Free Colorado State-Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Colorado State-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. 1Which source may a Colorado PLS use to obtain instruments of record for boundary research?

   1. A. An unsigned contractor estimate
   2. B. An unverified online parcel sketch
   3. C. An abstract, title commitment, or title policy
   4. D. A building-permit inspection card

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The rule states, "Instruments of record may be obtained from an abstract, title commitment, or title policy." The other documents are not identified sources of the controlling record instruments.

   Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.6(E)(2), p. 44

2. 2When defining a Colorado property boundary, what research must the PLS conduct or direct?

   1. A. Research needed to relate the boundary to instruments of record and visible ownership evidence
   2. B. Only a review of the client's tax statement
   3. C. Only a search of the PLS's own prior projects
   4. D. A title-company search with no field investigation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The PLS must conduct research "needed to properly define the property boundary relative to instruments of record and show all visible evidence that may affect ownership and property rights."

   Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.6(E)(2), p. 44

3. 3An unlicensed person advertises on letterhead that they can perform professional land-surveying services in Colorado, but has not yet accepted a job. Under the statutory definition, what has occurred?

   1. A. Enrollment as a land-surveyor-intern
   2. B. Incidental engineering surveying
   3. C. An offer to practice professional land surveying
   4. D. A permitted entity filing

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Colorado treats holding oneself out by oral claim, sign, letterhead, card, or otherwise as able to perform professional land-surveying services as practicing or offering to practice.

   Reference: Creator: PrintServer150 — C.R.S. § 12-120-302(5)(b), p. 463

4. 4To exercise responsible charge in Colorado, how must a PLS handle professional decisions involving field and recorded evidence?

   1. A. Personally make or review and approve them
   2. B. Delegate them permanently to the client
   3. C. Refer all of them to the county surveyor
   4. D. Limit review to project billing records

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The rule requires the PLS to "Personally makes surveying decisions, or personally reviews and approves proposed decisions"; this includes decisions involving field observations, physical evidence, and recorded data.

   Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.2(A)(15)(a)(1), p. 6

5. 5A PLS seeks a prior filing describing accessories to a PLSS control corner. Which public body must maintain the index for these state filings?

   1. A. The state professional licensure Board
   2. B. The county surveyor's elected office
   3. C. The county clerk and recorder's office
   4. D. The county assessor's mapping office

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "record-keeping and indexing system for all monument records" Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-50-103 assigns the statewide monument-record index to the Board. County copies may also be available, but the question asks for the state system.

   Reference: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 38 — C.R.S. § 38-50-103(1)

6. 6Which combination reflects Colorado's required boundary-survey evidence process?

   1. A. Deed dimensions, assessor mapping, tax value, and owner instructions
   2. B. Available monuments, physical evidence, parol evidence, and recorded information
   3. C. Client instructions, online GIS lines, zoning data, and permit records
   4. D. Subdivision plans, construction drawings, aerial imagery, and tax mapping

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Under personal direction, the PLS must connect "all available monuments necessary for the boundary location as well as physical and parol evidence" and coordinate the survey facts, including record evidence.

   Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.6(E)(3)(a), pp. 44-45

7. 7When may an employee of a Colorado PLS perform land-surveying work without independently holding the PLS license?

   1. A. When the work is under that PLS's responsible charge
   2. B. When a county clerk later records the plat
   3. C. When the employee has passed only the PS exam
   4. D. When the client waives monumentation

   Answer: A

   Explanation: Colorado's exemption covers an employee or subordinate of a PLS when the work is performed under the PLS's responsible charge.

   Reference: Co Title12 Article120 Redraft — C.R.S. § 12-120-303(1)(a), p. 465

8. 8A Colorado PLS supervises a remote field crew. What availability does responsible charge require?

   1. A. Presence at every observation
   2. B. Presence or availability for a reasonable period during the project
   3. C. Availability only when the plat is recorded
   4. D. A weekly visit of a fixed duration

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The rule says the land surveyor shall "be physically present or, through the use of communication devices, be available in a reasonable period of time as appropriate." A remote crew is permissible only with that availability.

   Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.2(A)(15)(a)(1), p. 6

9. 9A surveyor is tracing the original plat of an addition to a Colorado town. Which office's recorded plat book and index should be searched?

   1. A. The elected county surveyor's office
   2. B. The county clerk and recorder's office
   3. C. The municipal planning commission's office
   4. D. The county assessor's mapping office

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "The county clerk and recorder shall record all such plats of lands within his or her county" C.R.S. § 31-23-108 governs municipal plats and directs the clerk and recorder to record and index them; the other indexes contain different record types.

   Reference: Colorado Revised Statutes 2026, Title 31 — C.R.S. § 31-23-108

10. 10A Colorado PLS finds a fence and occupation line that may affect ownership but conflicts with a deed call. How should it be treated in the survey research?

    1. A. Ignore it because only deed dimensions matter
    2. B. Move it to the deed line before measuring
    3. C. Show it only if the client signs a waiver
    4. D. Evaluate and show the visible evidence as part of the boundary analysis

    Answer: D

    Explanation: The research must "show all visible evidence that may affect ownership and property rights." A conflicting occupation feature therefore must be evaluated and shown rather than discarded or moved.

    Reference: Code of Colorado Regulations — 4 CCR 730-1 § 1.6(E)(2), p. 44