Most Land Surveyors I know have taken up Land Surveying simply because they enjoy it. This quality of job satisfaction is increasingly getting more and more important in our busy world. While the Land Surveyor gets involved with computers and technology, Land Surveying still seems to have a foundation of “common sense”. Many people enjoy Land Surveying because it is a job with a lot of variety that can offer work in the outdoors.

The demand for Surveyors is great. Not many people realize that Minnesota has only roughly 500 Licensed Surveyors, with only about 300 of them still practicing! In addition, as of April 2002, 58 percent of (Minnesota) Licensed Surveyors are over 50 years old. (The author also just joined this age group!)

There are many reasons for Land Surveyors to have traveled the road to professional licensure. The biggest reason is the enhanced career potential enjoyed by licensed professionals. For instance, only licensed professionals are allowed to offer their services to the public. While various practice niches have been granted exemption from licensure, these exemptions vary among jurisdictions and there is no guarantee that these exemptions are permanent. In fact, many jurisdictions are actively working to eliminate some exemptions.

It has been reported that a professional license is valued even within the practice niches which enjoy exemptions from licensure. The possibility of salary increase and promotion is often enhanced by the candidate having obtained a professional license. Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor is a sign of commitment to your profession.