Texas Survey July 2025 - Flipbook - Page 32
NEW GEN
A Nudge in the Right Direction: For the RPLS's
To all you Registered Professional Land Surveyors out there, especially those in supervisory roles, listen up: your words
carry weight. That off-the-cuff comment, that casual suggestion, it can be the spark that changes someone's entire
career trajectory. You have no idea the impact you can have on your field crews.
You're a Walking Resource. Your field crews might not be aware of all the resources available for licensure. Scholarships,
study groups, and most importantly, you! You're a living, breathing encyclopedia of surveying knowledge, and they look
up to you.
Hidden Potential. Often, you've got at least one gem on your team who's brimming with talent and passion but lacks
confidence or the financial means to pursue licensure. A little encouragement from you could be the push they need.
The Six-Year Itch (in a Good Way): For the Field Crews
And to my fellow field-hardened veterans, the ones who've seen it all and still love the smell of fresh cutline: you're
closer to the licensure than you think!
The Path is Shorter Than You Think. Believe it or not, with just four years of responsible charge and a high school
diploma, you can sit for the FS exam. Pass that test and you're an SIT (Surveyor-in-Training) for two years. From
becoming a new party chief to getting registered? We're talking about a six-year journey. That's practically a blink of an
eye in a surveying career!
"School" Can Be a Breeze. Think taking a surveying class means endless late nights and mountains of homework? Think
again. A typical three-credit surveying class for a seasoned party chief might take less than 45 minutes a week to
complete. Take one 3-credit class each spring, summer, and fall, and in six years, you'll have an associate’s in surveying.
Forty-five minutes a week for six years. And here's the kicker: your boss is probably eager to share the same knowledge
you're learning in class.
See a pattern here? That pesky six-year number keeps popping up, doesn't it? It's not a coincidence. So, what if school
takes six years by taking one class at a time? You’ll need at least six years to satisfy the board requirements anyways. If
you already have responsible charge time, take two classes a semester and finish faster!
Look, I know becoming registered isn't everyone's goal, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you've got
even a flicker of interest, don't hesitate to ask an RPLS about the steps. And if you're already registered, try giving that 30
or 40-something-year-old on your crew a nudge. You never know whose trajectory you might change. It worked for me,
and I'm certainly not going back to asking about shampoo preferences.
Kenny Jordan, S.I.T.
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