Free Ohio State-Specific Professional Surveyor Examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

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

1. 1How many times was Ohio's original Pennsylvania boundary resurveyed during the nineteenth century before both states were satisfied?

   1. A. Twice
   2. B. Once
   3. C. Three times
   4. D. Four times

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The official Ohio history states: “The boundary with Pennsylvania, originally completed in 1785-86 by Thomas Hutchins, was twice resurveyed in the nineteenth century before both Ohio and Pennsylvania were satisfied.” Therefore, the required count is two.

   Reference: 2011 Ohio (4612) — p. 11

2. 2A surveyor sets a conventional boundary monument where practicable. What minimum length applies?

   1. A. 36 inches
   2. B. 48 inches
   3. C. 30 inches
   4. D. 24 inches

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The controlling official text states: “(2) Have a minimum length of thirty inches.” O.A.C. 4733-37-03(C)(2) sets a minimum length of thirty inches.

   Reference: O.A.C. 4733-37-05(C)(6)(c) — O.A.C. 4733-37-03(C)(2)

3. 3What wording must appear on the Ohio seal obtained by a registered professional surveyor?

   1. A. Ohio Boundary Surveyor
   2. B. Licensed Land Surveyor
   3. C. Registered Professional Surveyor
   4. D. Registered Surveying Engineer

   Answer: C

   Explanation: O.A.C. 4733-23-01(A) specifies a seal bearing the registrant's name and the legend “Registered Professional Surveyor.”

   Reference: Oac 4733 23 — O.A.C. 4733-23-01(A)

4. 4Where does Ohio's Lake Erie public-trust territory end landward?

   1. A. At a fixed 1985 ordinary-high-water elevation
   2. B. At the instantaneous water's edge
   3. C. At the ordinary low-water mark
   4. D. At the natural shoreline

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The controlling official text states: “Syllabus ¶3: "The territory of Lake Erie held in trust by the state of Ohio for the people of the state extends to the natural shoreline, which is the line at which the water usually stands when free from disturbing causes."” Merrill's syllabus holds that the trust extends to the natural shoreline.

   Reference: 2011 Ohio (4612) — syllabus ¶3

5. 5An Ohio owner has condominium drawings for units and common elements and wants to submit the property to Chapter 5311. Which filing and Chapter 711 treatment follow R.C. 5311.02?

   1. A. Record the drawings; Chapter 711 subdivision process does not apply
   2. B. Record the owner's declaration; Chapter 711 subdivision process does not apply
   3. C. Record a subdivision plat; Chapter 711 subdivision process does not apply
   4. D. Record the owner's declaration; Chapter 711 subdivision process also applies

   Answer: B

   Explanation: R.C. 5311.02 requires "the execution and filing for record of a declaration by the owner" to submit property. It also says condominium submission does not constitute a Chapter 711 subdivision. The drawings and subdivision plat are different instruments, and the statute does not add Chapter 711 subdivision approval to the condominium submission.

   Reference: Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5311, Condominiums — R.C. 5311.02

6. 6When may Ohio plane coordinates recorded for a land corner constitute adequate location evidence?

   1. A. When original monuments or other acceptable controlling evidence are absent
   2. B. Whenever the coordinates appear on an unrecorded sketch
   3. C. Only when an original physical monument remains intact
   4. D. Only when every purchaser agrees to rely exclusively on them

   Answer: A

   Explanation: R.C. 157.04 states: “Plane co-ordinates, used to reference and describe land boundary corners and made a part of the recorded description of such corners, shall be considered adequate evidence of the location of such corners in the absence of original physical monuments or other acceptable controlling evidence of original corner locations.”

   Reference: Orc 157 04 — R.C. 157.04

7. 7A landowner asks the county engineer to preserve evidence at a corner becoming uncertain. Which original features must be particularly noted if found?

   1. A. Only newly set iron pins
   2. B. Only occupation fences
   3. C. Only current tax-map points
   4. D. Original corner trees or monuments

   Answer: D

   Explanation: The controlling official text states: “Any county engineer making surveys under sections 315.28 to 315.30, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall record the plat and certificate of such surveys in a book kept by him for that purpose, together with the depositions, notices, advertisements, and the evidence in relation to such depositions, notices, and advertisements, and shall, on demand, deliver the original plat and certificate of the survey to the person at whose instance such survey was made or depositions taken.” R.C. 315.28 requires noting particularly the situation and condition of original corner trees or monuments called for in the original survey.

   Reference: R.C. 315.25(A) — R.C. 315.28

8. 8A client selects Table A Item 1 for a 2026 ALTA/NSPS survey; no state or local rule separately requires it. Which treatment follows the standard?

   1. A. Include it as mandatory Section 5 fieldwork regardless of its selection
   2. B. Include it as requested Table A work in the agreed survey scope
   3. C. Include it only after a state or local monument rule mandates it
   4. D. Include it only after the title insurer adds it to its commitment

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Section 2 specifies "the optional items listed in Table A, if any, are to be incorporated." The client selected Item 1, so it enters scope as Table A work; Section 3(B) jurisdictional requirements are a separate path and a title commitment does not control Table A selection.

   Reference: 2026 Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys — 2026 ALTA/NSPS Standards §§2, 8 and Table A

9. 9An Ohio agency plans to survey land before filing its eminent-domain petition and will reimburse actual damage. Under R.C. 163.03, what is the greatest permitted lead time between notice to the owner and entry?

   1. A. Twenty days before the proposed entry
   2. B. Thirty days before the proposed entry
   3. C. Forty-five days before the proposed entry
   4. D. Sixty days before the proposed entry

   Answer: B

   Explanation: R.C. 163.03 requires notice "not less than forty-eight hours nor more than thirty days prior to the date of such entry." Thirty days is the greatest permitted lead time; twenty days is within the window but is not the greatest. The separate actual-damage duty is acknowledged in the stem and second source paragraph.

   Reference: Ohio Revised Code 163.03, Right of entry — R.C. 163.03, first and second paragraphs

10. 10A recorded North Farm survey plat at Plat Book 12, page 40 depicts Parcels A and B; page 41 holds a different survey plat. The owner conveys Parcel B from North Farm. Which reference definitely identifies the conveyed tract?

    1. A. Parcel B, North Farm survey plat, Plat Book 12, page 40
    2. B. Parcel A, North Farm survey plat, Plat Book 12, page 40
    3. C. Parcel B, North Farm survey plat, Plat Book 12, page 41
    4. D. Parcel A, North Farm survey plat, Plat Book 12, page 41

    Answer: A

    Explanation: Rule 4733-37-06(C) requires "technical wording so that the property can be definitely located and defined." The recorded plat identity and Parcel B label together identify the conveyed tract; each other option changes either the parcel or the recorded page.

    Reference: Ohio Administrative Code Rule 4733-37-06, authenticated PDF — Rule 4733-37-06(C), p. 2