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Land Surveyor
Land surveyor licensing requires a combination of education, experience, and passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exams. Most states also require a state-specific exam covering local laws and minimum technical standards.
51
Total States
51
PLS Available
43
State Exam Required
4 yrs
Avg Experience
Land surveyor licensing follows a progression from Survey Intern (SI) to Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), with increasing education, experience, and exam requirements at each level.
Most states require a bachelor's degree in surveying or geomatics from an ABET-accredited program, followed by passing the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam to become a Survey Intern. Some states accept related degrees with additional experience.
After passing the FS exam, aspiring surveyors gain 4+ years of progressive experience under a licensed Professional Land Surveyor. They then take the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam and often a state-specific exam on local laws and minimum standards.
Licensed surveyors can often transfer credentials through the NCEES comity process. Surveyors who meet Model Law Surveyor requirements may qualify for expedited licensure. Most states still require passing a state-specific exam on local laws and standards.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | PLS Available | Experience (yrs) | FS Exam | State Exam | Fees | CE Hours | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $900 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $950 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $1,100 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $775 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| California(CA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $950 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $1,000 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $901 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $920 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $900 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $750 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $844 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $780 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $750 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $780 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $775 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $1,000 | 0 | Mar 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $788 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $830 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $760 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $850 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $1,000 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $820 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $910 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $964 | 36 | Mar 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $755 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $700 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $700 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $825 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $755 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $810 | 20 | Mar 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $780 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $800 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $900 | 12 | Mar 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $775 | 24 | Mar 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $790 | 16 | Mar 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $1,034 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $775 | 15 | Mar 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Yes | 4 | Yes | Yes | $780 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Yes | 4 | Yes | No | $800 | 30 | Mar 2026 |
Land surveyors often work alongside other licensed professionals in construction and engineering. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study guides for the NCEES FS and PS licensing exams.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
In-depth articles to help you get licensed
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