What are the benefits of joining the Maine Society of Land Surveyors?

Joining the Maine Society of Land Surveyors (MSLS) gives licensed surveyors and students a combination of professional development, advocacy, networking, and industry updates. According to msls.org, membership is aimed at people working to "enhance and protect" the surveying profession in Maine. The benefits below are the ones the organization itself lists.

Professional development and continuing education

MSLS positions itself as a resource for continuing education for licensed Maine professionals. Members gain access to:

• The Annual Conference — described as an education and trade highlight of the year.
• Other continuing education offerings throughout the year.
• Scholarship and education support — MSLS provides scholarships to students entering the profession and supports surveying educational programs at the University of Maine and Central Maine Community College.

If maintaining your license requires continuing education credits, the conference and other offerings are the most direct membership benefit.

Staying informed

Members receive:

• FieldNotes, the MSLS publication.
• Email updates that keep members current on society news and profession-related developments.

Advocacy and representation

MSLS monitors legislation and advocates for rules affecting professional practice in Maine. It also works to protect public interests. The society is represented by liaisons with other professional organizations and government entities, and it attends all Board of Licensure for Professional Land Surveyors meetings. Membership means your professional interests are represented even when you can't attend those meetings yourself.

Networking and community

Membership opens doors to professional and informal exchanges of ideas and discussion. The site notes that members are welcoming and eager to talk surveying — useful if you're new to the profession in Maine or looking to build local connections.

Access to members-only resources

The site includes a Members' Only Resources section that requires a username and password to enter. The specific contents aren't listed publicly, so treat this as gated content available after joining rather than a documented feature set.

Who should consider joining

What membership is not

MSLS is not a licensing body — it doesn't grant or renew your surveyor license. It also isn't a job board or a client-matching service for individual members; the public-facing "Find a Surveyor" directory connects the public to licensed professional members, which can raise your visibility but isn't framed as a member benefit in the site's own list.

For current dues, application steps, and the exact contents of the Members' Only Resources area, check msls.org directly or use the "Join Today" link, since those details aren't published on the homepage.