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Washington Land Surveyor — Requirements & Free Practice

US-WA · License preparation

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Land Surveyor-in-Training

Board certification following qualifying experience and passage of the fundamentals examination.

Licensing authority: Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors · Application information

Land surveyor in training certification
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Application
Pass FS and submit the Board application and applicable fees under WAC 196-21-040.
Experience
Complete and verify four years of approved education, practical experience, or a combination; an ABET baccalaureate land surveying degree meets the four-year requirement.
Verification
Practical experience must be personally known and directly supervised by a licensed surveyor in a Board-approved jurisdiction. Official transcripts must be uploaded to NCEES; non-ABET degrees may require evaluation. Do not double count education and concurrent work in one calendar year.

Professional Land Surveyor

Individual registration to practice professional land surveying in Washington.

Licensing authority: Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors · Application information

Licensure of applicants registered in another jurisdiction

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, supporting experience verification or NCEES Record, verification of FS and PS passage, and the Law Review completion certificate; the Board must approve the applicant for the Washington state examination.
Education credit
ABET-accredited baccalaureate land surveying education may count for four years; satisfactory completed years may count one-for-one; approved associate education may count for two years; postgraduate or other education and college teaching are evaluated by the Board. No more than one year of experience is granted per calendar year.
Education verification
Official transcripts must be uploaded to the applicant NCEES profile for verification when education is claimed.
Existing registration
Hold a registration issued following examination by the proper authority in another US jurisdiction or foreign country and be in good standing; satisfy the Washington chapter and Board rules under RCW 18.43.100(1). Prior examinations specific to another state or country are applicant qualification evidence, not Washington requirement leaves.
Experience
Eight years of broad-based progressive field and office land surveying experience satisfactory to the Board, under direct supervision of a licensed PLS; experience must be verified.
Fundamentals waiver
RCW 18.43.100(2) provides a fundamentals waiver for applicants meeting requirements defined by Board rule. Current WAC 196-16-020 requires FS of PLS applicants, and the Board PLS FAQ states: "Washington State does not have provisions to waive either the FS or PS exam regardless of degrees or experience or being licensed in another state." No qualifying PLS waiver is specified by the current PLS rule.
Law review timing
The Law Review must be passed before the application is reviewed; its passing score is 80%.
Military training
Military training or experience satisfies experience requirements unless the Board determines it is not substantially equivalent, under RCW 18.43.190.
National exam timing
Apply directly to NCEES for FS and PS. Board approval is no longer needed to sit those national examinations. Pass them and meet Washington qualifications before applying to the Board.
Page experience credit
The Board license page states: "Completion of the Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) program, including the final exam, may count for 3 months of experience". This is an optional experience-credit qualification, not a required examination slot.
Professional engineer applicants
A registered professional engineer applying as a land surveyor must satisfy WAC 196-16-010 as well.
Renewal after five or more years of expiration
Washington Land Surveyor Law Review
Assessment
Pass the Board Law Review examination.
Expiration
License has been expired for five or more years; the current rule uses five or more, even though the Board renewal page says longer than five.
Professional development
The Board may require an additional 15 PDH in the first year of reactivated practice.
Renewal
Submit a renewal application, required fees and disclosures, and satisfy professional-development and reading-attestation duties.
Renewal after expiration of less than five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Duration
This route is for an expired period shorter than five years.
Expiration
License is invalid after expiration; do not practice independently until renewed.
Renewal
Complete the renewal application, applicable renewal fees, and professional-development and reading-attestation requirements; expiration beyond 90 days adds a one-year-renewal-equivalent late fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Initial licensure by examination

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, supporting experience verification or NCEES Record, verification of FS and PS passage, and the Law Review completion certificate; the Board must approve the applicant for the Washington state examination.
Education credit
ABET-accredited baccalaureate land surveying education may count for four years; satisfactory completed years may count one-for-one; approved associate education may count for two years; postgraduate or other education and college teaching are evaluated by the Board. No more than one year of experience is granted per calendar year.
Education verification
Official transcripts must be uploaded to the applicant NCEES profile for verification when education is claimed.
Experience
Eight years of broad-based progressive field and office land surveying experience satisfactory to the Board, under direct supervision of a licensed PLS; experience must be verified.
Law review timing
The Law Review must be passed before the application is reviewed; its passing score is 80%.
Military training
Military training or experience satisfies experience requirements unless the Board determines it is not substantially equivalent, under RCW 18.43.190.
National exam timing
Apply directly to NCEES for FS and PS. Board approval is no longer needed to sit those national examinations. Pass them and meet Washington qualifications before applying to the Board.
Page experience credit
The Board license page states: "Completion of the Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) program, including the final exam, may count for 3 months of experience". This is an optional experience-credit qualification, not a required examination slot.
Professional engineer applicants
A registered professional engineer applying as a land surveyor must satisfy WAC 196-16-010 as well.
Expedited licensure for military spouses or domestic partners

All of the following:

Application
Submit the Board application, applicable fee, supporting experience verification or NCEES Record, verification of FS and PS passage, and the Law Review completion certificate; the Board must approve the applicant for the Washington state examination.
Education credit
ABET-accredited baccalaureate land surveying education may count for four years; satisfactory completed years may count one-for-one; approved associate education may count for two years; postgraduate or other education and college teaching are evaluated by the Board. No more than one year of experience is granted per calendar year.
Education verification
Official transcripts must be uploaded to the applicant NCEES profile for verification when education is claimed.
Existing registration
Hold a registration issued following examination by the proper authority in another US jurisdiction or foreign country and be in good standing; satisfy the Washington chapter and Board rules under RCW 18.43.100(1). Prior examinations specific to another state or country are applicant qualification evidence, not Washington requirement leaves.
Expedited review
Select military spouse or registered domestic partner on the application. The Board expedites the review, normally issues the approved license within 30 days, and states that PLS applicants must pass the Washington state exam before issuance.
Experience
Eight years of broad-based progressive field and office land surveying experience satisfactory to the Board, under direct supervision of a licensed PLS; experience must be verified.
Fundamentals waiver
RCW 18.43.100(2) provides a fundamentals waiver for applicants meeting requirements defined by Board rule. Current WAC 196-16-020 requires FS of PLS applicants, and the Board PLS FAQ states: "Washington State does not have provisions to waive either the FS or PS exam regardless of degrees or experience or being licensed in another state." No qualifying PLS waiver is specified by the current PLS rule.
Law review timing
The Law Review must be passed before the application is reviewed; its passing score is 80%.
Military spouse
Applicant is licensed in another state and spouse is subject to a military transfer to Washington; request verification and affirm no pending investigation, charges or discipline under RCW 18.340.020.
Military training
Military training or experience satisfies experience requirements unless the Board determines it is not substantially equivalent, under RCW 18.43.190.
National exam timing
Apply directly to NCEES for FS and PS. Board approval is no longer needed to sit those national examinations. Pass them and meet Washington qualifications before applying to the Board.
Page experience credit
The Board license page states: "Completion of the Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) program, including the final exam, may count for 3 months of experience". This is an optional experience-credit qualification, not a required examination slot.
Professional engineer applicants
A registered professional engineer applying as a land surveyor must satisfy WAC 196-16-010 as well.
Biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Professional development
30 PDH during the prior two-year cycle; 15 PDH for an initial cycle shorter than two years; up to five excess PDH may be carried forward.
Reading attestation
Attest to reading RCW 58.09 and WAC 332-130. A reading attestation is an applicant condition, not an examination.
Renewal
Submit the renewal application, fee, requested contact information, and disclosures of criminal convictions or licensing sanctions. License expires on the licensee birthday every two years.
Waivers
Written hardship or active-duty waiver may be granted under WAC 196-16-150; retired and inactive status are PDH-exempt.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation from inactive registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Application
Submit a license renewal application and full fee for the activation-to-second-birthday renewal cycle.
Development
Complete an additional 15 PDH in the first year, totaling at least 45 PDH for the two-year reactivated cycle.
Previous status
Existing inactive registration, rather than an expired license requiring the separate expired-license renewal route.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement from retired to active registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Development
Complete an additional 15 PDH in the first year of reactivated practice.
Payment
Pay the current renewal fee.
Previous status
Existing retired PLS registration.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reissuance after support order suspension
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Compliance
The Board must receive a Department of Social and Health Services release stating compliance with the support order.
Continuing eligibility
The person must have continued to satisfy all other registration requirements during the suspension; reissuance is then automatic.

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

Washington Land Surveyor Law Review

Provider
Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Format
Open-book online Law Review
Exam questions
25 questions
Passing score
80%
Practice scope

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

  • RCW 18.210 — On-site wastewater treatment systems — Designer licensing
  • RCW 18.235 — Uniform regulation of business and professions act
  • RCW 18.43 — Engineers and land surveyors
  • RCW 70A.105 — On-site sewage disposal systems (formerly RCW 70.118)
  • WAC 196-16 — Registered professional land surveyors
  • WAC 196-23 — Stamping and seals
  • WAC 196-25 — Business practices
  • WAC 196-26A — Fees
  • WAC 196-27A — Rules of professional conduct and practice
  • WAC 196-29 — Professional practices
  • WAC 196-33 — Rules of professional practice for licensees designing on-site wastewater treatment systems
  • WAC 196-34 — Continuing education of licensed professional on-site wastewater treatment system designers
  • WAC 196-21 — Land surveyor-in-training certification
  • RCW 58.09 — Surveys — Recording
  • RCW 58.17 — Plats — Subdivisions — Dedications
  • WAC 332-130 — Minimum standards for land boundary surveys and geodetic control surveys and guidelines for the preparation of land descriptions
Examination sources

Washington State Land Surveyor Exam

Provider
Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Format
Open-book written examination; 40 multiple-choice questions
Exam questions
40 multiple-choice questions
Time limit
4 hours
Examination outline
  • Domain 1: Laws, Rules, and Regulations (19%)
    • Platting and Conveyance Laws
    • Interpretation of past subdivisions
    • Creation of subdivisions
    • Performance of control survey
    • Knowledge of rules and guidelines of exemptions
    • Application of Survey Map Requirements
    • Comprehension of subdivision types
    • Condominiums
    • Knowledge of types of condominiums
    • Creation of the map and plans
    • Performance of site plan survey
    • Knowledge of common areas, limited common areas, and ownership
    • Determination of unit boundaries
    • Knowledge of development rights
    • Phasing of condominium
    • Coordination of the declaration
    • Road / easements / rights-of-way
    • Differentiation between public and private ownership
    • Determination of grantor and grantees
    • Determination of ancillary beneficiaries
    • Knowledge of easements by prescription
    • Knowledge of automatic vacation
    • Control of monumentation of easements or rights-of-way
    • Comprehension of types of easements and reversions
    • Knowledge of dominant and serveant easements
    • Knowledge of establishment of roads
    • Case law and Attorneys General Opinions
    • Understanding of Superior Court causes and citations
    • Knowledge of landmark State Supreme Court decisions
    • Understanding Implications of AGOs
    • Understanding Applicability of AGOs
    • Knowledge of Legal land terminology
  • Domain 2: Public Land Survey System (PLSS) / Manual of Survey Instructions (18%)
    • Corner Identification
    • Identification and utilization of closing corners
    • Identification and replacement of lost / obliterated corners
    • Understanding of the importance of topographic calls
    • Identification of monuments, memorials, and accessories
    • Re-establishment of corners
    • Meander Lines
    • Re-establishment of meander lines
    • Knowledge of auxiliary and special meander corners
    • Knowledge of meander lines as boundaries
    • Research of historical meander lines
    • General Land Office / Bureau Land Management notes and plats
    • Understanding and analysis of types of notes and plats
    • Knowledge of local use of guide meridians and correction lines
    • Knowledge of land patents
    • Knowledge of types of BLM survey
    • Knowledge of Geographic Coordinate Database (GCDB)
    • Understanding of the basis of bearing use of the original surveys
    • Sector Subdivision
    • Determination of regular sections
    • Determination of irregular sections
    • Subdivision of sections using latitudinal curve
    • Recognition and application of local controlling corners
    • Calculation of weighted mean bearings for fractional sections
    • Knowledge of three-mile section subdivision
    • Indian lands and rights
    • Knowledge of three-mile section subdivision
    • Re-establishment of reservation boundaries
    • Research of historical Indian records
    • Recognition of tribal trust or fee lands
    • Special types of surveys
    • Knowledge of mineral surveys
    • Knowledge of homestead entry surveys
    • Knowledge of donation land claims (DLC)
    • Knowledge of Grant boundary adjustments
  • Domain 3: Land Descriptions (18%)
    • Metes and Bounds
    • Recognition of informative and controlling terms of descriptions
    • Distinction between point of commencement and point of beginning
    • Knowledge and use of area calls
    • Recognition of Jr and Sr rights and remedies
    • Distinction between metes and bounds
    • Aliquot parts / remainders
    • Recognition of informative and controlling terms of descriptions
    • Knowledge of terms and definitions
    • Knowledge and use of area calls
    • Right-of-way / strip descriptions
    • Recognition of informative and controlling terms of descriptions
    • Distinction between point of commencement and point of beginning
    • Recognition of gaps and overlaps and remedies
    • Recognition of sidelines issues and remedies
    • Platted lots
    • Recognition of informative and controlling terms of descriptions
    • Knowledge and use of area calls
    • Recognition of Jr and Sr rights and remedies
    • Structure of legal descriptions
    • Proper usage of captions
    • Knowledge of components of the body
    • Knowledge of proper structure of descriptions
    • Recognition of hierarchy of calls
  • Domain 4: Survey Practice (18%)
    • Unwritten conveyances and rights
    • Recognition of encroachments and remedies
    • Recognition of evidence of prescriptive rights
    • Recognition of evidence of adverse possession
    • Topography / Vertical Control
    • Knowledge of sources of utility as-built information
    • Knowledge of topographic elements required on maps
    • Boundary line agreements
    • Knowledge of state laws regarding agreements
    • Error Analysis / Accuracy Standards
    • Distinction between random errors and systematic errors
    • Identification of Records Research
    • Identification of state and local sources
  • Domain 5: Water Boundaries (14%)
    • Freshwater Boundaries
    • Understanding and interpretation of 1st and 2nd class shorelands
    • Application of ordinary high water mark (OHW)
    • Understanding of application harbor lines
    • Application of lateral boundary lines
    • Knowledge of applicable court cases
    • Understanding of terminology
    • Tide land boundaries / Tide elevations
    • Understanding and interpretation of 1st and 2nd class tidelands
    • Understanding and application of tidal datums
    • Understanding of implications of date of statehood
    • Application of lateral boundary lines
    • Understanding of application harbor lines
    • Understanding of terminology
    • Knowledge of applicable court cases
    • Navigability
    • Determination of navigability
    • Understanding terminology
    • Knowledge of applicable court cases
    • Avulsion / Accretion / Reliction / Erosion
    • Understanding of terminology
    • Knowledge of applicable court cases
    • Identification of changes of water boundaries
  • Domain 6: Horizontal and Vertical Datums (13%)
    • State Plane Coordinate Zones
    • Understanding and application of terminology and definitions
    • Knowledge of reporting requirements
    • Conversions
    • Calculation of scale factors / convergence angle
    • Understanding and calculation of ground vs. grid
    • Knowledge of conversion of historic datums
    • Mapping projections
    • Understanding of mapping projections and terminology
    • Understanding of resources and research
Examination sources