Need for 2011 SMA and LSA/2009 BLM?

billy in slo · Post by **billy in slo** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:43 am

Regarding the State Specific PLS Test; Does anyone know if it is necessary to have the latest, greatest editions of these and the 09 BLM? I have always been told no "trick" questions and unless there has been a major change in policy I would hope the earlier editions should suffice.
Any insight?

pls7809 · Post by **pls7809** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 12:05 pm

Exams questions are being written beginning in August of the year before the exam. The revised Acts (SMA, PLS, etc) go into affect on January 1 of the year of the exam. They would not be able to ask questions of something that is not on the books before the test is written. I would think the 2010 laws are sufficient for the 2011 exam. 2009 laws may be sufficient as well.

I would be surprised if the 2009 manual was used for this year's exam since it was just published last year. But you can't hold me to that.

billy in slo · Post by **billy in slo** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:22 pm

10-4, That's kind of what I was thinking (and hoping) if only from a financial point of view.

E_Page · Post by **E_Page** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 1:23 pm

Ryan is correct, for the reason he states in that the laws pertaining to exam questions would be those of the year immediately preceeding the year of the exam.

For most procedures, there is no significant difference between the 1973 and 2009 Manuals, so it probably doesn't make a difference. But for the definitive word, contact Ric Moore at BPELS.

dmi · Post by **dmi** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:58 pm

The test is designed to test for the minimally competent candidate. So ask your self, if the minimally competent candidate ought to be familiar with the latest manual in order to be deemed minimally competent? My own personal take is that I would hate to miss out on passing the exam simply because I missed a few points that could be had for the price of a couple of hundred bucks.

There may or may not be questions on this year's exam that relate specificallty to the 2009 manual. I do not know and if I did I could not say.

I can say that if you have properly prepared for the exam, you will be equiped to answer PLSS questions and whether or not there are specific questions from the 2009 manual you will do well.

The comments by Evan and Ryan are spot on with respect to changes in the SMA and PLS act.

Work hard and study smartly and you will do well.