WAC 196-16-035   Retired status certificate of registration.  In accordance with RCW 18.43.075, any individual who has been issued a certificate of registration, in accordance with chapter 18.43 RCW, as a professional land surveyor, having reached at least the age of sixty-five and having discontinued active practice as a land surveyor, may be eligible to obtain a "retired certificate of registration." If granted, further certificate of registration renewal fees are waived. For the purpose of this provision, "active practice" is defined as exercising direct supervision and control over the development and production of a land surveying document as provided in RCW 18.43.070 and/or any related activities pertaining to the offer of and/or the providing of professional land surveying services as defined in RCW 18.43.020.

     (1) Applications. Those persons wishing to obtain the status of a retired registration shall complete an application on a form as provided by the board. Applications shall be sent to the executive director at the address of the board. Upon receipt of said application and, if deemed eligible by the board, the retired status would become effective on the first scheduled renewal date of the certificate of registration that occurs on or after the applicant reaches the age of sixty-five. It shall not be necessary that an expired certificate of registration be renewed to be eligible for this status. The board will not provide refund of renewal fees if the application for "retired" status is made and granted before the date of expiration of the certificate of registration.

     (2) Privileges. In addition to the waiver of the renewal fee, a retired registrant is permitted to:

     (a) Retain the board issued wall certificate of registration;

     (b) Use the title professional land surveyor (PLS), provided that it is supplemented by the term retired, or the abbreviation "ret";

     (c) Work as a land surveyor in a volunteer capacity, provided that the retired registrant does not create a land surveying document, and does not use their seal, except as provided for in (d) of this subsection;

     (d) Provide experience verifications and references for persons seeking registration under chapter 18.43 RCW. If using their professional seal the retired registrant may place the word "retired" in the space designated for the date of expiration;

     (e) Serve in an instructional capacity on land surveying topics;

     (f) Provide services as a technical expert before a court, or in preparation for pending litigation, on matters directly related to land surveying work performed by the registrant before they were granted a retired registration;

     (g) Serve in a function that supports the principles of registration and/or promotes the profession of land surveying, such as members of commissions, boards or committees;

     (h) Serve in a land surveying capacity as a "good samaritan," as set forth in RCW 38.52.195 and 38.52.1951, provided said work is otherwise performed in accordance with chapter 18.43 RCW.

     (i) A professional land surveyor in retired status is not required to complete continuing professional development as provided in WAC 196-16-110. However, if a retired status land surveyor wishes to return to active status, the licensee will need to complete an additional fifteen PDH during their first year of reactivated practice.

     (3) Restrictions. A retired registrant is not permitted to:

     (a) Perform any land surveying activity, as provided for in RCW 18.43.020, unless said activity is under the direct supervision of a Washington state professional land surveyor who has a valid/active registration in the records of the board;

     (b) Act as the designated land surveyor or land surveyor in responsible charge for a Washington land surveying corporation or Washington land surveying limited liability company;

     (c) Apply their professional land surveyors seal, as provided for in RCW 18.43.070, to any plan, specification, plat or report, except as provided for in subsection (2)(d) of this section.

     (4) Certificate of registration reinstatement. A retired registrant, upon written request to the board and payment of the current renewal fee, may resume active land surveying practice. At that time the retired registrant shall be removed from retired status and placed on valid/active status in the records of the board. All rights and responsibilities of a valid/active registration will be in effect. At the date of expiration of the reinstated certificate of registration, the registrant may elect to either continue active registration or may again apply for retired registration in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

     (5) Exemptions. Under no circumstances shall a registrant be eligible for a retired registration if their certificate of registration has been revoked, surrendered or in any way permanently terminated by the board under RCW 18.43.110. Registrants who are suspended from practice and/or who are subject to terms of a board order at the time they reach age sixty-five shall not be eligible for a retired registration until such time that the board has removed the restricting conditions.

     (6) Penalties for noncompliance. Any violations of this section shall be considered "misconduct and/or malpractice" as defined in RCW 18.43.105. Such violations are subject to penalties as provided for in RCW 18.235.110 and 18.43.120.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.43.035. 06-11-120, § 196-16-035, filed 5/19/06, effective 7/1/06. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.43 and 18.235 RCW. 04-04-001, § 196-16-035, filed 1/21/04, effective 2/21/04.]