1.4 Principles of Professional Practice

The Registration Law does not contain any guidelines to professional practice. It only defines the condition of professional practice, namely, "responsible charge":
"Responsible charge" means a position that requires initiative, skill and independent judgment, and implies such degree of competence and accountability gained by technical education and experience of a grade and character as is sufficient to qualify an individual to personally and independently engage in and be entrusted with the work involved in the practice of … land surveying (p.3)
However, Articles of Incorporation of the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors state that:
"The corporation is to be formed for the purpose of promoting the interests of the land surveying profession in Pennsylvania and improving the professional status of Pennsylvania land surveyors by: (a) Encouraging maintenance of the highest standards of professional ethics and practice" …
Commentary: The ten precepts (1.3, a through j) can be interpreted as prohibiting excessive and deficient ways of engaging in the five common professional business practices: setting acceptable fees (a and f), advertising (b and g), competing for work (d and h), taking charge of the work (c and j), taking responsibility for completed work (e and i). Other interpretations of the code may be possible.