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Board approves education addition, hears budget review and hears applicant’s request for exception
Summary
The Tennessee Board of Land Surveyors approved an education course addition, reviewed the director’s budget report detailing one‑time admin and technology charges, and heard a public applicant who asked the board to consider relief on the experience pathway due to a local shortage of surveyors.
The Tennessee Board of Land Surveyors voted Aug. 28 to approve its education report with a late addition: a US Fish and Wildlife course delivered through Carlson software (course listed as “Survey data processing and plat creation,” 24 hours). The board approved the education report and added the Carlson vendor by voice vote.
In the director’s report staff presented budget results for April through June and highlighted three items that explained unusual charges in the financials: a $3,200 admin cost allocation in April tied to a shared core contract for 2025, approximately $2,500 in June Edison/ST S technology charges for program‑specific application enhancements, and roughly $4,800 in April investigations expenses that were allocated to the board because the program was the primary user of investigative services that month. The director said renewals are expected to open around Nov. 1 and the biennial renewal period will shift finances back into surplus in the renewal year.
Board members also received reports from representatives who attended the NCWS annual meeting. The members summarized national trends: proposed optional geospatial exam modules, ongoing legal challenges to professional boards in several states and at the federal level, and outreach efforts (a digital recruiting effort, basurveyor.com, that has had success reaching FFA/FFA‑type audiences and youth events). Members said these cases and the recruiting programs are relevant to Tennessee; one attendee noted nationwide litigation efforts aim to eliminate or narrow licensing boards and that professional associations are spending resources to defend licensure.
During public comment applicant Neyland Frankston (an applicant for licensure) told the board he had passed the FS, PS and TS exams, will finish required coursework in December and had 9 years, 2 months of surveying experience. He asked whether the board could consider relief so he would not fall short of the ten‑year experience requirement by roughly six months; staff advised him to submit a written request to the executive director for formal review. The executive director told the applicant that any request would be reviewed against statute and rules and that the board would consider documented hardship or exceptional circumstances where permitted.
The board awarded two hours of professional development (PDH) for the meeting and adjourned after final motions.
Ending
Board staff will mail or email the approved education list (including the Carlson/US Fish and Wildlife course) and will follow up on budget clarifications for members who requested more detail. The applicant was advised to submit a written waiver request to the executive director for formal consideration.
