Survey Technician Council: CST Preferred

In this section... CST Program CST Preferred "Field Notes" Newsletter Seminar

"CST Preferred"

David C. Drews, CST IV

The number of "Positions Available" advertisements in P.O.B., Professional Surveyor and Michigan Professional Surveyor continues to grow. A few years ago, a single page of "Positions Available" ads was the norm for P.O.B. Today, it is not uncommon to see two and one half pages of advertisements for surveying positions. Many of the positions being offered are for unlicensed professionals with field and/or office experience. Shouldn’t these ads include the statement "CST Preferred"?

The surveying profession in Michigan has, by virtue of its licensing requirements, acknowledged the value of education, experience and testing. The Certified Survey Technician program (CST) focuses on the testing of applicants who have varying degrees of surveying experience. Based upon individual experience and test results, certification is awarded. By including "CST Preferred" in your advertisements, you are promoting a program that helps you as an employer.

As a PS, you can’t do everything (although some try); you need employees with knowledge and experience in the field and in the office. The traditional method of measuring knowledge and experience has been the resume and interview. You know the drill; sort through the applicants for a position, look for those with the most years of experience, then conduct an interview. Based on the information contained on the applicant’s resume and his/her answers to your questions, you pick someone, and roll the dice...Surprise! Your new employee has experience, but not the kind you had in mind.

CST certification is proof that the applicant for a position has passed an exam that tests for knowledge and technical skills. The level of certification obtained is based upon experience, testing and experience. CST certification is also an indication of an applicant’s desire to learn and grow in the surveying profession.

Why not "CST Required"? Because the number of survey technicians with some level of CST certification is small compared to the total number of survey technicians available. But this will change as the word gets out that you want proof of an applicant’s minimum skills and knowledge, and will give preference to applicants who have CST certification.

Licensing of surveyors is required in all states to ensure a minimum level of skills and experience, which protects the public and improves the surveying profession. The simple act of including "CST Preferred" in your ads will promote the value of certification. Eventually, "CST required" will be the norm, and the surveying profession will be better for it.

In future issues of Michigan Professional Surveyor, we will outline the four levels of CST certification.
Stay tuned....