethics in their professional activities.
      
      

Section 3 Exemptions

Certain exemptions are granted in Title 32, Chapter 19, Section 1255, MRSA. They are as follows:

1. A person who wishes to practice or offer to practice the Profession of Engineering in this State:
   
   
   1. For no more than 30 consecutive days in any calendar year, or
      
      
   2. After he or she files an application for registration as a Professional Engineer and before the Board has had an opportunity to review and take action on the application.
      
      Any person exempted from licensure by subsections 3 A) 1 or 3 A) 2 above must give written and sworn notification to the Board of his or her intention to engage in the practice of or to offer to practice engineering in this state. This notice must include:
      
      
      1. The name and address of the person;
         
         
      2. The date on which the person intends to begin the practice of engineering or offers to practice engineering in this state.
         
         
      3. The state where the person is currently licensed, registered or certified as a professional engineer and his or her license number; and
         
         
      4. The requirements of that state for such licensing, registration or certification.
         
         

      The notification must be given to the Board prior to the exempted person's practicing or offering to practice engineering and a verification fee of $10.00 must accompany the notice.
      
      

2. Employees or subordinates of persons holding a certificate of registration; also employees of persons exempt from registration by classes "A)1." and "A)2." provided their work does not include responsible charge of design or supervision. A registered engineer whose employees or subordinates practice the Profession of Engineering under this exemption takes full responsibility for those employees or subordinates.
   
   
3. Officers and employees of the Government of the United States while engaged within this state in the practice of the Profession of Engineering for said Government.
   
   
4. Officers and Employees of corporations engaged in interstate commerce as defined in an Act of Congress entitled "An Act to Regulate Commerce" approved February 4, 1887. Officers or employees of corporations engaged in interstate communication as defined in the Act of Congress approved June 9, 1934, provided that the officer or employee of corporations customarily in charge of the engineering work of such corporations in Maine must be a currently registered Maine Professional Engineer in good standing.
   
   

Section 4 Application for Registration as a Professional Engineer and for Certification as an Engineer-Intern.

1. Applications for registration as a Professional Engineer and certification as an Engineer-Intern are made on forms furnished by the Board. All applications must be made under oath and signed and sealed by a notary public.
   
   
2. Approval of an application for certification as an Engineer-Intern admits the applicant to examination, the passage of which entitles the applicant to a certificate as an Engineer-Intern.
   
   

Section 5 Classes of Applicants

Each applicant designates the classification in the following schedule of minimum requirements, under which he or she makes application.

1. Professional Engineer
   
   
   1. By endorsement without further examination. Acceptable evidence of registration by comparable written examination in another state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, or of any foreign country and/or a certificate of qualification from the National Council of Engineering Examiners showing the applicant to have qualifications meeting the requirements of the statutes.
      
      
   2. By graduation, experience and examination.
      
      
      1. Graduates of engineering schools in an approved four-year engineering curriculum, with four years of active practice indicating experience of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board and passing an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of engineering and passing an eight hour written examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Award of a master's degree in engineering from an approved curriculum is counted as 1 years experience. Award of a Doctor's degree in engineering from an approved curriculum, with or without a master's degree, may be counted for a total of 2 years experience.
         
         
      2. Graduates of an approved four-year engineering technology curriculum, with six years of active practice indicating experience of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board and passing an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of engineering and passing an eight-hour written examination in the principles and practice of engineering.
         
         
   3. By Experience and Examination.
      
      High School graduate with twelve years or more of progressive experience in engineering work indicating to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice engineering and passing an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of engineering designed to show the knowledge and skill approximating that obtained through graduation in an approved four-year engineering curriculum, and passing an eight-hour written examination in principles and practice of engineering.
      
      
   4. By Long Established Practice and Examination.
      
      A record of at least 15 years of lawful practice in engineering work, of which, at least 10 years have been in responsible engineering work. The record must indicate to the Board that the work has been of such grade and character that the applicant is competent to practice engineering and passing an oral or an eight-hour written examination in the principles and practice of engineering. Up to 6 years of the 15 years may be granted for engineering education as described in 2a) and 2b) above. Oral examinations are offered only to these applicants whose combined education, experience, and recognition give convincing evidence of the candidates competence and maturity as measured by one of the following ways.
      
      
      1. Candidate is currently registered in another state but without 8 hour examination in the principles and practice of engineering.
         
         
      2. Candidate was formerly registered in any state and did not lose license because of any offense.
         
         
      3. Candidate is currently registered or certified by the accountable agency in certain foreign countries and is in good standing. A list of qualifying agencies will be developed by the Board based on their knowledge or recommendation of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying or comparable agencies.
         
         
      4. The board may waive the requirement for the 8 hour fundamentals of engineering examination in the case of clearly qualified candidates currently registered and in good standing in another state and for candidates currently registered or certified and in good standing by the accountable agency in certain foreign countries where such agencies are those specified in 4(c) above.
         
         NOTE: For the purpose of determining the acceptability of engineering experience required in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 above, engineering teaching in a college or university offering an approved four-year engineering or engineering technology curriculum may be considered as engineering experience.
         
         
2. Engineer-Intern.
   
   
   1. By Graduation and Examination.
      
      Graduation from an approved four year or more engineering curriculum or four year or more engineering technology curriculum and passing an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of engineering.
      
      
   2. By Experience and Examination
      
      Graduation from a high school, a specific record of eight or more years of experience in engineering work of a grade and character satisfactory to the Board and passing an eight-hour written examination in the fundamentals of engineering.
      
      
3. Engineer Retired.
   
   When a registered/licensed professional engineer in good standing desires to retire his/her registration, he/she may do so upon application to the State Board. Upon meeting the requirements established by the Board, a permanent identification may be issued and the retired registrant/licensee receives all rights and benefits as established by the Board. Upon retirement of said registration, the applicant is not authorized to practice the profession.
   
   

Section 6 Application and Registration Fees

Applications for registration are addressed to the Secretary of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.

1. The schedule of fees is as follows:
   
   
   1. The registration fee for Professional Engineers is established by the Board not to exceed the maximum fee allowed under the statutes. The registration fee may be reestablished in conformity with the law at a regular meeting of the Board. A portion of that fee must accompany the application, the remainder to be paid upon issuance of the certificate
      
      
   2. The fee for Engineer-Intern certification is established by the Board not to exceed the maximum fee allowed under the statutes. The fee may be reestablished in conformity with the law at a regular meeting of the Board. That fee must accompany the application. For engineering and engineering technology students enrolled in an accredited program at the time of the fundamentals of engineering examination, half of the application fee may be waived.
      
      
   3. The annual fee for renewal of registrations is established by the Board not to exceed the maximum fee allowed under the statutes. The renewal fee may be reestablished in conformity with the law at a regular meeting of the Board.
      
      
   4. The annual fee for renewal as retired status is established by the Board.
      
      
2. Applications received by the Board are examined by the Secretary for conformity with the Rules and Regulations governing applications as established by the Board. Applications accompanied by proper fees and in the form prescribed are entered in the records of the Board. Applications not accompanied by proper fees or not conforming entirely to the rules and regulations are returned to the applicant, with instructions for correction, or held for consideration by the Board.
   
   
3. When applications accompanied by proper fees are accepted by the Secretary and entered in the books of the Board, the Secretary corresponds with the references in the manner prescribed by the Board. If replies from the references cited are not received within a reasonable time, the Secretary notifies the applicant to that effect, requesting additional references. The Secretary will correspond with the additional references. If an application is based on the endorsement provisions of the Statute cited, the Secretary obtains from the examining board by which the certificate of registration involved was issued, information as to the basis for the issuance of said certificate. The inquiry may be omitted if the certificate offered be a national engineering certification from the National Council of Examiners of Engineering and Surveying. When all necessary information has been gathered with regard to a given application, the application and all incidental papers are brought to the attention of the Board at the first subsequent meeting.
   
   The secretary directs the attention of the Board to applications for registration of all apparently well qualified applicants that may be deficient only in terms of engineering references because of limited time of residence. The Board may waive such references in order to allow the applicant to be examined but not allow registration until reference requirements are satisfied.
   
   

Section 7 Examinations

1. Examinations are required of all applicants who cannot qualify by endorsement.
   
   
2. Examinations are given for the purpose of determining the qualifications of applicants for registration in professional engineering. The scope of the examination and methods of procedure are prescribed by the Board with special reference to the applicant's ability to design and supervise engineering works, to insure the safety of life, health and property.
   
   
3. In the Principle and Practice of Engineering examinations, applicants may use textbooks, handbooks, bound reference material, any battery-operated, silent, non-printing calculator or slide rule which is subject to the inspection of the examiner. In the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, applicants may only use the NCEES furnished “Fundamental of Engineering (FE) Reference Handbook,” and any battery operated, silent, non-printing calculator or slide rule which is subject to the inspection of the examiner.
   
   
4. When examinations are required, they are held at such time and place as the Board shall determine.
   
   
5. As soon as practicable after taking examinations, the Board notifies the candidate of the results. The passing grade on any examination is 70.
   
   
6. A candidate failing an examination may apply for reexamination at a regularly scheduled examination.
   
   
7. The fee for examination or reexamination for Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) is $35.00 or such other amount as the Board establishes to cover the costs.
   
   
8. The fee for examination or reexamination for Principles and Practice of Engineering is $70.00 or such other amount as the Board establishes to cover the costs.
   
   
9. The fee for an oral examination is established by the Board and is the same amount as for the Principles and Practice examination.
   
   
10. An application for registration as a professional engineer or for certification as an Engineer-Intern is placed on file by the Board if the candidate fails to appear for a scheduled written examination and does not notify the Secretary in advance of his or her anticipated absence at least 2 weeks prior to the date of the scheduled written examination. The candidate must thereafter make a new request for examination or reexamination accompanied by a fee of $3 or such other amount as established by the Board to cover costs arising from prior scheduled examinations missed without notice. In addition, any applicant who fails to appear without advance notice at two or more scheduled examinations may be required to appear before the Board to establish his or her intent and qualifications.
    
    

Beatrice Gagnon
Office Manager
92 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0092
207-287-3236
pengineers@compuserve.com

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