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California State Exam – Experience and References
Posted by lunarfaze on January 4, 2022 at 4:31 pmI submitted my application last week to sit for the CA state exam. It appears that work experience and your references are now tied together (as Engagement and Reference), that is, your immediate supervisor IS the reference. No separate reference letters accepted and every supervisor gets contacted (via email).
I was not expecting this. Anyone know of ways to massage this process? Like at one job, I have two LS’s that said they would give me references. Do I double list this, one with each as my reference? Another job where I was in the field for 2 years my immediate supervisor wasn’t licensed but his boss was.
What happens to others in this situation where they have been with the same employer for 20 years but still need 4 experiences?
Maybe I’m missing something. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe I answered my own questions as I typed all this out.
lunarfaze replied 2 years, 2 months ago 4 Members · 14 Replies- 14 Replies
Its basically the same process as the former one – only real difference is that the applicant doesn’t collect/gather the (Part B) reference portion to send in with the paper application through the mail. Once you complete your portion of each engagement (formally Part A) and provide name and email of your reference, the Connect system automatically sends an email with a unique link to access what you provided so the reference can complete and submit their portion.
You’ll notice that once you complete one engagement, and it appears in the list (table), there are a series of icons to the right. One of those allows you to copy the selected engagement. Then you can edit the copied engagement by changing the reference name and contact info. But understand you can only get credit for the claimed months of experience once.
Whomever is the reference has the ability to designate what their relationship was to the applicant during the time of the engagement (i.e., Supervisor, Coworker, reviewed work, etc.) just like the previous forms.
The number of references has not changed. You need to ensure that a sufficient number which were in responsible charge of all the claimed work experience regardless of the how many those are, but it doesn’t have to be all of the references.
Contact [email protected] if you have any other questions and he’d be happy to assist you.
@ric-moore Thanks! You always provide great feedback. Appreciate it.
Update for anyone following:
I’ve been trying to figure out how to edit the Engagement on my Application with no luck so far. I have made contact with one person at the state but no one seems to know how to. I can add Engagements.
I kinda wish I could scrap it and start over! Learning a lot through the process.
@lunarfaze I always wonder if the application is part of the testing. I remember doing an application for reciprocity and they had a electronically fillable doc online and I would get 2/3rds through it and it would change the font for no apparent reason and make the application look like it was done by a 3rd grader. When I hit send I wondered if I was going to be judged by my 3rd grader looking application :). Good luck, Jp
@lunarfaze I’ll be happy to help. Email me at [email protected] and we can setup a time for me to assist you. Maybe tomorrow (friday) morning?
@lunarfaze I should had added: Have you already submitted/paid for your application? If so, then no, you cannot edit what you’ve submitted (same as if you had submitted the application in the old way on paper). However, you can submit a new one as a replacement. Just copy the one you submitted (copy icon to right of engagement) and then edit what you need. Once submitted, this will go to the reference you indicated.
@ric-moore Hi. Just saw this. When you say “submit a new one” are you talking about the entire application or just an engagement?
I always appreciate your feedback.
@lunarfaze Sorry, I can see how that confused you. I’m talking engagements in the new online Connect system. You can copy a previously entered engagement under your Experience tab and then edit that new one.
When I sent my NJ application, I followed the directions to the tee, every I dotted and T crossed. Five references had to be provided. I forget now, but, either three or four of the references had to be PLSs, whit the other(s) being PE’s. I provided the references to each reference along with a stamped envelope addressed to the Board and they personally mailed them. The thing I had the most trouble with was the “detailed breakdown” of my work experience. I provided them with a detailed description of my work history and they kicked it back wanting a “detailed description”. I edited two or three pages to a couple paragraphs and they accepted it.
I was lucky, I worked for another company before I applied and left on good terms so I had a few more licensees I could use. The lead Surveyor in the company I worked for was a guy who was power tripping and refused to provide references to my fellow Crew Chiefs, most of whom had not worked anywhere else in their lengthy careers. I used one of the PLSs from the company I left and never bothered to give him the opportunity to turn me down on the reference like he did with four others. All the company Principals were happy to provide references. He was livid when he found out that my application had been accepted by the Board and constantly made snide remarks saying that I would never pass.
I sat for my exam in October of 1992 and got the letter from the Board on Valentines Day, 1993, saying that I had passed all parts of the exam. Valentines day that year fell on a Sunday, but, first thing Monday morning I dropped a photo copy of the letter in each of the Principal’s incoming mail and made sure to include a copy for him, just to fuel the fire. Needless to say, he was not happy and I got my revenge when my sister called the office a few weeks later. She was (and still is) an insurance agent. She called him to ask for a price on an Elevation Certificate and he replied that the company could do it for (insert price) but he could do it on the side much cheaper. She called me after talking to him and I went to the President of the firm that same day. Two days later, he was fired.
I’m 57 now and have not applied to any other state but PA for reciprocity but failed the State Specific exam because it was largely based on drainage design. I have done plenty of that in NJ when I worked in Engineering but PA and NJ use entirely different methods. If I had to apply again, I don’t know where I would get my references from as only two of my original references are still alive. I started surveying young, fresh out of HS.
OMG. This is so frustrating. The application will not move forward because ALL the references have not responded. However, they will not respond because it was incorrect. And I cannot edit these for them to respond.
So literally, I’m stuck in a loop. I need to figure out a way to withdrawal my application and start fresh.
I should add that this is my fault for not being aware of the changes over the last 6 months. But still, seems like there should be an easier way to resolve this.
@lunarfaze I believe I provided you with my email previously in this topic thread. Feel free to reach out.
@ric-moore Thanks! I missed that one. I emailed you.
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