December 15, 2016 PE and PLS (EN) Board of Registration Meeting
The Board discussed these issues:
- Effective January 1, 2017, the new officers of the Board will be: Paul J.Tyrell , PE, PLS, Chair, Ronald Willey, PE, Vice Chair, and Peter Hale, PLS, Secretary
- The Board had more than 120 applications from EITs applying to become Professional Engineers to review before, during and after the public meeting.
- The Board's Exam Committee recently met and discussed the results of the Massachusetts jurisprudence exam for Professional Land Surveyors: Seven applicants took the exam. Two were from within Massachusetts and five were comity applicants from outside Massachusetts. Of the seven applicants, three took the exam for the first time. One exam question was pulled so the exam was based on 49 of 50 questions. A passing rate for this exam was 69%. Five of the seven applicants passed the exam. The two candidates who failed were in-state applicants.
- Board Legal Counsel Sheila York gave an update on the status of the revisions to 250 CMR: they are still under review in the Division of Professional Licensure, but she is working to show how the proposed changes are in compliance with Governor Baker's Executive Order 562.
- Board Legal Counsel York also updated the board on work on potential draft regulations regarding continuing education that would come before the board , specifically focusing on how the board would potentially handle:
- Inactive status: licensees who are no longer actively practicing in the state who then do not meet a future continuing education requirement and then want to active practice
- Retired status: licensees who retire from practice, but want to serve on public boards and commissions that require someone to be a licensed PLS. The board does not currently have a retired or emeritus status for licensees and is seeking clarification on whether the board could create such status.
- Board Legal Counsel Sheila York will focus on three issues over the next month or so: Finalization of the proposed revisions to 250 CMR, the separate issues regarding the potential waiver of future continuing edcuation requirements for licensees with inactive or retired status and the questions regarding the use of engineering and land surveying titles for people who are not licensed as PEs or PLSs in Massachusetts.
- Executive Director Clinton Dick and the Board thanked Aidan McGrath for his service to the Board as Board Administrator. Aidan will be leaving the Division of Professional Licensure at the end of December. Erik Funk is transitioning into the role of Board Administrator.
Next Board of Registration Meeting
- The next meeting of the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors is expected to be on January 26, 2017 at 9:30 AM.
Calendar of Board of Registration Meetings
Link to Minutes of past meetings
November 17, 2016 PE and PLS (EN) Board of Registration Meeting
The Board discussed these issues:
- Executive Director Clinton Dick introduced the Board to Eric Funk, who would be taking over for Aidan McGrath as Board Administrator in the coming months.
- Foreign engineering degrees without humanities courses – does this meet EIT or PE requirements?
- At its October meeting, the Board formed a committee to examine this issue. Board Members Ron Willey, Paul Tyrell, Paul Tsang will meet at 8 AM on December 15, 2016 (subsequently postponed to January 26, 2017) on this issue. This is an open meeting at DPL.
- How to consider licensure for people who take the Principles and Practices exam early from other states applying for comity;
- The Board formed a committee to examine this issue. Board Members Paul Tyrell, Dennis Drumm and Joel Goodmonson will meet at 11 AM on December 15, 2016 (subsequently postponed to January 26, 2017). on this issue. This is an open meeting at DPL.
- Job titles under 250 CMR 5.08
- Board Counsel Sheila York will draft policy for board to consider on this issue.
Board of Registration Meeting
The next meeting of the Board of Registration of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors is expected to be on December 15, 2016 at 9:30 AM.
Calendar of Board of Registration Meetings
