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Free California-Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination Practice Questions

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Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the California-Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

  1. 1A California PLS is retained by a private owner for a compensated boundary survey. The owner has not authorized an early start in writing. When must the parties execute the written contract?

    1. A. Before the surveyor starts work
    2. B. Before the first invoice is issued
    3. C. Before the first monument is set
    4. D. Before the record of survey is submitted

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8759 says the contract must be executed "prior to the licensed land surveyor ... commencing work" unless the client knowingly authorizes an early start in writing.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8759(a), pp. 13-14

  2. 2For California aerial mapping control, which planning item directly establishes the photo geometry to be flown?

    1. A. A flight plan showing flight lines, flying heights, and average photo scale
    2. B. A corner record showing monument accessories
    3. C. A title report showing recorded encumbrances
    4. D. A record-of-survey statement showing filing reasons

    Answer: A

    Explanation: The Caltrans photogrammetry specifications call for a flight plan documenting flight lines, flying heights, and average photo scale.

    Reference: 5 Classifications of Accuracy and Standards — Surveys Manual, Ch. 13, flight-plan requirements

  3. 3A landowner delays a California PLS who is lawfully entering to inspect boundary evidence. What access standard does §8774 impose on the owner?

    1. A. Reasonable access without undue delay
    2. B. Access only after a court order
    3. C. Access only if the surveyor pays an entry fee
    4. D. Access only while the owner is personally present

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8774 makes it the owner or tenant's responsibility to provide "reasonable access without undue delay."

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8774(a), pp. 24-25

  4. 4A recovered monument differs in character from the monument shown on the prior map, but the retraced line otherwise agrees. What California record is required?

    1. A. A corner record
    2. B. A record of survey based only on the character difference
    3. C. A certificate of correction to the previously filed map
    4. D. No filing because sufficient monumentation establishes the corner

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8765(d) preserves the retracement exemption "provided that a corner record is filed for any property corners which are ... found to be of a different character than indicated by prior records." The character difference therefore calls for the corner record.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8765(d), pp. 19-20

  5. 5A record of survey adjoins an earlier senior conveyance. Which relationship must the California map show when the tracts share a line?

    1. A. The relationship to the senior conveyance
    2. B. Only the assessor's parcel number
    3. C. Only the current tax-lien status
    4. D. The construction cost of improvements along the line

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8764(a)(4) requires the map to show the relationship to adjacent tracts, streets, or "senior conveyances" having common lines.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8764(a)(4), p. 18

  6. 6May a PLS offer civil-structure design merely because it is near a boundary?

    1. A. No
    2. B. Always
    3. C. With client consent
    4. D. Below one acre

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8728 bars a land surveyor from practicing or offering civil engineering beyond authorized incidental work.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8728

  7. 7During a California survey project, the client asks for work beyond the original scope. Which contract provision should govern how the added work is authorized?

    1. A. The stated procedure for accommodating additional services
    2. B. The stated procedure for terminating the contract
    3. C. The disclosure of professional liability insurance
    4. D. The surveyor's license-notice statement

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8759 requires "a description of the procedure ... to accommodate additional services," which is the controlling scope-change mechanism.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8759(a)(4)

  8. 8While planning a mobile terrestrial laser scan, why must the surveyor establish the system's useful range?

    1. A. Point accuracy varies with range and must still meet project standards
    2. B. Useful range fixes the minimum overlap between adjacent stationary scan setups
    3. C. Useful range establishes the maximum GNSS baseline for project control
    4. D. Useful range defines the angular field used to balance a level circuit

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Caltrans defines "Useful Range" as the distance over which the laser-scanning system produces data meeting required accuracy; therefore planning must keep collected points within that verified performance range.

    Reference: 15 Terrestrial Laser Scanning Specifications — Surveys Manual, Ch. 15, § 15.10-2

  9. 9During mobile laser scanning, returns beyond the validated useful range enter the dataset. What should the field team do?

    1. A. Exclude measurements that fail the required accuracy from the final cloud
    2. B. Retain them as a separate class after applying the same registration
    3. C. Use them as check points after reducing their statistical weight
    4. D. Average them with overlapping returns from the adjoining scan pass

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Caltrans defines "Useful Range" by whether the scanning system produces points meeting project accuracy. Measurements beyond that verified range cannot be accepted merely through classification, weighting, or averaging.

    Reference: 15 Terrestrial Laser Scanning Specifications — Surveys Manual, Ch. 15, § 15.10-2

  10. 10A field survey reveals a material discrepancy from a prior recorded map. Which filing follows?

    1. A. A record of survey
    2. B. A corner record limited to recovered monuments
    3. C. A certificate correcting the prior map
    4. D. A parcel map despite no proposed division

    Answer: A

    Explanation: BPC §8762(b)(2) requires filing for "A material discrepancy with the information contained in any subdivision map, official map, or record of survey." The other filings serve distinct statutory circumstances.

    Reference: 2026 Professional Land Surveyors' Act — BPC § 8762(b)(2), p. 15

Topics in this practice bank

These topics describe the available practice for California-Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination. Review the examination outline and its sources for scope and allocation details.

  • I. Business Practices and Project Management
    • 1. Explain the practice and importance of land surveying to the public
    • 2. Prepare proposals and contracts (e.g., scope, schedule, budget, client needs, regulatory requirements)
    • 3. Offer or procure land surveying and incidental services
    • 4. Direct personnel for office and field tasks
    • 5. Coordinate projects with third parties (e.g., agencies, consultants, contractors)
    • 6. Identify project standards (e.g., mapping, accuracy requirements, legal requirements, methodology, quality assurance, agency standards, project specifications)
    • 7. Develop plan for project execution (e.g., mapping, accuracy requirements, methodology, quality assurance, client needs)
    • 8. Preserve survey monuments in accordance with State law
    • 9. Manage a land surveying business, organization or department (e.g., compliance with DIR and/or Project Labor Agreement (PLA) regulations, Organizational Record)
    • 10. Apply the Subdivision Map Act and other related laws and regulations
    • 11. Apply the Professional Land Surveyors Act
    • 12. Identify and disclose potential conflicts of interest (e.g., risk, liability, protection)
    • A. Professional Land Surveyors' (PLS) Act
    • B. Project requirements
    • C. Impact of local ordinances
    • D. Subdivision Map Act (SMA)
    • E. Survey‐relevant sections of State laws (e.g., Public Resources Code, Civil Code, Evidence Code, Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) requirements)
    • F. Impact of federal laws (e.g., FEMA, US Army Corps of Engineers, BLM)
    • G. Laws and ordinances pertaining to setting of monuments (e.g., PLS Act § 8771‐8772, SMA § 66495‐66498, local ordinances)
    • H. Right of entry laws
    • I. Capabilities and limitations of equipment and technologies (e.g., GPS, laser scanning, levels, total stations, UAV)
    • J. Interpretation of elements in construction plans and specifications pertaining to staking
    • K. Procedures for preparation for aerial mapping (e.g. photogrammetric, LiDAR, UAV, flight plans, ground control)
    • L. Procedures for preparation for terrestrial mapping (e.g., total station, GPS, LiDAR, cameras)
    • M. When records of survey are required
    • N. When corner records are required
    • O. When tentative, parcel and final maps are required
    • P. Map waivers (e.g., SMA § 66428)
    • Q. Exceptions to Subdivision Map Act (e.g., SMA § 66412)
    • R. State and local agency requirements for maps and related documents (e.g., submittal, review, filing)
    • S. Project-specific mapping requirements and criteria
    • T. Contractual agreements (e.g., cost estimates, scope of services, limitations)
    • U. Appropriate communication methods (e.g., statutory, regulatory)
    • V. Scope management (e.g. managing scope-creep, change order processes)
  • II. Research, Project Planning and Preparation
    • 1. Determine proper control datums, realizations and epochs
    • 2. Analyze project data (e.g., recorded maps, deeds, title data, control data, land planning requirements)
    • 3. Identify conflicts within documents, maps and drawings
    • 4. Conduct project research
    • 5. Prepare and review construction calculations (e.g., staking plats, layout, exhibits)
    • 6. Perform surveying calculations (e.g., boundary, control, topographic)
    • 7. Plan control networks
    • 8. Plan field safety operations
    • A. Interpretation of elements in construction plans and specifications pertaining to staking
    • B. Procedures and requirements for aerial mapping (e.g., photogrammetric, LiDAR, UAV, control, flight plan)
    • C. Procedures for preparation for terrestrial mapping (e.g., total station, GPS, LiDAR, photogrammetry)
    • D. When records of survey are required
    • E. When corner records are required
    • F. Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
    • G. Sequential conveyances (e.g., senior junior rights)
    • H. Simultaneous conveyances (e.g., lot and block)
    • I. Water boundaries
    • J. Relationship of land grants between private, state and federal (e.g., ranchos, townsites)
    • K. Methods of establishing boundaries
    • L. Types and components of title documents (e.g., title report, chain of title, lot and block report)
    • M. Monument recovery procedures (e.g., field package preparation, search points, magnetic vs. non-ferrous, historic depth)
    • N. Easements, rights‐of‐way, leases and other encumbrances
    • O. Methods and procedures for retracement and re‐establishment of railroad rights‐of‐way
    • P. Controlling elements of legal descriptions
    • Q. Strengths and weaknesses of various legal description types
    • R. Horizontal and vertical control
    • S. Projections, datums, epoch dates, and transformations
    • T. Geoid, ellipsoid and orthometric heights
    • U. Error sources (e.g., multipath, data input, instrument calibration)
    • V. Methods and procedures to produce control networks within accuracy standards (e.g., Public Resources Code, Federal and State standards)
    • W. Sources of research data (e.g., public, quasi‐public, private)
    • X. Source, type and accuracy of digital data (e.g., metadata, GIS)
    • Y. Earth movements (e.g., earthquakes, landslides, subsidence, plate tectonics)
    • Z. Safety and hazard evaluations (e.g., CalOSHA, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
  • III. Field Operations and Investigations
    • 1. Perform topographic and/or as‐built surveys
    • 2. Perform control surveys
    • 3. Perform boundary survey
    • 4. Retrace PLSS surveys
    • 5. Perform monitoring surveys
    • 6. Perform construction staking
    • 7. Perform hydrographic surveys (e.g., bathymetric, tidal datum)
    • 8. Communicate with clients, contractors and general public while in the field
    • 9. Notify right of entry
    • 10. Execute safety protocols and procedures
    • 11. Perform diligent monument search (e.g., monument preservation, boundary survey, legal requirements)
    • 12. Identify limitations of technologies for use in survey practice
    • A. Right of entry laws
    • B. Capabilities and limitations of equipment and technologies (e.g., GPS, laser scanning, levels, total stations, UAS)
    • C. Interpretation of elements in construction plans and specifications pertaining to staking
    • D. Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
    • E. Monument recovery (e.g., boundary, control and/or topographic surveys)
    • F. Monument re‐establishment procedures (e.g., PLS Act 8771 and 8773)
    • G. Correct monument identification
    • H. Monument pedigree
    • I. Horizontal and vertical control
    • J. Error sources (e.g., multipath, data input, instrument calibration)
    • K. California Coordinate Systems
    • L. Real‐time‐networks (e.g., processes, redundancy, accessibility, accuracy)
    • M. Field notes and staking reports
    • N. Basis of control values and their relation to maps and construction plans (e.g., basis of bearings, benchmark)
    • O. Methods and requirements for performing topographic, aerial, as‐built, and/or bathymetric surveys,
    • P. Field practices and procedures for construction staking
    • Q. Geoid models, ellipsoid heights and orthometric heights
    • R. Safety and hazard evaluations (e.g., CalOSHA, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices)
    • S. Physical evidence that may indicate unwritten rights (e.g., adverse possession, prescriptive rights)
    • T. Physical evidence of water boundaries
  • IV. Analysis and Evaluation
    • 1. Analyze field evidence together with recorded and unrecorded documentation to retrace boundaries, easements, and possible encroachments (e.g., monuments, occupation, oaths/parol evidence, project documents)
    • 2. Evaluate accuracies and precisions of historic documents and maps versus measured survey data
    • 3. Evaluate relevance and spatial relationships of maps and measured survey data (e.g., GIS data, field data, metadata)
    • 4. Assess boundary location conflicts
    • 5. Assess title conflicts
    • 6. Analyze results of survey adjustments (e.g., least squares, error analysis)
    • 7. Perform quality assurance and quality control
    • 8. Reconcile deed descriptions with field evidence
    • 9. Identify limitations of technologies for use in survey practice
    • A. When records of survey are required
    • B. When corner records are required
    • C. Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
    • D. Water boundaries (e.g., tidal datums, navigable vs non‐navigable)
    • E. Hierarchy of evidence (e.g., Code of Civil Procedure 2077)
    • F. Boundary resolution of simultaneous conveyances
    • G. Boundary resolution of sequential conveyances
    • H. Boundary resolution of junior senior rights
    • I. Boundary resolution of deed descriptions
    • J. Evaluation of field evidence
    • K. Types of conveyances and their effects of ownership on property (e.g., fee vs. easement, grant deed, quitclaim deed, intent)
    • L. Cloud on title
    • M. Effect of earth movement on boundaries (e.g., earthquakes, landslide, subsidence, continental drift)
    • N. Easements, rights‐of‐way, leases and other encumbrances
    • O. Criteria for acceptance or rejection of monuments
    • P. Physical evidence that may indicate unwritten rights (e.g., adverse possession, prescriptive rights)
    • Q. Controlling elements of legal descriptions
    • R. Types of legal descriptions (e.g., strip, metes and bounds, lot and block, aliquot)
    • S. Exceptions and reservations of legal descriptions
    • T. Horizontal and vertical control
    • U. Projections, datums, realizations and epoch dates
    • V. Geoid, ellipsoid and orthometric heights
    • W. Conversion between grid and ground distances
    • X. Errors - Analysis and quantification (e.g., data bias, error ellipses, residuals)
    • Y. Digital terrain models
    • Z. Point clouds (e.g., As-Built, reduction, management, analysis, extraction, terrain classification systems)
    • AA. Applications of relevant case law (e.g., boundary issues, liability)
    • BB. Methods to obtain bearings or azimuths related to geodetic, magnetic, grid or astronomic north
    • CC. Parol evidence
    • DD. Use and interpretation of significant figures for maps, plats or reports
    • EE. Survey‐relevant sections of state laws (e.g., Public Resources Code, Civil Code, Evidence Code)
    • FF. Historical accuracies vs. current precision (e.g., measuring by chaining, EDM, GPS)
  • V. Mapping and Document Preparation
    • 1. Prepare legal descriptions (e.g., easements, lot line adjustments, other interests in real property)
    • 2. Ensure survey documents comply with State laws, project requirements, and contractual obligations
    • 3. Prepare and analyze 3D Models (e.g., BIM, DTM, point clouds)
    • 4. Prepare topographic maps from various sources (e.g., photogrammetry, field survey, LiDAR, GIS, UAS, hydrographic)
    • 5. Prepare control maps or reports (e.g., local, geodetic, monitoring)
    • 6. Prepare maps, plats and exhibits (e.g., court, easement, ALTA/NSPS, boundary)
    • 7. Prepare State regulated maps, plats, exhibits (e.g., records of survey, corner records, lot line adjustments, subdivision maps, condominium plans, LAFCO)
    • 8. Prepare construction reports (e.g., cut‐sheets, plots, verification reports, quality assurance, ADA reports, form/pad certifications)
    • A. Professional Land Surveyors' (PLS) Act
    • B. Subdivision Map Act (SMA)
    • C. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey related to State law
    • D. Basis of control elements and their relation to maps (e.g., basis of bearings, benchmark)
    • E. Strip legal descriptions
    • F. Metes and bounds legal descriptions
    • G. Aliquot part legal descriptions
    • H. Portions and parts legal descriptions
    • I. Exceptions and reservations in legal descriptions
    • J. Projections, datums and epoch dates
    • K. California Coordinate System
    • L. Surveyor notes (e.g., boundary narrative)
    • M. Surveyor reports (e.g., volume, staking)
    • N. Digital terrain models
    • O. Parol evidence (e.g., use, methods to document, and effects)
    • P. Code of Regulations (Board Rules)
    • Q. Public Resource Code (PRC)
    • R. Signing and sealing requirements
    • S. Components of a legal description (e.g., preamble, body)
    • T. Methods and procedures for preparing topographic maps (e.g., photogrammetric, planimetric)
    • U. Elements of corner records (legal content required)
    • V. Elements of records of survey (legal content required)
    • W. Elements of tentative maps (legal content required)
    • X. Elements of parcel maps (legal content required)
    • Y. Elements of final maps (legal content required)
    • Z. Elements of certificates of compliance (legal content required)
    • AA. Certificates of correction and amended maps
    • BB. Depiction of physical evidence that may indicate unwritten rights
    • CC. Easements, rights‐of‐way, leases and other encumbrances
  • VI. Professional Consulting
    • 1. Communicate accuracies of maps or survey data (e.g., professionals, clients, staff)
    • 2. Provide expert witness testimony (e.g., depositions, arbitration, trials, litigation support)
    • 3. Provide land planning services (e.g., tentative maps, Department of Real Estate exhibits)
    • 4. Provide recommendations in accordance with State Laws (e.g., Subdivision Map Act, Professional Land Surveyors Act, Public Resources Code)
    • 5. Conduct independent peer review
    • 6. Provide conflict resolution
    • 7. Apply code of professional conduct
    • 8. Recognize risk awareness and general liability
    • A. Professional Land Surveyors' (PLS) Act
    • B. Subdivision Map Act (SMA)
    • C. Impact of local ordinances (e.g., zoning, setbacks)
    • D. State and local agency processing requirements for maps and related documents (e.g., submittal, review, filing)
    • E. Appropriate communication methods (e.g., verbal and written)
    • F. Effects of unwritten rights on boundaries
    • G. Effects of riparian and littoral rights on boundaries
    • H. Cloud on title
    • I. Effects of earth movement on boundaries (e.g., earthquakes, subsidence, slides)
    • J. Impacts of encumbrances (e.g., deeds of trust, tax liens, easements, leases)
    • K. Evidence that may indicate unwritten rights (e.g., adverse possession, prescriptive rights)
    • L. Effects of relevant case law (e.g., boundary issues, liability)
    • M. Notice of potential encroachments
    • N. Survey‐relevant sections of state laws (e.g., Public Resources Code, Civil Code, Evidence Code, CEQA, Categorical Exemption, Negative Declaration)
    • O. Surveyor's role in title and boundary conflicts (e.g., analysis, mediation, litigation support)
    • P. Code of professional conduct (BR 476)
    • Q. Mediation techniques

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These are independent study questions, not actual examination items. For examination requirements and official information, view California-Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination details.