Page 11 - NYS_ESS_11-2021

professional there is the factor of licensure which is
So, What are Professional Standards?
So, What are Professional Standards? pr ofessional ther e is the factor of licensur e which is
governed and controlled commonly by a state’s board
go v erned and contr olled commonly b y a state ’ s boar d
P r ofessional standar ds ar e a set of practices, ethics, and
Professional standards are a set of practices, ethics, and
onting a
of education. The limits of the state in confr
behaviors that members of a par ticular pr ofessional gr oup of education. The limits of the state in confronting a
behaviors that members of a particular professional group
failure for its guidelines is a suspension or retraction of
ds
ar
standar
of
e
eed
to
agr
fr
equently
adher
to
e
must
must adhere to. These sets of standards are frequently agreed to failur e for its guidelines is a suspension or r etraction of
.
These
sets
one’s license to practice. This process is often difficult to
b y a go v erning body that r epr esents the inter ests of the gr oup . one ’ s license to practice. This pr ocess is often difficult to
by a governing body that represents the interests of the group.
pursue as codes of practice and guidelines tend to use the
pursue as codes of practice and guidelines tend to use the
Examples of traits and behaviors associated with professional
E xamples of traits and behaviors associated with pr ofessional word should rather than shall leaving the standards of
d should rather than shall leaving the standar
ds of
wor
standards include:
standar ds include: practice without any r eal punitiv e cr edibility .
practice without any real punitive credibility.
• • Accountability – takes responsibility for their actions Accountability – takes responsibility for their actions While some will say that simply r equiring cer tain wor k
While some will say that simply requiring certain work
y a licensed pr
ofessional, the
formed b
vices be per
and ser
Confidentiality – keeps all sensitiv
e information priv
ate

• • Confidentiality – keeps all sensitive information private and services be performed by a licensed professional, the
general public is protected and guaranteed quality of service,
e access to it
and away from those who should not have access to it general public is pr otected and guaranteed quality of ser vice,
and away fr
om those who should not hav
unfor
unfortunately this has proven not to always be the case.
en not to always be the case.
v
o
tunately this has pr
F
e

y duty – places the needs of clients befor
• • Fiduciary duty – places the needs of clients before Professional Standards have been legislated for many professions
iduciar
for
legislated
pr
ofessions
many
ofessional
been
hav
P
tandar
ds
e
r
S
their own
their o wn
in many states, making a clear and measurable improvement
in many states, making a clear and measurable impr o v ement

onesty – always being tr
• Honesty – always being truthful towards the goals of improving the accountability, consistency,
•
uthful
H
war
ving the accountability
ds the goals of impr
o
, consistency
,
to
transparency and the achievement of a higher level of work
ong moral principles
ntegrity – having str
•

I
• Integrity – having strong moral principles transpar ency and the achiev ement of a higher lev el of wor k
quality in these professions. Legislation of Professional
quality in these pr ofessions. Legislation of P r ofessional
• • Law-abiding – follows all governing laws in the Law-abiding – follows all governing laws in the S tandar ds giv es a set of S tandar ds str ength and makes the
Standards gives a set of Standards strength and makes the
form activities
jurisdictions they perform activities
jurisdictions they per
ds enfor
Standards enforceable. In turn, enforceable Professional
ceable P
ofessional
ceable. I
n turn, enfor
tandar
S
r
emain committed to their pr
yalty – r
Lo
ofession
• • Loyalty – remain committed to their profession S tandar ds giv e the general public the pr otection and rights
Standards give the general public the protection and rights
e.
v
they deser
• • Objectivity – not swayed or influenced by biases Objectivity – not swayed or influenced by biases they deserve.
elev

ranspar
ant information
T
• • Transparency – revealing all relevant information I n my next ar ticle, I will discuss the curr ent effor ts under way
ev
ealing all r
ency – r
In my next article, I will discuss the current efforts underway
and not concealing anything
and not concealing anything b y the N e w Y or k S tate Association of P r ofessional Land
by the New York State Association of Professional Land
S ur v ey ors (NYSAPLS) to mo v e a set of P r ofessional S tandar ds,
Surveyors (NYSAPLS) to move a set of Professional Standards,
Why are Professional Standards Important?
Why are Professional Standards Important? currently entitled the “Minimum Technical Standards for
curr
ently entitled the “M
tandar
ds for
echnical S
T
inimum
or
S)
Y
k
v
ur
” (MT
racticing Land S
tate of N
e
eying in the S
P
w
Professional Standards set clear and measurable goals while
P r ofessional S tandar ds set clear and measurable goals while Practicing Land Surveying in the State of New York” (MTS)
towards legislation. To view the current draft of the NYSAPLS
ofession.
ust and consistency for a pr
el of tr
instilling a high level of trust and consistency for a profession. to war ds legislation. T o vie w the curr ent draft of the NYSAPLS
instilling a high lev
– MTS and any current news regarding the NYSAPLS – MTS,
Professional Standards create a commonality and consistency
P r ofessional S tandar ds cr eate a commonality and consistency – MT S and any curr ent ne ws r egar ding the NYSAPLS – MT S,
please visit the NYSAPLS web page: https://www.nysapls.org/
ofessional
throughout a profession. But, most importantly Professional please visit the NYSAPLS w eb page: https://www .nysapls.org/
ut, most impor
r
oughout a pr
tantly P
thr
ofession. B
S-I
.
page/MT
nfo
Standards protect the welfare of the general public and elevate page/MTS-Info.
ds pr
S
elfar
otect the w
tandar
e of the general public and elev
ate
the general publics confidence in a pr ofession. Reference Sources:
the general publics confidence in a profession.
Refer
ces:
ence Sour
Who should create Professional Standards and how
Who should create Professional Standards and how • • “What does it mean to be a professional?” “What does it mean to be a professional?”
by Claude Balthazard, Ph.D., C.Psych., CHRL Huma
will they be enforced?
will they be enforced? b y Claude B althazar d, P h.D., C.P sy ch., CHRL H uma
Resources Professionals Association
R esour ces P r ofessionals Association
Well, now we get to the controversial part. While it is an
W ell, no w w e get to the contr o v ersial par t. While it is an
.etymonline.com
tymology D
y www

nline E
ictionar
O
y most that a set of P
agr
agreeable ideal by most that a set of Professional Standards is • • Online Etymology Dictionary www.etymonline.com
tandar
r
eeable ideal b
ofessional S
ds is
ds I
What and

Why ar
mpor
•
r
ofessional S
tant in
tandar
e P
ersial
v
that
become
contr
o
issues
a good thing, there are some issues that become controversial • What and Why are Professional Standards Important in
e ar
good
a
ther
e
thing,
some
Different Fields? byTasha Kolesnikova
about setting P
about setting Professional Standards. Differ ent F ields? b yT asha K olesniko v a
ofessional S
r
ds.
tandar
What will be in the Standards and who determines this? About the Author, Roy B. Garfinkel, LS
ds and who deter
What will be in the S
tandar

mines this?
, R
uthor
bout the A
y B. G
A
arfinkel, LS
o
The only answer to that can be, whatever is the best
The only answ er to that can be, whatev er is the best Roy B. Garfinkel, PLS is Branch Manager of BME
of
B. G
anch
BME
anager
B
PLS is
r
arfinkel,
M
y
o
R
general consensus of a representative body of the
general consensus of a r epr esentativ e body of the A ssociates G enev a office. R o y has wor ked as a Land
Associates Geneva office. Roy has worked as a Land
o
ur
v
in
er
e is
for
n NY
w
H
ester
a
y
or
ey
ears.
v
30
e will nev
er be
ofession and it
. As ther
pr
’
profession and it’s membership. As there will never be S Surveyor in western NY for over 30 years. He is a
s membership
for
ur
V
alley Land S
enesee
ey
v
mer P
esident of the G
ors
r
eement, the consensus of the majority will hav
total agr
e
total agreement, the consensus of the majority will have former President of the Genesee Valley Land Surveyors
A
ell as their for
ssociation, as w
ds
mer S
tandar
Association, as well as their former Standards
to be the determining factor
to be the determining factor. . Committee Chairman. Roy serves as NYSAPLS Vice
es as NYSAPLS
v
y ser
Committee Chair
o
V
ice
man. R
r
esident and is curr
ently the Chair of the NYSAPLS
President and is currently the Chair of the NYSAPLS
P
w will the S
tandar
ds be enfor
ced?
o
H
How will the Standards be enforced? ad-hoc Minimum Standards Committee and former member of the NYSAPLS
ad-hoc
ds
tandar
Committee
for
NYSAPLS
mer
S
inimum
M
of
the
member
and
ds themselv
Standards themselves are only words on paper, codes of E thical P r actices Committee. A s a Land S ur v ey or in N ew Y or k S tate, R o y feels
S
, codes of
ds on paper
es ar
tandar
e only wor
Ethical Practices Committee. As a Land Surveyor in New York State, Roy feels
e
practice and guidelines ar
practice and guidelines are only suggestions until there that he is par t of a historical and honor able pr ofession.
e only suggestions until ther
that he is part of a historical and honorable profession.
is a consequence for not adhering to them. As a licensed
is a consequence for not adhering to them. As a licensed
EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 6/ 2021 • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 9