CEU's

"Education would be so much more effective if its purpose were to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they don't know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it."
-- Sir William Haley


This was obtained from an article I recently read.

"An estimated 75 percent of all the states across the nation deem it a requirement for land surveyors to undergo continuing education after they have been licensed. It is important to note that the number of hours required is not the same in every state. In the vast majority however at least 24 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) are expected of licensed surveyors in a three year period."


In lieu of all the adversity that everyone is spouting on Topica about ceu's I did a little research and have come to a personal conclusion.

Arizona is an archaic contradiction. In Arizona the primary focus of the BTR is enforcement of rules when it should be educating the masses to avoid getting in trouble and become more professional. The rules are made by big company and government people when small business is responsible for most of the surveying. The old guys fear change and fight it tooth and nail. People spend way to much time worrying about what the other guy is doing and trying to screw him over instead of working with and helping steer them right.
We allow other professions to dictate what we do.

Now on the flip side we are way ahead in some technology areas in Maricopa County and a couple of other counties in things likes GDAC and the information available to us through the assessors offices, recorders, cities, etc.

GDAC alone is such an advancement that it should be used as the example to pave the way for Arizona being a leader in the profession of Land Surveying.

The survey program at Phoenix College is another example. After looking around the USA I have seen very little mentioning that a person can get a 2 year degree in Land Surveying there. How come?? John Rose has done a fantastic job of spearheading that program and more people should know about it.

This state contains some of the greatest minds in the profession and we are doing a lousy job utilizing what we have.

Did you know that the Scottsdale Airpark alone contains over 5000 businesses? That's more than the entire city of Tucson.

Arizona is the leader in so many things and Land Surveying should be another. This is truly a great profession and it seams that all that is happening is people working against one another instead of forming a well oiled machine.

I have said this before "Land Surveying is a great job but is a lousy business to be in". My dream is to be able to say that both are great.

By becoming more professional through education we will finally be able to charge what we deserve to be paid.

Example: My attorney charges $325 an hour and is well worth it. My CPA charges $195 and hour and is well worth it.

I think an LS should be able to charge at least $225 an hour for themselves. A crew charge should be equal to that.

Why are guys out there charging only 50-80 an hour? I'll tell you why. Because they are scumbags that have absolutely zero professional integrity and go against everything that we should be fighting for.

Advancement through education and technology is the future for Land Surveying. We are in the information age. The industrial age ended a long time ago and it is time to progress. Future generations depend upon our actions today. This the only way to appeal to new great Land Surveyors and make the current ones better.