Surveyors license; provide that licensed engineers may qualify for if certain conditions are met.
The implications of HB551 are considerable for the surveying profession in Mississippi. By lowering the barriers to entry for licensed professional engineers, the bill aims to address the shortage of qualified surveyors in the state. The alteration in the qualification criteria could lead to an increase in the workforce availability, which is essential given the growing demands of infrastructure and land development projects. This also aligns with current trends in many states where the professions of engineering and surveying overlap.
House Bill 551 amends Section 73-13-77 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, specifically targeting the qualifications necessary for licensure as a professional surveyor. This bill introduces provisions that allow a resident of Mississippi who is a licensed professional engineer and has at least two years of qualifying surveying experience to be eligible for licensure. This amendment is significant as it provides an alternative pathway for licensure, potentially attracting more professionals into the surveying field.
Notably, the changes introduced by HB551 may raise some concerns among existing surveyors and professional associations. Critics may argue that reducing the experience requirement for licensure could dilute the quality of surveying practices. There is a balance to be struck between increasing accessibility to the profession and maintaining rigorous standards that ensure public safety and professional integrity. Additionally, discussions among stakeholders in the surveying community may revolve around the long-term effects of combining professional engineering qualifications with surveying licensure, particularly in how this impacts the overall perception of surveying as a distinct and specialized profession.