Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation

Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects

Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers, and Landscape Architects Regulations [18 VAC 10 ‑ 20]

Action	Develop regulations for a mandatory continuing education requirement for architect, professional engineer, and land surveyor licenses.
Stage	NOIRA
Comment Period	Ended on 3/21/2007

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3/15/07 12:00 am

Commenter: Paul J. L'Abbe, PE

Continued Educational Mandate for License Renewal

The Notice Summary of Significant Changes in Virginia Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects Regulations clearly states it is the responsibility of the regulant of the board to be up to date with the latest changes to DPOR regulations. It appears by the amount of responses nearing the end of the comment period this is not the case. Certainly more than four professional engineers, including myself, in the state of Virginia have a vested interest of the continued educational mandate. The lack of response is probably the result of the DPOR’s latest policy enacted February 1, 2007 not to mail regulation changes. If the Board were sincere in obtaining honest feedback for this mandate all board regulants would have been notified by mail.

I am not an advocate for or against without knowing the arguments that lead to this mandate. My first impression was the General Assembly of Virginia is seeking a way to increase revenue to state colleges and universities. Be that as it may, as a practicing mechanical engineer I can offer the Board how this mandate will affect me. Working for a government contractor, my position does not require a professional engineer license nor does the company encourage or reimburse the expenditures of individuals obtaining and maintaining such a license. I expect the “continuing education mandate” to be an out of pocket expenditure since my company only provides reimbursement for company approved class courses. My busy family lifestyle with my very young children does not afford me time away to attend class courses. If I could manage time away for class and travel I’d have to endure the burden of child care expenses. I foresee a drop in license renewals for those individuals in similar positions as myself. If the Board were at all interested a survey of regulants with job positions requiring a professional license can provide an estimated drop in license renewals. For my sake and disappointment, it does not make monetary sense to maintain a professional license as a result of this mandate.

CommentID: 422