Engineers, surveyors must take ethics class The State Education Department recently made an addition to its continuing education requirements for those who are professional licensed engineers and land surveyors. One hour of professional ethics must be taken as either a course or educational activity every registration period. This requirement became effective for registration periods beginning August 1, 2011. “The State Education Department wasn’t proactive in getting the word out about this addition,” said PEF member Jeff Odrobina, a civil engineer 1 in Buffalo. “I found out about it through an email from the National Society of Professional Engineers.” The change in requirements affects licensed professional engineers who work at the state Department of Transportation, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and other agencies. “I think this is a good thing,” Odrobina added. “Engineers are held to a public standard. Continuing education in any form is a plus for the profession. The newer employees that come and work as professional engineers at state agencies are really up on the new stuff. We all need to keep current.” Continuing education and the ethics requirement applies to all licensed land surveyors, and to professional engineers who obtained a title requiring a license after January 1, 2004. Failure to complete a requirement can result in loss of licensure. For more information, visit www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/peceques.htm. — Deborah A. Miles

The Communicator Letters policy We welcome letters to the editor about union issues and events relevant to PEF's diverse membership. All letters are subject to editing for space, fairness and good taste. Please keep them brief (up to one page, double-spaced or a maximum of 250 words), and please include your name and phone number for verification. Send letters to thecommunicator@pef.org: The Communicator Public Employees Federation P.O. Box 12414 Albany, N.Y. 12212-2414 Email to Sherry Halbrook, Editor or Darcy Wells, Editor-In Chief