The Florida Senate

472.015  Licensure.--

(1)  The department shall license any applicant who the board certifies is qualified to practice surveying and mapping.

(2)  The board shall certify for licensure any applicant who satisfies the requirements of s. 472.013 and who has passed the licensing examination. The board may refuse to certify any applicant who has violated any of the provisions of s. 472.031

(3)(a)  The board shall certify as qualified for a license by endorsement an applicant who:

1.  Holds a valid license to practice surveying and mapping issued prior to July 1, 1999, by another state or territory of the United States; has passed a national, regional, state, or territorial licensing examination that is substantially equivalent to the examination required by s. 472.013; and has a specific experience record of at least 8 years as a subordinate to a registered surveyor and mapper in the active practice of surveying and mapping, 6 years of which must be of a nature indicating that the applicant was in responsible charge of the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping work performed;

2.  Holds a valid license to practice surveying and mapping issued by another state or territory of the United States if the criteria for issuance of the license were substantially the same as the licensure criteria that existed in Florida at the time the license was issued; or

3.  Is a practicing photogrammetrist who holds the Certified Photogrammetrist designation of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing and held such designation on or before July 1, 2005; is a graduate of a 4-year course of study at an accredited college or university; and has a specific experience record of 6 or more years as a subordinate to a Certified Photogrammetrist of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing in the active practice of surveying and mapping, 5 years of which shall be of a nature indicating that the applicant was in responsible charge of the accuracy and correctness of the surveying and mapping work performed. The course of study must have included not fewer than 32 semester hours of study or its academic equivalent. The applicant must have completed a minimum of 25 semester hours from a college or university approved by the board in surveying and mapping subjects or in any combination of courses in civil engineering, surveying, mapping, mathematics, photogrammetry, forestry, or land law and the physical sciences. Any of the required 25 semester hours of study completed not as a part of the 4-year course of study shall be approved at the discretion of the board. Work experience acquired as a part of the education requirement shall not be construed as experience in responsible charge. The applicant must have applied to the department for licensure on or before July 1, 2007.

(b)  All applicants for licensure by endorsement must pass the Florida law and rules portion of the examination prior to licensure.

(4)  The department shall not issue a license by endorsement to any applicant who is under investigation in another state for any act that would constitute a violation of ss. 472.001-472.037 or chapter 455 until such time as the investigation is complete and disciplinary proceedings have been terminated.

(5)  A licensee or business entity that meets the requirements of this section or s. 472.021 must carry professional liability insurance or provide notice to any person or entity to which surveying and mapping services are offered that the licensee or business entity does not carry professional liability insurance. The notice must consist of a sign prominently displayed in the reception area and written statements provided in a form and frequency as required by rule of the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers.

(6)  The department may revoke the license of a licensee or business entity that fails to pay a final judgment in connection with the provision of, or failure to provide, services under this chapter.

History.--ss. 25, 42, ch. 79-243; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 5, 7, ch. 89-137; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 90, ch. 94-119; s. 113, ch. 98-166; s. 174, ch. 2000-160; s. 7, ch. 2001-63; s. 5, ch. 2002-41; s. 2, ch. 2005-129.