PS — Surveying Degree Pathway
Detailed licensing requirements and pathways
LICENSE GRADE
Professional Surveyor
STATUS
current
EFFECTIVE DATE
2024-01-01
BASELINE MAPPING
sd_ps_surveying_degree
SOURCE SUMMARY
Primary pathway for land surveyors with surveying education program completion and 18+ semester hours of surveying courses
Requirements at a Glance
Visual summary of what this pathway requires
Education
OTHER
Bachelor
Exams
FS PS Law
Experience
4.0 years
Professional practice
Additional
• State Law Exam
Education Requirement
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EDUCATION
degree_level: BS
discipline: surveying
minimum_semester_hours: 18
surveying_courses: True
accreditation: OTHER
Required
South Dakota Administrative Rules Chapter 20:38 - Engineering & Surveying
ARSD 20:38:32:04, ARSD 20:38:30:03
Educational program described in § 20:38:30:03 with minimum 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses
85% confidence
Examination Requirements
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXAM
exam: FS
ncees_exam: True
Required
South Dakota Administrative Rules Chapter 20:38 - Engineering & Surveying
ARSD 20:38:32:04(1)
Fundamentals of Surveying examination prepared and scored by NCEES. May register while still enrolled if 18+ semester hours completed/enrolled
100% confidence
EXAM
exam: PS
ncees_exam: True
Required
South Dakota Administrative Rules Chapter 20:38 - Engineering & Surveying
ARSD 20:38:32:04(2)
Principles and Practice of Surveying examination prepared and scored by NCEES
100% confidence
LAW_EXAM
exam: Law
jurisdiction_specific: True
open_book: True
duration_hours: 2
electronic: True
Required
South Dakota Administrative Rules Chapter 20:38 - Engineering & Surveying
ARSD 20:38:32:04(3)
Two-hour open-book electronic examination of South Dakota land surveying practice and laws
100% confidence
Experience Requirement
Experience requirements are referenced in SDCL 36-18A-29 but specific years not provided in this document
Type Parameters Required Source Citation Notes
EXPERIENCE
years_required: 4.0
progressive: True
under_pe_ps_supervision: True
Required
South Dakota Administrative Rules Chapter 20:38 - Engineering & Surveying
SDCL 36-18A-29 (referenced in ARSD 20:38:32:04)
Experience requirements implemented under SDCL 36-18A-29 (complete text not provided in document). Standard surveying pathway typically requires 4 years
60% confidence