Free North Dakota Professional Land Surveyor Orientation Exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the North Dakota Professional Land Surveyor Orientation Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A person who is neither registered nor exempt advertises boundary-surveying services in North Dakota but has not yet performed a survey. How does state law treat that advertisement?

   1. A. It is lawful until a field measurement is made
   2. B. It is unlawful because offering to practice is regulated
   3. C. It is lawful if no fee is quoted
   4. D. It is lawful if a registered surveyor later reviews the work

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NDCC 43-19.1-01 states, "It is unlawful for any person to practice, or to offer to practice, professional engineering or land surveying in this state ... unless such person has been duly registered or exempted." Advertising the service is an offer to practice, so registration or an exemption is required before the advertisement.

   Reference: North Dakota Century Code t43c19.1 — NDCC 43-19.1-01

2. 2A North Dakota PLS application lists an unexplained 100-day break in the applicant's work history. What does the application rule require?

   1. A. Explain the gap because it exceeds ninety days
   2. B. Exclude the gap because only one-year gaps matter
   3. C. Convert the gap to education credit
   4. D. Obtain a county recorder's verification of the gap

   Answer: A

   Explanation: NDAC 28-02.1-01-02(6) states, "Gaps in work experience that are greater than ninety days must be explained." A 100-day gap therefore needs an explanation.

   Reference: nd1.ac_web — NDAC 28-02.1-01-02(6)

3. 3A surveying corporation's certificate of commercial practice is disciplined by another jurisdiction. By when must the organization advise the North Dakota Board?

   1. A. Within ten days
   2. B. Within thirty days
   3. C. Within sixty days
   4. D. At the next annual renewal only

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NDAC 28-02.1-07-02(1) requires the organization to "Advise the board within thirty days of any disciplinary actions administered by any jurisdiction against the certificate of commercial practice." The thirty-day report applies to out-of-state discipline.

   Reference: nd1.ac_web — NDAC 28-02.1-07-02(1)

4. 4Which original surveying work product is expressly excluded from the general North Dakota rule requiring a seal, date, and signature?

   1. A. A boundary plat
   2. B. A survey report
   3. C. An earthwork cross section
   4. D. A project map

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NDAC 28-02.1-08-03(1) requires sealing of original surveying work product "other than earthwork cross sections." The listed exclusion applies to the earthwork cross section.

   Reference: nd1.ac_web — NDAC 28-02.1-08-03(1)

5. 5A professional land surveyor's individual registration has been inactive for two years and otherwise meets reinstatement requirements. What payment accompanies the Board-approved renewal form under the short-inactivity rule?

   1. A. The current renewal fee only
   2. B. The current fee plus one year's back renewal fee
   3. C. The current fee plus two years' back renewal fee
   4. D. Four years of back renewal fees

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NDAC 28-02.1-09-03(1) allows an individual registration inactive more than one but less than four years to be reinstated by "paying the renewal fee for the current registration period plus two years' back renewal fee." Two years inactive falls within that rule.

   Reference: nd1.ac_web — NDAC 28-02.1-09-03(1)

6. 6When responding to the North Dakota Board about a professional-conduct matter, how must a professional land surveyor communicate?

   1. A. Only through retained counsel
   2. B. Forthrightly and candidly
   3. C. Only after a formal hearing is set
   4. D. Confidentially and without admitting facts

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NDAC 28-03.1-01-01 requires a registrant to be "forthright and candid in statements or written responses to the board" on professional-conduct matters. The duty applies directly to the registrant's communications with the Board.

   Reference: nd1.ac_web — NDAC 28-03.1-01-01

7. 7A county surveyor can identify an original section corner from original field notes. What treatment does North Dakota law require?

   1. A. Average it with nearby occupation evidence
   2. B. Regard it as the original corner and do not change it
   3. C. Replace it at the record-coordinate position
   4. D. Move it to create equal adjoining acreage

   Answer: B

   Explanation: NDCC 11-20-07(1) says identified original corners "must not be changed while they can be so identified." Identification from the original field notes therefore requires holding the corner.

   Reference: North Dakota Century Code t11c20 — NDCC 11-20-07(1)

8. 8Outside incorporated cities and the excluded recorded plats, what public-road width follows a congressional section line?

   1. A. Thirty-three feet total
   2. B. Thirty-three feet on each side of the section line
   3. C. Sixty feet on each side of the section line
   4. D. Two rods total on the east side only

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Subject to the stated exclusions, NDCC 24-07-03 sets the width at "thirty-three feet [10.06 meters] on each side of the section lines." Option B gives the per-side width.

   Reference: North Dakota Century Code t24c07 — NDCC 24-07-03, first paragraph

9. 9A PLS uses a public land survey corner as control and finds no substantially matching existing corner record. By when must the new corner record be filed?

   1. A. Within thirty days
   2. B. Within sixty days
   3. C. Within ninety days
   4. D. Before any field crew leaves the site

   Answer: C

   Explanation: NDCC 47-20.1-03 requires filing "within ninety days thereafter" when a public land survey corner is used as control, unless the corner and accessories are substantially described in an existing filed record.

   Reference: North Dakota Century Code t47c20.1 — NDCC 47-20.1-03

10. 10How is North Dakota divided for use of the 1927 and 1983 state coordinate systems?

    1. A. Into one statewide zone
    2. B. Into north and south zones
    3. C. Into sixteen low-distortion zones
    4. D. Into one zone for each county

    Answer: B

    Explanation: For use of the 1927 and 1983 systems, NDCC 47-20.2-01(1) says "the state is divided into a north zone and a south zone." Option B matches that division.

    Reference: North Dakota Century Code t47c20.2 — NDCC 47-20.2-01(1)