NCEES recognizes long-serving members for their contributions

NCEES recently recognized several members for their longtime service to the organization, the licensing boards on which they serve, and the engineering and surveying professions. The 2011 NCEES award winners are

  • William Karr, P.L.S., of Michigan, who received the Distinguished Service Award with Special Commendation
  • Henry Liles Jr., P.E., of North Carolina; Patrick Tami, P.L.S., of California; and Robert C. Zahl, P.E., AIA, of Oklahoma, each of whom received the Distinguished Service Award
  • William R. Huett, assistant executive director and head of the investigative division of the Alabama board, who received the Meritorious Service Award
  • Bill Dickerson, P.E., of Oklahoma, who received the Distinguished Examination Service Award.

The winners were honored at the NCEES annual meeting, held August 24–27, 2011 in Providence, Rhode Island.

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Willam Karr, P.L.S.
Henry Liles, Jr., P.E.
Patrick Tami, P.L.S.
Robert C. Zahl, P.E., AIA
William R. Huett
Bill Dickerson, P.E.

NCEES seeks volunteers for FS exam content review

NCEES is currently seeking professionals working in surveying to participate in a content review for the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. The results of this study will be used to update the test specifications for the exam.

NCEES requires a cross section of professionals, including licensed professional surveyors, academics teaching surveying courses, and surveyors in training, to complete an online survey about the fundamental knowledge and skills required of recent surveying graduates to practice in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

“These studies help NCEES ensure its licensing exams remain relevant to current professional practice,” explained Director of Exam Services Tim Miller, P.E. “The value of this content review depends on the number of people who participate, so NCEES is eager to get input from as many surveying professionals as possible.”

The survey can be completed in about 30 minutes. Responses must be received no later than October 11, 2011.

UPDATE 9/28/2011: The survey has been closed.

Jans begins term as NCEES president

Dale Jans, P.E., of South Dakota, began his term as 2011–12 NCEES president at the conclusion of the NCEES annual meeting, held August 24–27 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Jans has served on the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions since 1994. A resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Jans is president and majority owner of Jans Corporation, a design/build construction company based in South Dakota. He replaces outgoing president Joseph Timms, P.E., of West Virginia, who will remain on the NCEES board of directors as immediate past president.

Also during the annual meeting, NCEES members elected Gene Dinkins, P.E., P.L.S., of South Carolina as its president-elect for the 2011–12 term and David Widmer, P.L.S., of Pennsylvania treasurer for the  2011–13 term.

NCEES also welcomed two new members of its board of directors in Howard (Skip) Harclerode II, P.E., of Maryland and Theodore Sack, P.L.S., of Oklahoma. Harclerode and Sack will serve two-year terms as vice presidents of the Northeast Zone and Southern Zone, respectively.

Rounding out the board of directors are two members serving the second year of their two-year term: Nancy Gavlin, P.E., S.E., of Illinois returns as Central Zone vice president, and Patty Mamola, P.E., of Nevada continues as Western Zone vice president.

Detailed information about NCEES governance can be found here.

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Dale Jans, P.E.
Gene Dinkins, P.E., P.L.S.
David Widmer, P.L.S.
Howard (Skip) Harclerode II, P.E.
Theodore Sack, P.L.S.

NCEES takes additional steps toward implementing computer-based testing

At its 90th annual meeting, held August 24–27 in Providence, Rhode Island, the member licensing boards of NCEES approved a new pricing model for NCEES exams that will go into effect when the Fundamentals of Engineering and Fundamentals of Surveying exams shift to computer-based testing in January 2014.

The new pricing model, which features an all-inclusive fee for the FE and FS that covers the exam itself and administration costs, was a key step in the transition from paper-and-pencil toward computer-based testing.

The final paper-and-pencil administration of the FE and FS exams, which are taken by nearly 50,000 examinees throughout the United States and in several foreign locations each year, will take place in October 2013.

About the exams

The FE exam is the first of two exams required for professional engineering licensure; it is designed to test students’ knowledge of concepts learned while earning an accredited bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline. The FS exam is a similar exam designed for surveying licensure candidates.

The PE and PS exams, which are designed for candidates who have already passed the FE or FS and gained professional experience, will continue to be administered via paper and pencil for the foreseeable future.

“Adopting a new pricing model was just one of many steps needed as we move the FE and FS to CBT,” said Jerry Carter, NCEES executive director. “We remain excited about the many enhancements CBT will provide for our exams and the testing experience for candidates.”

Alternate pathway for education voted down

Among other actions taken at last week’s annual meeting was a decision by the member boards against adopting an alternate pathway toward fulfilling the Model Law 2020 education requirement for engineering licensure. This alternate pathway would have allowed candidates seeking a P.E. license to fulfill the education requirement via a combination of approved continuing education coursework, additional experience, and mentoring.

The Model Law 2020 requirement, which is set to go into effect in 2020 but is nonbinding in any state that does not incorporate it into its laws, calls for candidates seeking a P.E. license to complete an engineering master’s degree or its equivalent. Currently, the Model Law requires P.E. candidates to complete an accredited engineering bachelor’s degree.

Proposed amendment takes aim at industrial exemption

NCEES member boards expressed their support for strengthening licensure’s protections by applying them toward engineered products and systems. They approved charging the Committee on Uniform Procedures and Legislative Guidelines with amending the Model Law to require responsible charge of a licensed engineer over the engineering design of buildings, structures, products, machines, processes, and systems that affect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. The proposed amendment is a response to provisions in many state laws, known as industrial exemptions, that exempt firms that manufacture products from requiring a P.E. to oversee their design.

Full details on all motions considered during the annual meeting will be included in the official minutes, which will be published later this fall.

Contact

For more information, contact NCEES Director of Public Affairs Nina Norris at 864-654-6824.