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South Dakota Land Surveyor — Requirements & Free Practice

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Land Surveying Intern

Intern enrollment; it does not authorize practice as a licensed land surveyor.

Licensing authority: South Dakota Board of Technical Professions · Application information

Enrollment after the Fundamentals of Surveying examination
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Certificate
The Board issues an intern certificate after passing FS; the official FAQ states that it does not expire.
Education
Meet SDCL 36-18A-28 and the student or graduate eligibility criteria of ARSD 20:38:32:04, including at least eighteen semester credit hours completed or currently enrolled in surveying courses.
Practice Restriction
Intern enrollment does not authorize surveying practice or use of the professional land-surveyor title.

Land Surveyor

Individual license to practice land surveying in South Dakota.

Licensing authority: South Dakota Board of Technical Professions · Application information

Licensure by comity / reciprocity

All of the following:

Additional Examination
SDCL 36-18A-35 requires any examinations the Board considers necessary to determine competency, without identifying an additional currently offered examination by name.
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Education And Experience
Meet the applicable comity education and experience standards; the Board may consider qualifying experience after initial licensure (SDCL 36-18A-35; ARSD 20:38:34:02–03).
Existing License
Hold a current valid active-practice license from another United States jurisdiction or foreign country, based on standards not lower than South Dakota’s applicable standards at initial issuance (SDCL 36-18A-35).
Non Mentored Experience
The Board may credit non-mentored experience after at least ten years of licensure elsewhere if the applicant is currently in good standing with no pending investigations (ARSD 20:38:34:03).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
State Examinations
Pass the electronic South Dakota licensure-laws examination and the two-hour open-book electronic surveying-practice-and-laws examination (ARSD 20:38:34:04).
Verification
Provide verification of licensure, or continuous licensure elsewhere if the original jurisdiction is not current and exam verification cannot be obtained; a verified NCEES professional record may evidence comity qualifications (ARSD 20:38:34:01).
Licensure by examination — A bachelor’s degree in a non related program, or an associate’s technical degree in surveying or a related technical program
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Board Discretion
The Board can request an oral interview about experience under SDCL 36-18A-32 and other competency examinations under SDCL 36-18A-33; an unnamed discretionary examination slot is an applicant condition.
Degree
A bachelor’s degree in a non-related program, or an associate’s technical degree in surveying or a related technical program (ARSD 20:38:30:03(3)).
Experience
Seven years, at least three after earning the degree and at least two after enrollment as a surveying intern (ARSD 20:38:31:04(2)).
Experience Supervision
Experience must be under the direct supervision of an actively practicing licensed professional land surveyor and include the work specified in ARSD 20:38:31:04.01; intermittent work is credited proportionately, engineering-project surveying can count up to one-third of required experience, and teaching can count up to one year.
Foreign Education And English
For a foreign education program, at least two qualifying years of experience must be on projects located in the United States; the applicant must be proficient in English (ARSD 20:38:31:01).
Fs Eligibility
Current students and graduates of qualifying programs may register for FS with NCEES after completing or enrolling in at least 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Ps Eligibility
Pass FS and satisfy the surveying education requirement before registering for PS with NCEES (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
Retakes
After three FS or PS failures, submit at most one new admission application per calendar year; the Board may require additional education or experience (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
State Exam Deadline
Complete the two-hour open-book electronic surveying examination within thirty calendar days of submission of the licensure application (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Surveying Education
Complete at least 24 unique semester credit hours of surveying education, including basic principles, advanced applications, original public land survey system, and boundary surveying; one semester credit hour equals one and one-half quarter credit hours (ARSD 20:38:30:03).
Licensure by examination — A bachelor’s degree in a related technical program including mathematics, physical science, and the required surveying education
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Board Discretion
The Board can request an oral interview about experience under SDCL 36-18A-32 and other competency examinations under SDCL 36-18A-33; an unnamed discretionary examination slot is an applicant condition.
Degree
A bachelor’s degree in a related technical program including mathematics, physical science, and the required surveying education (ARSD 20:38:30:03(2)).
Experience
Four years, at least two after earning the degree and at least two after enrollment as a surveying intern (ARSD 20:38:31:04(1)).
Experience Supervision
Experience must be under the direct supervision of an actively practicing licensed professional land surveyor and include the work specified in ARSD 20:38:31:04.01; intermittent work is credited proportionately, engineering-project surveying can count up to one-third of required experience, and teaching can count up to one year.
Foreign Education And English
For a foreign education program, at least two qualifying years of experience must be on projects located in the United States; the applicant must be proficient in English (ARSD 20:38:31:01).
Fs Eligibility
Current students and graduates of qualifying programs may register for FS with NCEES after completing or enrolling in at least 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Ps Eligibility
Pass FS and satisfy the surveying education requirement before registering for PS with NCEES (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
Retakes
After three FS or PS failures, submit at most one new admission application per calendar year; the Board may require additional education or experience (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
State Exam Deadline
Complete the two-hour open-book electronic surveying examination within thirty calendar days of submission of the licensure application (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Surveying Education
Complete at least 24 unique semester credit hours of surveying education, including basic principles, advanced applications, original public land survey system, and boundary surveying; one semester credit hour equals one and one-half quarter credit hours (ARSD 20:38:30:03).
Licensure by examination — A bachelor’s surveying degree accredited by EAC, ANSAC, or ETAC of ABET, or other education assessed by the Board as equivalent
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Board Discretion
The Board can request an oral interview about experience under SDCL 36-18A-32 and other competency examinations under SDCL 36-18A-33; an unnamed discretionary examination slot is an applicant condition.
Degree
A bachelor’s surveying degree accredited by EAC, ANSAC, or ETAC of ABET, or other education assessed by the Board as equivalent (ARSD 20:38:30:03(1)).
Experience
Four years, at least two after earning the degree and at least two after enrollment as a surveying intern (ARSD 20:38:31:04(1)).
Experience Supervision
Experience must be under the direct supervision of an actively practicing licensed professional land surveyor and include the work specified in ARSD 20:38:31:04.01; intermittent work is credited proportionately, engineering-project surveying can count up to one-third of required experience, and teaching can count up to one year.
Foreign Education And English
For a foreign education program, at least two qualifying years of experience must be on projects located in the United States; the applicant must be proficient in English (ARSD 20:38:31:01).
Fs Eligibility
Current students and graduates of qualifying programs may register for FS with NCEES after completing or enrolling in at least 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Ps Eligibility
Pass FS and satisfy the surveying education requirement before registering for PS with NCEES (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
Retakes
After three FS or PS failures, submit at most one new admission application per calendar year; the Board may require additional education or experience (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
State Exam Deadline
Complete the two-hour open-book electronic surveying examination within thirty calendar days of submission of the licensure application (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Surveying Education
Complete at least 24 unique semester credit hours of surveying education, including basic principles, advanced applications, original public land survey system, and boundary surveying; one semester credit hour equals one and one-half quarter credit hours (ARSD 20:38:30:03).
Expedited licensure for active duty military personnel or spouses
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application And Discipline
Submit the completed application and required documentation; mandatory issuance is within thirty days unless the Board finds an act constituting disciplinary grounds (SDCL 36-1B-1).
Existing License
Hold in good standing the same or a similar valid license from another state or the District of Columbia.
Fees
No licensing-body application or issuance fees may be charged (SDCL 36-1B-4).
General Board Exam Statement
The general Board rule ARSD 20:38:32:01 states: 20:38:32:01 . Examination required. A n applicant for admission to examination shall pay the required examination fee to the appropriate organization or vendor prior to admission to the examination. An e xamination vendor may be used to administer an examination. The p olicies and procedures of the examination vendor must be followed in accordance with the vendor's agreement with the board. Examination results must be reported as either pass or fail, treated as confidential , and transmitted electronically to the examinee using a method determined by the board office . Cheating or other violation of examination security provisions will result in automatic failure of the examination. No person may review any portion of any examination. An applicant must pass a n examination on South Dakota licensure laws prior to licensure. The examination must be administered using an electronic format. An examinee seeking an accommodation for a disability shall make a request of the examination vendor with sufficient notice to enable arrangements for the accommodation. The statutory notwithstanding clause and specific issuance conditions in SDCL 36-1B-1 govern this route.
Transfer
Be an active-duty United States armed-forces member or spouse who is the subject of a military transfer to South Dakota.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal of an expedited military license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Maintenance
Meet the applicable South Dakota maintenance requirements, including timely biennial renewal and applicable professional-development requirements (SDCL 36-1B-2.1(3); SDCL 36-18A-39).
Military And Home License
The military transfer status and good-standing home-jurisdiction license must continue; active duty must not terminate (SDCL 36-1B-2.1).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Restoration after military service
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Deadline
Apply within six months of separation from service.
Prior Status
A qualifying veteran under SDCL 33A-2-1 was lawfully engaged in surveying and licensed in good standing in South Dakota at induction, enlistment, or engagement in the armed forces.
Restored Status
Restore the status held when entering military service, notwithstanding contrary requirements, without examinations or proof of compliance and without fees other than those current in the application year (SDCL 36-1-1).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

New comity route application after more than three years expired

All of the following:

Additional Examination
SDCL 36-18A-35 requires any examinations the Board considers necessary to determine competency, without identifying an additional currently offered examination by name.
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Education And Experience
Meet the applicable comity education and experience standards; the Board may consider qualifying experience after initial licensure (SDCL 36-18A-35; ARSD 20:38:34:02–03).
Existing License
Hold a current valid active-practice license from another United States jurisdiction or foreign country, based on standards not lower than South Dakota’s applicable standards at initial issuance (SDCL 36-18A-35).
Non Mentored Experience
The Board may credit non-mentored experience after at least ten years of licensure elsewhere if the applicant is currently in good standing with no pending investigations (ARSD 20:38:34:03).
Prior Expiration
After more than three years expired, submit a new application, qualify under comity, and retain the original South Dakota license number (SDCL 36-18A-42).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
State Examinations
Pass the electronic South Dakota licensure-laws examination and the two-hour open-book electronic surveying-practice-and-laws examination (ARSD 20:38:34:04).
Verification
Provide verification of licensure, or continuous licensure elsewhere if the original jurisdiction is not current and exam verification cannot be obtained; a verified NCEES professional record may evidence comity qualifications (ARSD 20:38:34:01).
New examination route application after more than three years expired
Application
Submit a complete electronic application using the Board administrator’s designated method, pay the applicable fee, certify the information under penalty of perjury, and report application-information changes within ten calendar days (ARSD 20:38:29:01).
Board Discretion
The Board can request an oral interview about experience under SDCL 36-18A-32 and other competency examinations under SDCL 36-18A-33; an unnamed discretionary examination slot is an applicant condition.
Degree And Experience
Meet the current degree-specific education and four- or seven-year experience requirements in ARSD 20:38:30:03 and 20:38:31:04.
Experience Supervision
Experience must be under the direct supervision of an actively practicing licensed professional land surveyor and include the work specified in ARSD 20:38:31:04.01; intermittent work is credited proportionately, engineering-project surveying can count up to one-third of required experience, and teaching can count up to one year.
Foreign Education And English
For a foreign education program, at least two qualifying years of experience must be on projects located in the United States; the applicant must be proficient in English (ARSD 20:38:31:01).
Fs Eligibility
Current students and graduates of qualifying programs may register for FS with NCEES after completing or enrolling in at least 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Prior Expiration
The license has been expired more than three years; submit a new license application and retain the original license number (SDCL 36-18A-42).
Ps Eligibility
Pass FS and satisfy the surveying education requirement before registering for PS with NCEES (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
References
Provide at least five references; at least three must be licensed professionals in good standing in this profession with personal knowledge of the applicant’s experience; a current Board member cannot serve as a reference (ARSD 20:38:29:02).
Retakes
After three FS or PS failures, submit at most one new admission application per calendar year; the Board may require additional education or experience (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
State Exam Deadline
Complete the two-hour open-book electronic surveying examination within thirty calendar days of submission of the licensure application (ARSD 20:38:32:04).
Surveying Education
Complete at least 24 unique semester credit hours of surveying education, including basic principles, advanced applications, original public land survey system, and boundary surveying; one semester credit hour equals one and one-half quarter credit hours (ARSD 20:38:30:03).
Timely biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Exemptions
Documented active military duty exceeding 120 consecutive days, qualifying disability or other extenuating circumstances, and inactive or retired status may qualify for the exemptions in ARSD 20:38:35:08.
Professional Development
Unless exempt, earn thirty PDH during the preceding biennium, including at least twenty technical PDH and no more than ten professional-management PDH, submit a PDH log certified under penalty of perjury, and supply audit documentation within thirty days (ARSD 20:38:35:01).
Renewal
Renew before the license expires two years after issuance and pay the renewal fee (SDCL 36-18A-39).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

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

Examination on South Dakota Licensure Laws

Format
Electronic examination
Passing score
Pass/fail
Practice scope

Inferred from the examination name; the authority has not published an examination outline.

  • SDCL Chapter 36-18A — Technical Professions
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:28 — Licensure and Enrollment
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:29 — Applications
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:30 — Education Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:31 — Experience Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:34 — Comity Licensure Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:35 — Continuing Professional Development
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:36 — Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:37 — Other Requirements of Licensees
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:38 — Fire Protection Systems
  • SDCL Chapter 1-1 — STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION
  • SDCL Chapter 9-3 — INCORPORATION OF MUNICIPALITIES
  • SDCL Chapter 9-14 — MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
  • SDCL Chapter 10-10 — CLASSIFICATION AND VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE
  • SDCL Chapter 11-2 — COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING
  • SDCL Chapter 11-3 — PLATTING OF TOWNSITES, ADDITIONS AND SUBDIVISIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 21-40 — BOUNDARY DETERMINATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-12 — COUNTY HIGHWAY SYSTEMS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-12A — COUNTY ROAD DISTRICTS
  • SDCL Chapter 34A-5 — SANITARY DISTRICTS
  • SDCL Chapter 36-1 — RESTORATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES AFTER MILITARY SERVICE
  • SDCL Chapter 41-18 — COUNTY PARKS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-17 — WATER BOUNDARIES AND RIPARIAN LANDS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-18 — LAND SURVEYS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-19 — TOWNSHIP SURVEYS AND LANDMARKS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-20 — PERPETUATION OF SURVEY CORNERS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-21 — SURVEY AND RECORDING OF PLATS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-22 — SOUTH DAKOTA COORDINATE SYSTEM
  • SDCL Chapter 45-4 — LOCATION AND WORKING OF MINING CLAIMS
  • SDCL Chapter 46A-10A — COUNTY DRAINAGE
  • SDCL Chapter 47-29 — CEMETERY CORPORATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 36-1B — Expedited License Procedure for Military Personnel and Spouses
Examination sources

Open-Book Examination of South Dakota Land Surveying Practice and Laws

Format
Open-book electronic examination
Time limit
Two hours
Passing score
Pass/fail
Practice scope

Inferred from the examination name; the authority has not published an examination outline.

  • SDCL Chapter 36-18A — Technical Professions
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:28 — Licensure and Enrollment
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:29 — Applications
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:30 — Education Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:31 — Experience Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:34 — Comity Licensure Requirements
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:35 — Continuing Professional Development
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:36 — Rules of Professional Conduct
  • Administrative Rules of South Dakota Chapter 20:38:37 — Other Requirements of Licensees
  • SDCL Chapter 1-1 — STATE SOVEREIGNTY AND JURISDICTION
  • SDCL Chapter 5-2 — STATE-OWNED LANDS IN GENERAL
  • SDCL Chapter 5-4 — ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS
  • SDCL Chapter 5-9 — SALE OF SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS
  • SDCL Chapter 7-9 — REGISTER OF DEEDS
  • SDCL Chapter 9-3 — INCORPORATION OF MUNICIPALITIES
  • SDCL Chapter 9-14 — MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
  • SDCL Chapter 9-36 — FLOOD CONTROL AND STREAM IMPROVEMENT
  • SDCL Chapter 9-45 — STREET AND ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS
  • SDCL Chapter 10-10 — CLASSIFICATION AND VALUATION OF REAL ESTATE
  • SDCL Chapter 10-45 — RETAIL SALES AND SERVICE TAX
  • SDCL Chapter 10-46 — USE TAX
  • SDCL Chapter 11-2 — COUNTY PLANNING AND ZONING
  • SDCL Chapter 11-3 — PLATTING OF TOWNSITES, ADDITIONS AND SUBDIVISIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 11-4 — MUNICIPAL PLANNING AND ZONING
  • SDCL Chapter 11-6 — COMPREHENSIVE CITY PLANNING
  • SDCL Chapter 15-3 — ADVERSE POSSESSION AND LIMITATION OF ACTIONS TO RECOVER REAL ESTATE
  • SDCL Chapter 21-40 — BOUNDARY DETERMINATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-3 — LOCATION, CHANGE AND VACATION OF HIGHWAYS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-12 — COUNTY HIGHWAY SYSTEMS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-12A — COUNTY ROAD DISTRICTS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-18 — SECTION-LINE HIGHWAYS
  • SDCL Chapter 31-20 — USE OF PUBLICLY OWNED LAND FOR HIGHWAY PURPOSES
  • SDCL Chapter 31-22 — CONDEMNATION OF EASEMENTS FOR ISOLATED TRACTS
  • SDCL Chapter 34-27 — CEMETERIES AND BURIAL RECORDS
  • SDCL Chapter 34A-5 — SANITARY DISTRICTS
  • SDCL Chapter 36-1 — RESTORATION OF PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES AFTER MILITARY SERVICE
  • SDCL Chapter 41-18 — COUNTY PARKS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-16 — LAND BOUNDARIES, MONUMENTS AND SUBSURFACE RIGHTS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-17 — WATER BOUNDARIES AND RIPARIAN LANDS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-18 — LAND SURVEYS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-19 — TOWNSHIP SURVEYS AND LANDMARKS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-20 — PERPETUATION OF SURVEY CORNERS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-21 — SURVEY AND RECORDING OF PLATS
  • SDCL Chapter 43-22 — SOUTH DAKOTA COORDINATE SYSTEM
  • SDCL Chapter 43-31 — HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
  • SDCL Chapter 45-4 — LOCATION AND WORKING OF MINING CLAIMS
  • SDCL Chapter 46A-10A — COUNTY DRAINAGE
  • SDCL Chapter 47-29 — CEMETERY CORPORATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 49-30 — TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH CORPORATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 49-33 — ELECTRIC, STREET RAILWAY AND GAS CORPORATIONS
  • SDCL Chapter 36-1B — Expedited License Procedure for Military Personnel and Spouses
Examination sources