PS — Surveying Degree Pathway
Detailed licensing requirements and pathways
LICENSE GRADE
Professional Surveyor
STATUS
current
EFFECTIVE DATE
2024-01-01
SOURCE SUMMARY
Standard pathway for PS licensure with approved four-year land surveying curriculum. Requires FS and PS exams, California state-specific exam, qualifying experience, and professional references.; Pathway for PS licensure with non-approved land surveying curriculum (B.S. or equivalent). Requires additional experience beyond approved curriculum pathway and may qualify for FS waiver with 17+ years experience.
Requirements at a Glance
Visual summary of what this pathway requires
Education
BOARD_APPROVED
Bachelor
or
BOARD_APPROVED
Bachelor
Exams
FS PS LAW FS PS LAW
Experience
17.0 years
Professional practice
References
4
References
Education Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EDUCATION
degree_level: BS
discipline: land surveying
accreditation: BOARD_APPROVED
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8741.1(c); Title 16 CCR Section 425
Graduation from approved four-year land surveying curriculum. Education must be from land surveying education program; land surveying coursework alone does not meet requirement.
100% confidence
Examination Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXAM
exam: FS
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8741
NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam required for licensure as Professional Land Surveyor. May be waived under certain conditions per Section 8741.1(c).
100% confidence
EXAM
exam: PS
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Article 4 Examination Requirements
NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam required.
100% confidence
EXAM
exam: LAW
jurisdiction_specific: True
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
California state-specific Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam requirement
California state-specific Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam administered twice yearly (spring and fall). 2-hour exam covering Professional Land Surveyors' Act (Business and Professions Code sections 8700-8805), Board Rules (Title 16 CCR sections 400-476), Subdivision Map Act, local ordinances, boundary law, legal descriptions, California Coordinate System, and related topics. Applicants may retake until passing.
100% confidence
Experience Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXPERIENCE
years_required: 0
progressive: True
under_pe_ps_supervision: True
broad_based: True
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8742; Title 16 CCR Section 425
Qualifying experience must be completed by date of application submittal, calculated on actual time basis not to exceed 40 hours per week. Experience must demonstrate broad-based progressive responsibility in land surveying work. Approved four-year land surveying curriculum graduates may receive education credit reducing experience requirement. References must verify sufficient months of qualifying land surveying experience.
95% confidence
Reference Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
REFERENCES
count: 4
from_pe_ps_only: True
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8743
Minimum of four (4) completed Work Experience Engagement/Reference forms required. References must be land surveyors or civil engineers duly qualified to practice in the place where practice was conducted, with sufficient knowledge of applicant to certify qualifications. Each reference reviews Part A and completes Part B. If using NCEES Record, must include summary of all engagements listed within NCEES Record.
100% confidence
Education Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EDUCATION
degree_level: BS
discipline: land surveying
accreditation: BOARD_APPROVED
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8741.1(c)(3); Title 16 CCR Section 425
Graduation from non-approved land surveying curriculum with B.S. degree or equivalent. Education must be from land surveying education program.
100% confidence
Examination Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXAM
exam: FS
Optional
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8741.1(c)(3)
NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam may be waived if applicant is graduate of non-approved land surveying curriculum with B.S. degree or equivalent and submits satisfactory evidence of 17 years or more of qualifying experience.
100% confidence
EXAM
exam: PS
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Article 4 Examination Requirements
NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam required.
100% confidence
EXAM
exam: LAW
jurisdiction_specific: True
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
California state-specific Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam requirement
California state-specific Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) exam administered twice yearly. 2-hour exam covering Professional Land Surveyors' Act, Board Rules, and related surveying law topics.
100% confidence
Experience Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXPERIENCE
years_required: 17.0
progressive: True
under_pe_ps_supervision: True
broad_based: True
Required
California Professional Land Surveyors' Act
Business and Professions Code Section 8741.1(c)(3); Section 8742; Title 16 CCR Section 425
17 years or more of qualifying experience required to qualify for FS waiver. Experience must be completed by date of application submittal, calculated on actual time basis not to exceed 40 hours per week. Must demonstrate broad-based progressive responsibility in land surveying work.
100% confidence