WAC 196-16-010   Experience records.  The board shall evaluate all experience, which includes education, on a case-by-case basis and approve such experience as appropriate. The board will use the following criteria in evaluating an applicant's experience record.

     (1) Education experience will be based on transcripts. Therefore, any transcripts not previously sent to the board's office should be submitted for maximum experience credit. Education may be approved as experience based on the following:

     (a) Graduation with a baccalaureate degree in land surveying from an approved curriculum shall be equivalent to four years of required experience.

     (b) Graduation with an associate degree in land surveying from an approved curriculum shall be equivalent to two years of required experience.

     (c) Each year completed of an approved curriculum without graduation shall be granted up to a year of required experience.

     (d) A maximum of one year may be granted for postgraduate college courses approved by the board. Postgraduate education will count toward the eight years of required experience as described in subsection (2) of this section.

     (e) Any other education will be taken into account and evaluated on its merits.

     (f) Experience gained between semesters or quarters or during summers while enrolled in an approved curriculum will be considered as part of the educational process. The board grants one year of experience for a year of approved education including any associated work experience within that year.

     (2) In evaluating work experience, the board will be looking for eight years of broad based, progressive field and office experience in surveying work under the direct supervision of a person authorized by chapter 18.43 RCW or other applicable statute to practice land surveying, a minimum of four years of which shall be in a position of making independent judgments and decisions under the general guidance and direct supervision of an authorized professional except as provided for in subsections (1)(d) and (3) of this section. This latter experience shall not be limited to, but must include the following:

     (a) Applying state, federal and case law;

     (b) Exercising sound judgment when making independent decisions regarding complex boundary, topographic, horizontal and vertical control, and mapping issues;

     (c) Field identification and evaluation of boundary evidence, including monumentation, and the ability to use that evidence for boundary determination;

     (d) Conducting research;

     (e) Preparing and analyzing complex property descriptions; and

     (f) Interacting with clients and the public in conformance with chapter 196-27A WAC.

     The board may grant partial credit for experience that does not fully meet the requirements in (a) through (f) of this subsection.

     (3) Teaching of a character satisfactory to the board may be recognized as surveying experience up to a maximum of two years.

     (4) In evaluating combined education and experience the board will be looking at transcripts and work experience to determine knowledge in subsection (2)(a) through (f) of this section.

     (5) Any work experience gained in a situation which violates the provisions of chapters 18.43 and 18.235 RCW or Title 196 WAC will not be credited towards the experience requirement.

     (6) A registered professional engineer who applies to become registered as a professional land surveyor must meet the requirements stated within this section.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.43 and 18.235 RCW. 04-04-001, § 196-16-010, filed 1/21/04, effective 2/21/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.43.035. 96-11-086, § 196-16-010, filed 5/14/96, effective 7/1/96; 87-13-005 (Order PM 606), § 196-16-010, filed 6/4/87; 84-04-027 (Order PL 454), § 196-16-010, filed 1/25/84; 82-01-064 (Order 81-10), § 196-16-010, filed 12/18/81; Order PL-115, § 196-16-010, filed 11/24/71; Rule IIIB, filed 11/15/65; Rule IIIB, filed 8/4/64; Rule IIA, filed 12/26/62.]