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Missouri Land Surveyor — Requirements & Free Practice

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Professional Land Surveyor

Individual professional license; inactive and retired classification, renewal, reactivation, expired-license restoration, and post-disciplinary relicensure remain routes of this same license. The former temporary-courtesy statute § 324.008 was repealed in 2020; its short official repeal text was confirmed.

Licensing authority: Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, Professional Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers · Application information

Licensure by comity under RSMo § 327.381
Education and experience
Unless waived, provide high-school/college transcripts, at least 15 surveying coursework hours, LSI enrollment, and verified experience meeting Rule 5.110.
Examination history
FS and PS remain involved whether passed before application or required to remedy an omitted examination under Rule 4.080(1).
Fee
Comity application fee $200; after approval, Missouri examination scheduling request includes $100.
Fs waiver
Rule 4.080(1)(A) excuses FS for an applicant actively practicing surveying for at least twenty years; this applicant-specific waiver is a condition of the comity route.
National waiver
Qualifying applicants meeting § 324.009 and Rule 4.080(4) receive education, experience and national-examination waivers; the separate statutory reciprocity route records that mandatory waiver.
Other license
Licensed as a professional land surveyor in another United States jurisdiction, Canadian province, or another country; qualifications at least equivalent to Missouri requirements under § 327.381.
Record
A Model Law Surveyor may use an NCEES Council Record. Other comity applicants supply original-license and examination verifications and a full chronological experience record.
State exam
Pass both parts of the Missouri Specific Examination unless the statutory spouse waiver applies.
Licensure by examination — baccalaureate curriculum
Application approval
Board approval is required before scheduling the Missouri examination.
Application fee
The Board examination application specifies $100 and a check or money order drawn on a United States bank.
Education
High-school graduation or GED and a baccalaureate degree in the Board-approved curriculum, including at least 15 semester hours of approved surveying coursework and 6 in legal aspects of boundary surveying.
Experience
At least four years satisfactory supervised field and office surveying experience.
Good character
Submit the signed oath/affirmation application, fee, education transcripts, and verified professional experience; disclose charges and discipline. RSMo § 327.321 and the Board examination application.
Intern enrollment
Be enrolled as a land surveyor-intern, including successful FS passage.
Military experience
Up to 12 months military land-surveying experience may receive credit even without licensed-surveyor supervision under Rule 5.110(3).
Supervised experience
Experience must be under immediate personal supervision of a professional land surveyor. Board Rule 20 CSR 2030-5.110 requires at least 24 months field and 16 months office experience; construction/design experience receives at most 8 months credit.
Verification
Submit original official transcripts and supervising-surveyor verification of each engagement. Existing Missouri LSI applicants enrolled before January 1, 2024 report experience since enrollment; later enrollees report all surveying experience.
Licensure by examination — fifteen surveying credits
Application approval
Board approval is required before scheduling the Missouri examination.
Application fee
The Board examination application specifies $100 and a check or money order drawn on a United States bank.
Education
High-school graduation or GED and at least 15 approved surveying semester hours, including 6 in legal aspects of land surveying.
Experience
At least six years satisfactory supervised field and office surveying experience; up to one year of Board-approved postsecondary education may count as equivalent work experience.
Good character
Submit the signed oath/affirmation application, fee, education transcripts, and verified professional experience; disclose charges and discipline. RSMo § 327.321 and the Board examination application.
Intern enrollment
Be enrolled as a land surveyor-intern, including successful FS passage.
Military experience
Up to 12 months military land-surveying experience may receive credit even without licensed-surveyor supervision under Rule 5.110(3).
Supervised experience
Experience must be under immediate personal supervision of a professional land surveyor. Board Rule 20 CSR 2030-5.110 requires at least 24 months field and 16 months office experience; construction/design experience receives at most 8 months credit.
Verification
Submit original official transcripts and supervising-surveyor verification of each engagement. Existing Missouri LSI applicants enrolled before January 1, 2024 report experience since enrollment; later enrollees report all surveying experience.
Licensure by examination — enrollment before January 1, 2024
Application approval
Board approval is required before scheduling the Missouri examination.
Application fee
The Board examination application specifies $100 and a check or money order drawn on a United States bank.
Education
Enrolled as a land surveyor-in-training or intern before January 1, 2024; meet education requirements in force at enrollment under § 327.314(2)(3).
Experience
At least four years satisfactory supervised professional field and office surveying experience from enrollment under § 327.314(1) and Rule 5.110(2)(C).
Good character
Submit the signed oath/affirmation application, fee, education transcripts, and verified professional experience; disclose charges and discipline. RSMo § 327.321 and the Board examination application.
Intern enrollment
Be enrolled as a land surveyor-intern, including successful FS passage.
Military experience
Up to 12 months military land-surveying experience may receive credit even without licensed-surveyor supervision under Rule 5.110(3).
Supervised experience
Experience must be under immediate personal supervision of a professional land surveyor. Board Rule 20 CSR 2030-5.110 requires at least 24 months field and 16 months office experience; construction/design experience receives at most 8 months credit.
Verification
Submit original official transcripts and supervising-surveyor verification of each engagement. Existing Missouri LSI applicants enrolled before January 1, 2024 report experience since enrollment; later enrollees report all surveying experience.
Licensure by examination — sixty college credits
Application approval
Board approval is required before scheduling the Missouri examination.
Application fee
The Board examination application specifies $100 and a check or money order drawn on a United States bank.
Education
High-school graduation or GED and at least 60 college credit hours, including at least 15 approved surveying semester hours and 6 in legal aspects of boundary surveying.
Experience
At least five years satisfactory supervised field and office surveying experience.
Good character
Submit the signed oath/affirmation application, fee, education transcripts, and verified professional experience; disclose charges and discipline. RSMo § 327.321 and the Board examination application.
Intern enrollment
Be enrolled as a land surveyor-intern, including successful FS passage.
Military experience
Up to 12 months military land-surveying experience may receive credit even without licensed-surveyor supervision under Rule 5.110(3).
Supervised experience
Experience must be under immediate personal supervision of a professional land surveyor. Board Rule 20 CSR 2030-5.110 requires at least 24 months field and 16 months office experience; construction/design experience receives at most 8 months credit.
Verification
Submit original official transcripts and supervising-surveyor verification of each engagement. Existing Missouri LSI applicants enrolled before January 1, 2024 report experience since enrollment; later enrollees report all surveying experience.
Relicensure of expired license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board form exam demand
The September 2025 PLS relicensure form says: "Pursuant to Board Rule 20 CSR 2030-5.160, Applicants shall submit proof of receiving a passing score of 80% on the required State Exam covering Chapter 327, RSMo, the Board Rules and Ethics." It links to https://pr.mo.gov/apelsla-exam.asp. Rule 5.160(1)–(2) defines that examination for architecture, engineering and landscape architecture; Rule 11.020 and § 327.351 define PLS renewal/restoration. Under the contract source-ranking and other-profession-examination rules, this inconsistent implementing-form demand is retained as a condition rather than an examination leaf.
Experience
Report the most recent four years experience; if expired five years or longer, have it verified by a supervising licensed surveyor, supervisor or client.
Expired license
Existing expired Missouri PLS license; § 327.351(1) permits renewal, reregistration or relicensure under the original number within three months or at Board discretion.
Fee
September 2025 Board relicensure form specifies $200.
Professional development
Submit required PDUs from the preceding two years and supporting documents; military-service exceptions require supporting orders/discharge papers.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Inactive or retired classification
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Eligibility
Request classification before license termination; Rule 11.020 covers licensees retired from or not engaged in active surveying practice.
Maintenance
Pay the Board-determined inactive maintenance fee; inactive status exempts professional development.
Practice
No professional surveying practice in Missouri while inactive; the professional title and initials PLS may be retained.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Maintenance of inactive license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Fee
Maintain the inactive license by paying the Board-determined fee under § 327.351(5).
License
Existing inactive professional land-surveyor license.
Practice
Inactive status does not authorize surveying practice.
Professional development
Inactive licensees are not required to complete the active-license professional development requirement.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

New licensure by comity after revocation or surrender
Missouri Specific Examination
Eligibility
Eligible for comity under § 327.381; Rule 4.100(3)(A) permits filing for a new license without national examination.
Out of jurisdiction discipline
If the Missouri action was based on discipline elsewhere, Rule 4.100(5) requires that license to be reinstated, reissued or otherwise active in good standing, including possible probation, and preceding two-year professional development.
Prior discipline
Previous Missouri license revoked or voluntarily surrendered.
Professional development
Show completion of the profession’s required PDUs in the two years preceding application.
Rehabilitation
The Board may require personal appearance, proof of rehabilitation, acknowledgment of misconduct, prevention/remediation steps, and may deny or impose probation under Rule 4.100(6)–(8).
State exam
Rule 4.100(3)(C) retains the Missouri-specific examination required for this profession.
Waiting period
At least five years since the revocation order or surrender affidavit.
New licensure by examination after revocation or surrender
New applicant requirements
Meet the examination-route education, supervised-experience, enrollment and application requirements of a new PLS applicant.
Out of jurisdiction discipline
If the Missouri action was based on discipline elsewhere, Rule 4.100(5) requires that license to be reinstated, reissued or otherwise active in good standing, including possible probation, and preceding two-year professional development.
Prior discipline
Previous Missouri license revoked or voluntarily surrendered.
Rehabilitation
The Board may require personal appearance, proof of rehabilitation, acknowledgment of misconduct, prevention/remediation steps, and may deny or impose probation under Rule 4.100(6)–(8).
Waiting period
At least two years since the revocation order or voluntary-surrender affidavit.
New licensure by statutory reciprocity after revocation or surrender
Missouri Specific Examination
Out of jurisdiction discipline
If the Missouri action was based on discipline elsewhere, Rule 4.100(5) requires that license to be reinstated, reissued or otherwise active in good standing, including possible probation, and preceding two-year professional development.
Prior discipline
Previous Missouri license revoked or voluntarily surrendered.
Professional development
Show required preceding two-year PDUs unless waived by the Board under § 324.009(3)–(4).
Reciprocity eligibility
Meet § 324.009 reciprocity qualifications; unresolved discipline may prevent waiver.
Rehabilitation
The Board may require personal appearance, proof of rehabilitation, acknowledgment of misconduct, prevention/remediation steps, and may deny or impose probation under Rule 4.100(6)–(8).
State exam
Rule 4.100(4)(C) retains the profession’s Missouri-specific examination unless the current spouse statutory exemption applies.
Waiting period
At least five years since the revocation order or surrender affidavit.
New licensure by spouse reciprocity after revocation or surrender
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board discretion
The Board retains denial and probation discretion for prior misconduct; statutory spouse status does not remove those restrictions.
Compact
§ 324.009(11): no eligibility based on a license obtained through an interstate compact.
Current license
A valid current license at the same practice level from another qualifying jurisdiction, held at least one year; submit proof. § 324.009(2).
Fees
Statutory waiver does not waive application fees, bonds, or insurance.
Good standing
Meet § 324.009(4): no disqualifying revocation, unresolved investigation, complaint, discipline, or criminal history; valid current license in good standing.
Mandatory waiver
§ 324.009(3)(2) requires issuance within thirty days and waiver of examination, education and experience requirements for qualifying spouses.
Out of jurisdiction discipline
If the Missouri action was based on discipline elsewhere, Rule 4.100(5) requires that license to be reinstated, reissued or otherwise active in good standing, including possible probation, and preceding two-year professional development.
Prior discipline
Previous Missouri license revoked or voluntarily surrendered.
Professional development
Required preceding two-year PDUs unless waived under § 324.009(3)–(4).
Rehabilitation
The Board may require personal appearance, proof of rehabilitation, acknowledgment of misconduct, prevention/remediation steps, and may deny or impose probation under Rule 4.100(6)–(8).
Spouse
Qualify as a resident or nonresident military or law-enforcement spouse under § 324.009(1). The current 2026 statute expressly includes law-enforcement spouses.
Waiting period
At least five years since the revocation order or surrender affidavit; meet Rule 4.100(4) and the current spouse statutory waiver.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation of inactive license
Missouri Specific Examination
Current form
The September 2025 Board form instructs submission of 20 PDUs within the previous two years, with supporting documents and a $100 fee; military-service exceptions require orders/discharge papers.
Five years without license
Under § 327.351(7), if no current license in any state was maintained in the preceding five years, the Board may require an examination it deems necessary to establish current proficiency. This unnamed slot is a condition.
Inactive license
Existing inactive license; notify the Board before resuming practice and pay the required reactivation fee.
Proficiency alternative
Rule 11.020(3) allows proficiency by completing Rule 8.020 PDUs OR successfully completing the Missouri Specific Examination. The PDU alternative is an applicant condition; it is not an examination leaf.
Licensure by reciprocity under RSMo § 324.009
Missouri Specific Examination
Application
Typewritten application with affidavit, proof of lawful presence, license and disciplinary disclosures, photograph and $200 fee; both parts of the Missouri exam must be passed after approval.
Compact
Licensure through an interstate compact is ineligible under § 324.009(11).
Current license
Valid current professional land-surveyor license at the same practice level held at least one year in another qualifying jurisdiction; submit verification.
Good standing
No disqualifying revocation, unresolved discipline, investigation, pending complaint, or criminal record; license remains current and in good standing when the application is received.
Minimum requirements
The originating jurisdiction had minimum education and applicable experience/supervision requirements and verifies they were met.
National waiver
§ 324.009(3)(1) requires waiver of national examination, education and experience requirements for qualifying applicants; the Board retains the Missouri laws-specific examination.
Renewal of active license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Completed Board renewal application and required fee; no renewal fee for a professional land surveyor over age 75 under § 327.351(2).
Exceptions
Good cause permits completion of outstanding PDUs; a license held less than twelve months is exempt at first renewal; full-time honorable active-duty military service exempts PDUs for the service period.
Period
Biennial renewal; odd-year initial licenses renew December 31 in odd years, even-year licenses in even years under Rule 11.010.
Professional development
20 PDUs during the preceding two calendar years, including at least 2 in surveying standards under Rule 8.020; up to 10 excess PDUs may carry forward.
Records
Report professional development activities and retain supporting records four years.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reciprocity — qualifying military or law enforcement spouse
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Compact
§ 324.009(11): no eligibility based on a license obtained through an interstate compact.
Current license
A valid current license at the same practice level from another qualifying jurisdiction, held at least one year; submit proof. § 324.009(2).
Fees
Statutory waiver does not waive application fees, bonds, or insurance.
Good standing
Meet § 324.009(4): no disqualifying revocation, unresolved investigation, complaint, discipline, or criminal history; valid current license in good standing.
Mandatory waiver
§ 324.009(3)(2) requires issuance within thirty days and waiver of examination, education and experience requirements for qualifying spouses.
Spouse
Qualify as a resident or nonresident military or law-enforcement spouse under § 324.009(1). The current 2026 statute expressly includes law-enforcement spouses.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Missouri Specific Examination

Provider
Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors, Professional Landscape Architects, and Licensed Interior Designers
Format
Two-part open-book written examination. Part I has multiple-choice questions and a boundary-description writing exercise; Part II has multiple-choice questions and mathematical problems. Each part must be passed.
Time limit
Part I: 1 hour 15 minutes; Part II: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Passing score
At least 70% on the applicable examination under RSMo § 327.331. Both parts must be passed.
Examination outline
  • Part I — General
    • Missouri Standards for Property Boundary Surveys; from a plat, write a boundary description — 40.5% of Part I; boundary-description exercise about one-fourth of Standards points, about 9% of the total exam
    • Statutes and Rules of the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Professional Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects, and Missouri Statutes applicable to surveying — 33.5% of Part I
    • Missouri State Plane Coordinate System — 13.7% of Part I
    • Missouri Riparian Boundaries — 12.3% of Part I
  • Part II — US Public Land Survey System (USPLSS)
    • Original GLO procedures, the GLO System as applied to Missouri, GLO Section protraction — 32.7% of Part II
    • Numerical calculator problems applied to USPLSS for MO; the application of Chapter 60 RSMo — 35.6% of Part II
    • Resurveys on the US Public Land Survey System as applied in Missouri — 31.7% of Part II
Examination sources

Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam

Provider
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); administered year-round in testing windows at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers
Format
Computer-based test, closed book with an electronic reference (NCEES FS Reference Handbook and the specified standards); includes alternative item types (AITs) in addition to traditional multiple-choice questions; uses both SI and U.S. Customary units
Exam questions
110 questions
Time limit
6-hour appointment: nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), tutorial (8 minutes), exam (5 hours and 20 minutes), scheduled break (25 minutes)
Passing score
Results reported as pass or fail; failing examinees receive a diagnostic report by major topic
Exam fee
$225 exam fee payable directly to NCEES
Examination outline
  • 1. Surveying Processes and Methods (16–24 of 110 questions)
    • A. Instrumentation (e.g., GNSS/GPS, levels, total stations, robotic total stations, scanners, UAS)
    • B. GNSS/GPS surveys (e.g., static, kinematic, OPUS, real-time networks)
    • C. Control surveys (e.g., horizontal, vertical, network design, accuracy standards)
    • D. Cadastral (e.g., Public Land Survey System [PLSS], boundary, metes and bounds, land title)
    • E. Topographic surveys
    • F. Construction surveys (e.g., layout, as-built, quantity)
    • G. Land development (e.g., subdivision design/platting, land use, environmental, flood plains, wetlands)
    • H. Field record keeping and documentation (e.g., procedures, field books, raw data files)
  • 2. Mapping Processes and Methods (14–21 of 110 questions)
    • A. Basic mapping concepts (e.g., scaling, symbols, features, legend, contours, cartography)
    • B. Types of maps (e.g., plan and profile, cross section, plat, record of survey, ALTA, topographic, planimetric)
    • C. CAD (e.g., 2-D, 3-D, building information modeling [BIM])
    • D. GIS (e.g., feature collection, map projections, coordinate systems, metadata, database design and management, spatial data analysis, GIS applications)
    • E. Digital terrain model (e.g., machine control, triangulated irregular network [TIN], digital surface model, digital elevation model)
    • F. Photogrammetry and remote sensing (e.g., close range, conventional, softcopy, ground control, quality control, flight planning, project planning, UAS, drone, LiDAR, satellite, digital image analysis and processing)
  • 3. Boundary Law and Real Property Principles (19–29 of 110 questions)
    • A. Public records and descriptions (e.g., land descriptions, mineral rights, ownership rights, weighting evidence)
    • B. Common law principles (e.g., controlling elements, unwritten rights, adverse possession)
    • C. Easements (e.g., granted, implied/prescriptive)
    • D. Simultaneous and sequential conveyances
    • E. Metes and bounds
    • F. PLSS
    • G. Water law (e.g., riparian, littoral rights, water marks/levels)
    • H. Sources of law (e.g., federal/state/local, administrative, common, citations, legal research)
    • I. Encumbrances (e.g., restrictive covenants, mortgages, liens)
    • J. Real property law (e.g., deeds, chains of title)
  • 4. Surveying Principles (13–20 of 110 questions)
    • A. Basic surveying (e.g., horizontal surveys, vertical surveys, understanding of historical methods and instruments, route surveying, magnetic declination)
    • B. Geodesy (e.g., spherical trigonometry, geometric, physical, geodetic coordinates, orthometric corrections, convergence, geodetic reductions, gravity modeling, geoid modeling)
    • C. Applied geodesy (e.g., datums and datum conversions, latitude/longitude, coordinate transformations, state plane coordinate system [SPCS], map projections, control networks, reduction of observations, deflection of vertical, satellite coordinate systems)
  • 5. Survey Computations and Computer Applications (17–26 of 110 questions)
    • A. Coordinate geometry
    • B. Traverse closure and adjustments
    • C. Leveling (e.g., differential, trigonometric, reciprocal, precise)
    • D. Least squares adjustments
    • E. Area
    • F. Horizontal curves
    • G. Vertical curves
    • H. Volume (e.g., mass diagrams, earthwork)
    • I. Spreadsheets
    • J. Slopes and grades
  • 6. Business Concepts (11–17 of 110 questions)
    • A. Project planning (e.g., resource management, scheduling, cost estimation, tracking)
    • B. Safety (e.g., signage, basic first aid, safety equipment)
    • C. Liabilities (e.g., negligence, employee behavior, errors and omissions)
    • D. Contracts (e.g., basic elements, scope of work, specifications)
    • E. Supervision (e.g., survey team leadership, personnel management)
    • F. Project documentation and record management
    • G. Ethics
    • H. Communication (e.g., written communication, oral communication, alternate forms of communication, conflict resolution)
  • 7. Applied Mathematics and Statistics (10–15 of 110 questions)
    • A. College mathematics (e.g., trigonometry, analytical geometry and calculus, linear algebra and matrix theory)
    • B. Probability and statistics (e.g., mean, median, mode, hypothesis testing, normal distribution, linear regression)
    • C. Measurement science (e.g., error analysis, error propagation, positional tolerance, positional accuracy, random/systematic/blunder errors, unit conversions)
    • D. Quantitative reasoning (e.g., critical thinking, data analysis and validation, blunder detection, data quality, redundancy)
Examination sources

Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam

Provider
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); administered year-round via computer-based testing at approved Pearson test centers
Format
Computer-based, closed book with an electronic reference (NCEES PS Reference Handbook and the specified standards); U.S. Customary units; questions require a variety of approaches and methodologies, including design, analysis, and application
Exam questions
100 questions
Time limit
7 hours, including a tutorial and an optional scheduled break
Passing score
Results reported as pass or fail; failing examinees receive a diagnostic report by major topic
Exam fee
$375 exam fee payable directly to NCEES
Examination outline
  • 1. Legal Principles (18–27 of 100 questions)
    • A. Principles of Evidence — 1. How to search for data and for physical evidence to evaluate data; 2. How to evaluate data; 3. Parol evidence; 4. Prescriptive rights; 5. Adverse possession; 6. Acquiescence; 7. Controlling elements; 8. Easement rights
    • B. Common Law Boundary Principles — 1. Historical and current common law principles; 2. Riparian and littoral rights; 3. Sovereign rights, including both navigable waters and eminent domain; 4. Sovereign land grants
    • C. Sequential and Simultaneous Conveyance Concepts — 1. Types of conveyances; 2. Junior/senior rights; 3. Record and physical evidence
    • D. Legal Descriptions for Real Property Transactions — 1. Preparation and interpretation of legal descriptions; 2. Controlling elements and how they impact the description; 3. Unwritten rights and how they impact the description; 4. Encumbrances and how they impact the description; 5. Easements and how they impact the description
    • E. Evidence for the Perpetuation of the U.S. PLSS
  • 2. Professional Survey Practices (22–33 of 100 questions)
    • A. Public/Private Record Sources — 1. Resources for private and public records; 2. Local public records indexing and filing system; 3. Local survey office records
    • B. Documentation, Supervision, and Clear Communication of Field Procedures — 1. Field surveying techniques; 2. Field surveying practices; 3. Data collection protocols
    • C. GPS/GNSS including satellite constellations, static GPS, RTK, PPP, and virtual networks
    • D. Surveying Principles and Computations — 1. Technical computations; 2. Applicable software
    • E. Monumentation Standards — 1. Applicable monumentation criteria; 2. Monument types
    • F. Land Development Solutions — 1. Regulatory land development criteria; 2. Construction criteria; 3. Land development implementation procedures
    • G. Survey Maps/Plats/Reports — 1. Technical communications by schematic, platting, and mapping processes and procedures; 2. Communication options
    • H. GIS — 1. GIS spatial databases and metadata; 2. Datums and projections related to GIS
  • 3. Standards and Specifications (8–12 of 100 questions)
    • A. BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions
    • B. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards — 1. Current ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards; 2. State statutes regarding boundary surveys in conjunction with ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
    • C. FEMA Requirements — 1. FEMA specifications and instructions; 2. Horizontal and vertical datums related to FEMA flood zones; 3. Current FEMA elevation certificate; 4. FEMA Flood Insurance Study
  • 4. Business Practices (13–19 of 100 questions)
    • A. General Business Practices and Procedures — 1. Project planning and project management; 2. Deliverables; 3. Costs, budgets, and contracts; 4. Types of surveys; 5. Site features and conditions; 6. Scope of services; 7. Appropriate equipment and instruments
    • B. Risk Management Procedures — 1. Safety procedures; 2. QA/QC methods; 3. Risk management in contracts; 4. Insurance needs and requirements; 5. Potential liabilities
    • C. Professional Conduct
    • D. Communication with Clients, Staff, Related Professions, and the Public — 1. Different forms of communications; 2. Appropriate type of communication to convey concepts; 3. Related professions and their impact on client needs and deliverables
  • 5. Areas of Practice (24–36 of 100 questions)
    • A. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys — 1. Legal documents, such as deeds, easements, and agreements; 2. Zoning information as applied to ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys; 3. Title insurance commitment letters and policies; 4. Underground features as applied to ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
    • B. Control Networks and Geodetic Network Surveys — 1. Datums and reference frames relative to control networks; 2. Differences between local datums and geodetic datums; 3. Equipment appropriate for control surveys; 4. The Federal Geographic Data Committee Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards; 5. The National Geospatial Programs (NGP) Standards and Specifications—Digital Data Standards
    • C. Construction Surveys — 1. Construction plan reading; 2. Construction calculations including slopes, grades, and plan details; 3. Construction techniques and activities; 4. Horizontal and vertical positioning relative to a plan or datum
    • D. Boundary Surveys — 1. Physical boundary evidence; 2. Boundary reconciliations; 3. Historical measurement accuracy, equipment, and techniques; 4. Legal principles related to boundary surveys
    • E. Route Surveys for Alignments and Utilities — 1. Route alignment stationing practices; 2. Reading and interpreting roadway and utility plans
    • F. Topographic — 1. Topographic/planimetric mapping and control standards; 2. Interpretation, reconciliation, and adjustment of topographic survey data; 3. QA/QC procedures as applied to topographic surveys; 4. Ground, hydrographic, and remote sensing equipment; 5. The U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards as applied to topographic surveys; 6. Tools and techniques required to perform hydrographic, bathymetric, and remote sensing surveys; 7. Nomenclature related to utilities
    • G. Surveys to Establish New Parcels, Lots, or Units — 1. Types of subdivisions; 2. Platting; 3. Condominiums and associations; 4. Deed restrictions and restrictive covenants; 5. Zoning and subdivision ordinances
    • H. As-Built/Record Drawing Surveys — 1. As-built/record drawing calculations including slopes, grades, and plan details; 2. As-built/record drawing techniques and activities; 3. Horizontal and vertical as-built/record drawing positions relative to a plan or datum
    • I. Consultation Services — 1. Site topography and slope for development purposes; 2. Site access for development purposes; 3. Zoning standards related to new projects; 4. Floodplains as related to land development
Examination sources