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Indiana Land Surveyor — Requirements & Free Practice

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Conditional License

Conditional professional-surveyor license during reinstatement investigation or continuing-education compliance proceedings.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Conditional license — continuing education noncompliance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Noncompliance
On the first qualifying notice of CE noncompliance, the Board issues a conditional renewal license pending statutory compliance. Within twenty-one days request review and provide proof, or pay the applicable penalty and obtain the missing CE within six months. Failure to comply leads to suspension/refusal; proof of compliance replaces the conditional license.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Conditional license — pending reinstatement investigation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Investigation
Applicant seeks reinstatement; the agency may delay reinstatement up to 120 days to investigate possible discipline, and the Board may issue a conditional license effective until reinstatement is granted or denied. The credential is the interim license, not the underlying expired-license reinstatement decision.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Surveyor Firm

Board-listed firm registration; surveying must be directed by its licensed professional surveyor.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Surveyor firm registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Certification
The professional surveyor’s name appears when the firm name is used; certification documents bear the responsible professional surveyor’s signature and seal. Apply through the PLA Surveyor Firm application process.
Licensed supervision
The firm’s work must be directed and supervised by a full-time employed professional surveyor who is a principal of the firm/partnership or corporate officer. Every office offering surveys must have such a professional surveyor in charge with responsible control and regular hours for clients and employee supervision. The professional’s registration is an applicant condition of the firm, not a firm examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Inactive Professional Surveyor

Inactive registration; practice is prohibited until reactivated.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Renew professional surveyor registration into or in inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Status
An existing professional surveyor may renew in inactive status; no continuing education is required and surveying practice is prohibited. The Board’s current instructions impose no inactive renewal fee.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Surveyor Intern

Certificate of enrollment confirming passage of the examination in fundamental surveying subjects and enrollment as a surveyor intern.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Surveyor intern certification — approved curriculum
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Application
Pay the application fee; provide transcripts/foreign-degree evaluation and supplemental education form, legal-name and positive-response documents as applicable, and direct verification of other professional licenses.
Education and experience
Graduate from an approved surveying curriculum of at least four years. The approved-degree categories in 865 IAC 1-2-2 require no work experience for intern certification.
Examination
Provide NCEES notification of passing the FS examination; the Board’s current FAQ states that the intern certificate has no expiration or renewal.
References
Provide three references with the statutory Board number and date within one year; IC 25-21.5-5-9 excepts qualifying Indiana seniors applying for the examination scheduled at their institution before graduation. Nongraduates provide confirmed technical-work summaries, with alternative evidence permitted when confirmation is impossible.
Surveyor intern certification — equivalent education and experience
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Application
Pay the application fee; provide transcripts/foreign-degree evaluation and supplemental education form, legal-name and positive-response documents as applicable, and direct verification of other professional licenses.
Education and experience
Show a record of four years of surveying education and experience equivalent to an approved four-year curriculum. Under 865 IAC 1-2-2, an associate-degree applicant with the specified coursework needs two years’ experience, a nonapproved-bachelor’s applicant needs one, and the other degree categories in 865 IAC 1-2-1(b) need none.
Examination
Provide NCEES notification of passing the FS examination; the Board’s current FAQ states that the intern certificate has no expiration or renewal.
References
Provide three references with the statutory Board number and date within one year; IC 25-21.5-5-9 excepts qualifying Indiana seniors applying for the examination scheduled at their institution before graduation. Nongraduates provide confirmed technical-work summaries, with alternative evidence permitted when confirmation is impossible.

Probationary License

Professional-surveyor license issued subject to Board-imposed probationary limitations.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Probationary issuance — comity
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Assigned examination parts
865 IAC 1-5-2 assigns Part IIB to an otherwise qualified surveyor licensed elsewhere. IC 25-21.5-6-5 permits a written examination when the Board considers it necessary. The Board’s comity FAQ states that it assigns examination parts as needed when original standards were lower; FS and PS references are contingent on that assignment, not a statement that every comity applicant must retake them.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Existing license
Hold a valid professional-surveyor license issued by another U.S. jurisdiction. IC 25-21.5-7-4 evaluates the original standards against Indiana standards then in force; 865 IAC 1-5-1 deems current Indiana qualifications sufficient.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Probationary issuance — examination approved curriculum
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Education and experience
Graduation in an approved surveying curriculum and the statutory four years of post-graduation qualifying experience; 865 IAC 1-2-1(b) assigns four years for the approved bachelor’s degree, three for a surveying master’s following that degree, and two for a surveying doctorate following that degree, with at least half the required experience following the first degree.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Probationary issuance — examination equivalent education experience
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Education and experience
IC 25-21.5-5-2(2) requires a record approximating eight years of surveying education and experience. Under 865 IAC 1-2-1(b), the work-experience minima are three years for a surveying doctorate following a nonapproved bachelor’s, four for a surveying master’s following a nonapproved bachelor’s, five for a nonapproved bachelor’s, and six for an associate degree with the prescribed coursework; at least half the required experience follows the first degree. IC 25-21.5-5-5 authorizes specified educational credits and recognizes responsible surveying teaching.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Probationary issuance — military existing license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing license
Be a military-service applicant with an existing jurisdiction’s current license whose requirements substantially equal or exceed Indiana’s, held for at least one year.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
Standing
No disqualifying act or pending complaint/investigation for unprofessional conduct or crime; apply and pay the Board fees under the complete notwithstanding-other-law conditions in IC 25-1-17-4.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Probationary issuance — military family existing license
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Competency
Demonstrate competency by Board-determined methods. For an otherwise qualified land surveyor applying from another state, 865 IAC 1-5-2 assigns Part IIB. Apply and pay the required fees.
Existing license
Hold a substantially equivalent or higher current license from another jurisdiction for at least one year, be in good standing without discipline, and have no disqualifying act or pending complaint/investigation.
Family status
Be a military spouse or dependent as defined by IC 25-1-17-1.5 and -3.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
Probationary issuance — military training
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Military training
Complete a military training program, receive a military occupational specialty and perform in that specialty at a level substantially equivalent to or exceeding the Board’s academic or experience requirements.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
Standing
No disqualifying act or pending occupational-board complaint/investigation for unprofessional conduct or crime; apply and pay the Board fees. The complete statutory issuance conditions are in IC 25-1-17-4 and operate notwithstanding other law.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Probationary issuance — military unlicensed occupation experience
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
Standing
Be a military member, spouse or dependent; have no disqualifying act, disciplinary history or pending complaint/investigation; apply and pay fees. IC 25-1-17-5.5 contains the complete issuance conditions, notwithstanding other law.
Work experience
Have at least three years’ work in a jurisdiction that does not license the lawful occupation, where the Board determines a similar scope of practice requires Indiana licensure.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Probationary issuance — new license after revocation
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Revocation
A revoked license cannot be reinstated. IC 25-1-11-15 permits a new application only after seven years; the new applicant must satisfy the applicable registration requirements and any Board decisions.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Probationary issuance — prior identical registration
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Prior registration and waiver
IC 25-21.5-5-3(b) permits the Board to waive examination when the applicant has previously held an identical Indiana professional-surveyor certificate. The examination references remain; waiver is determined by the Board.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Probationary issuance — readmission after exhausted attempts
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Probation
The Board may refuse or issue on probation under IC 25-1-11-19 for relevant discipline, disqualifying conduct or unlicensed practice. The license may limit practice, require reports or education, or impose other rehabilitative/public-interest acts. The underlying applicant pathway’s examination requirements remain applicable.
Readmission
After exhausting the permitted attempts, complete at least nine semester hours of surveying college courses and at least three years of appropriate surveying experience following termination before reapplying. The readmitted applicant is treated as a new examinee except a previously passed Part I need not be repeated.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Renewal subject to continuing probation conditions
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Twenty-four hours including six mandatory and eighteen elective; the first renewal after initial registration is exempt. Maintain completion evidence for three years. Course/graded distance-learning completion requirements are applicant education conditions, not independent licensure examinations.
Probation
Comply with the limitations and conditions of the Board’s probationary order.
Renewal
Renew biennially, pay the active renewal fee, and submit the required continuing-education compliance statement. The period is August 1 of an even year through July 31 of the next even year.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Professional Surveyor

Individual registration authorizing the practice of surveying in Indiana.

Licensing authority: State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors · Application information

Biennial active renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Twenty-four hours including six mandatory and eighteen elective; the first renewal after initial registration is exempt. Maintain completion evidence for three years. Course/graded distance-learning completion requirements are applicant education conditions, not independent licensure examinations.
Renewal
Renew biennially, pay the active renewal fee, and submit the required continuing-education compliance statement. The period is August 1 of an even year through July 31 of the next even year.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Renewal or reinstatement after continuing education noncompliance
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Compliance
Provide proof of compliance after a conditional license or suspension; if a repeat notice caused denial, pay the statutory civil penalty, complete all missing credit hours and otherwise comply with IC 25-1-4. Remedial credit does not count again in the period in which it is earned.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by comity
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Assigned examination parts
865 IAC 1-5-2 assigns Part IIB to an otherwise qualified surveyor licensed elsewhere. IC 25-21.5-6-5 permits a written examination when the Board considers it necessary. The Board’s comity FAQ states that it assigns examination parts as needed when original standards were lower; FS and PS references are contingent on that assignment, not a statement that every comity applicant must retake them.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Existing license
Hold a valid professional-surveyor license issued by another U.S. jurisdiction. IC 25-21.5-7-4 evaluates the original standards against Indiana standards then in force; 865 IAC 1-5-1 deems current Indiana qualifications sufficient.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Licensure by examination — approved surveying curriculum
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Education and experience
Graduation in an approved surveying curriculum and the statutory four years of post-graduation qualifying experience; 865 IAC 1-2-1(b) assigns four years for the approved bachelor’s degree, three for a surveying master’s following that degree, and two for a surveying doctorate following that degree, with at least half the required experience following the first degree.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Licensure by examination — equivalent education and experience
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Education and experience
IC 25-21.5-5-2(2) requires a record approximating eight years of surveying education and experience. Under 865 IAC 1-2-1(b), the work-experience minima are three years for a surveying doctorate following a nonapproved bachelor’s, four for a surveying master’s following a nonapproved bachelor’s, five for a nonapproved bachelor’s, and six for an associate degree with the prescribed coursework; at least half the required experience follows the first degree. IC 25-21.5-5-5 authorizes specified educational credits and recognizes responsible surveying teaching.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Renewal after out of state active military duty
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing education
Twenty-four hours including six mandatory and eighteen elective; the first renewal after initial registration is exempt. Maintain completion evidence for three years. Course/graded distance-learning completion requirements are applicant education conditions, not independent licensure examinations.
Military extension
Meet IC 25-1-12-6(b): license not revoked/suspended/lapsed or under complaint when entering duty; expiration occurs during out-of-state duty without prior expiration notice; provide discharge or movement orders. Renewal and CE are extended to 180 days after discharge/release, or up to 365 days for an approved duty-related illness/injury/disability; late fees are waived.
Renewal
Renew biennially, pay the active renewal fee, and submit the required continuing-education compliance statement. The period is August 1 of an even year through July 31 of the next even year.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Military service applicant — equivalent license held at least one year
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Existing license
Be a military-service applicant with an existing jurisdiction’s current license whose requirements substantially equal or exceed Indiana’s, held for at least one year.
Standing
No disqualifying act or pending complaint/investigation for unprofessional conduct or crime; apply and pay the Board fees under the complete notwithstanding-other-law conditions in IC 25-1-17-4.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Military spouse or dependent — equivalent license and demonstrated competency
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Competency
Demonstrate competency by Board-determined methods. For an otherwise qualified land surveyor applying from another state, 865 IAC 1-5-2 assigns Part IIB. Apply and pay the required fees.
Existing license
Hold a substantially equivalent or higher current license from another jurisdiction for at least one year, be in good standing without discipline, and have no disqualifying act or pending complaint/investigation.
Family status
Be a military spouse or dependent as defined by IC 25-1-17-1.5 and -3.
Military service applicant — equivalent military training and occupational specialty
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Military training
Complete a military training program, receive a military occupational specialty and perform in that specialty at a level substantially equivalent to or exceeding the Board’s academic or experience requirements.
Standing
No disqualifying act or pending occupational-board complaint/investigation for unprofessional conduct or crime; apply and pay the Board fees. The complete statutory issuance conditions are in IC 25-1-17-4 and operate notwithstanding other law.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Military member, spouse or dependent — qualifying work experience in an unlicensed occupation
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Standing
Be a military member, spouse or dependent; have no disqualifying act, disciplinary history or pending complaint/investigation; apply and pay fees. IC 25-1-17-5.5 contains the complete issuance conditions, notwithstanding other law.
Work experience
Have at least three years’ work in a jurisdiction that does not license the lawful occupation, where the Board determines a similar scope of practice requires Indiana licensure.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

New application after revocation
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Revocation
A revoked license cannot be reinstated. IC 25-1-11-15 permits a new application only after seven years; the new applicant must satisfy the applicable registration requirements and any Board decisions.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Reregistration after previously holding an identical Indiana certificate
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Prior registration and waiver
IC 25-21.5-5-3(b) permits the Board to waive examination when the applicant has previously held an identical Indiana professional-surveyor certificate. The examination references remain; waiver is determined by the Board.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Removal of probationary restrictions
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Hearing
Under IC 25-1-11-19(d), the Board removes limitations after a public hearing when the deficiency is remedied; under IC 25-1-11-12(c), disciplinary probation may be withdrawn or modified after a hearing for remediation or changed circumstances.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reactivation after more than six years in inactive status
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Examination and education
Pass Part IIB of the next regularly scheduled examination and show twenty-four CE hours completed within the immediately preceding two years.
Next renewal
Meet the additional, prorated continuing-education requirement in 865 IAC 1-15-17, including required mandatory topics unless the table assigns zero hours.
Prior status
Hold an inactive professional-surveyor registration for more than six years at filing; apply on the Board form and pay the active renewal fee.
Reactivation after six years or less in inactive status
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Examination and education
Either pass Part IIB of the next regularly scheduled examination or show twenty-four CE hours completed within the immediately preceding two years.
Next renewal
Meet the additional, prorated continuing-education requirement in 865 IAC 1-15-17, including required mandatory topics unless the table assigns zero hours.
Prior status
Hold an inactive professional-surveyor registration for six years or less at filing; apply on the Board form and pay the active renewal fee.
Readmission after termination for failed examination attempts
Application
Submit the Board application, pay the applicable fee, supply transcripts or a foreign-degree evaluation when required, document legal name changes, and fully document positive application responses. The PLA application instructions require a U.S. Social Security number and treat an application as abandoned if requirements are not supplied within one year.
Criminal eligibility
IC 25-21.5-5-4, IC 25-1-1.1-6 and 865 IAC 2-1 govern convictions. A conviction of concern can be evaluated for licensing with the statutory relevance, timing, rehabilitation and hearing protections; 865 IAC 2-1-2 permits licensing based on IC 25-1-1.1-6(h).
Curriculum
The education includes twelve semester hours of college mathematics including calculus or differential equations, five hours of physics, six hours in the specified sciences, and twenty-seven hours in the specified surveying subjects; honorary/correspondence degrees and duplicate course credit do not qualify. The Board may require course descriptions or foreign-education evaluation.
Exam admission
Board approval precedes exam registration. The Board’s notice identifies the parts to take. Rules 865 IAC 1-4-3, -4, -6 and -7 govern testing windows, deadlines, attempts, credit for passed parts and termination/readmission; the FS is limited to three attempts in twelve months.
Experience supervision
865 IAC 1-2-1 requires supervision by an appropriately licensed professional surveyor, no experience before age eighteen, at least half the experience under a licensed surveyor in a U.S. state or territory, progressive responsibility, and at least sixty percent in the boundary/property activities specified in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4)–(7).
Fs exemption
IC 25-21.5-6-2 permits exemption from the basic-disciplines part for an equivalent intern certificate; 865 IAC 1-4-5 exempts holders of a valid land-surveyor-in-training certificate. FS remains a current examination reference; the certificate is the applicant’s exemption condition.
Intern education exception
A valid surveyor-intern certificate permits relying on the education accepted for FS admission if the professional-examination application is made within five years of passing that FS examination.
Readmission
After exhausting the permitted attempts, complete at least nine semester hours of surveying college courses and at least three years of appropriate surveying experience following termination before reapplying. The readmitted applicant is treated as a new examinee except a previously passed Part I need not be repeated.
References
Provide five references, including three registered professional surveyors with personal knowledge of the experience; each statutory reference includes the Board-assigned number and is dated within one year of application.
Technical work
Provide a detailed technical-work summary confirmed by the supervising professional surveyor; the Board may accept other evidence when confirmation is impossible for reasons beyond the applicant’s control.
Verification
The Board’s current instructions require verification sent directly from every jurisdiction that issued a professional registration, license or certification.
Reinstatement — more than six years expired
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Board documentation
The current PLA instructions request a work-history/resume since expiration, statements about Indiana surveying and use of the seal, verification of an active license in another jurisdiction, and proof of CE for the past two years.
Examination and education
865 IAC 1-15-18 incorporates section 16: pass Part IIB of the next regular examination and complete twenty-four CE hours in the preceding two years, with section 17 post-reactivation CE.
Lapse
Previously issued professional-surveyor license expired more than six years; not revoked or suspended.
Statutory requirements
IC 25-1-8-6(d) requires application, current renewal fee and reinstatement fee equal to the initial application fee, sworn CE compliance or remediation, appropriate Board-prescribed remediation/training, and other nonfee statutory/rule requirements.
Reinstatement — more than three and no more than six years expired
Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)
Board documentation
The current PLA instructions request a work-history/resume since expiration, statements about Indiana surveying and use of the seal, verification of an active license in another jurisdiction, and proof of CE for the past two years.
Examination and education
865 IAC 1-15-18 incorporates section 15: either Part IIB of the next regular examination or twenty-four CE hours in the preceding two years, with section 17 post-reactivation CE.
Lapse
Previously issued professional-surveyor license expired more than three years but six years or less; not revoked or suspended.
Statutory requirements
IC 25-1-8-6(d) requires application, current renewal fee and reinstatement fee equal to the initial application fee, sworn CE compliance or remediation, appropriate Board-prescribed remediation/training, and other nonfee statutory/rule requirements.
Reinstatement of a license delinquent three years or less
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board rule statement
865 IAC 1-15-18(b) states: “A registered land surveyor who wishes to reinstate a license that has been expired for six (6) years or less must meet the continuing education requirements as provided for in sections 15 and 17 of this rule for reactivation of inactive licenses.” Section 15 states: “must either: (1) pass part IIB of the next regularly scheduled land surveyor examination; or (2) show proof of having completed twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education”. The controlling notwithstanding-other-law statute supplies this three-years-or-less route’s exhaustive reinstatement conditions; the lower-ranked rule’s additional alternative is retained here.
Lapse
The license was issued by the Board, has lapsed three years or less, and was not revoked or suspended.
Statutory requirements
Under IC 25-1-8-6(c), notwithstanding other reinstatement law, submit the renewal application, pay current renewal and reinstatement fees, and submit sworn CE compliance or meet IC 25-1-4-5 and -6 remediation requirements.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement of a surrendered license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board decision
The Board must have approved surrender and may impose conditions appropriate to reinstatement of that surrendered license; no particular licensing examination is identified by this provision.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement of a suspended license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Board decision
After a hearing the Board must be satisfied of reasonable skill, safety and competency; it may impose authorized disciplinary or corrective measures. This provision identifies no separate licensing examination; any individual remedial order is an applicant condition.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam

Provider
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); administered year-round in testing windows at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers
Format
Computer-based test, closed book with an electronic reference (NCEES FS Reference Handbook and the specified standards); includes alternative item types (AITs) in addition to traditional multiple-choice questions; uses both SI and U.S. Customary units
Exam questions
110 questions
Time limit
6-hour appointment: nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), tutorial (8 minutes), exam (5 hours and 20 minutes), scheduled break (25 minutes)
Passing score
Results reported as pass or fail; failing examinees receive a diagnostic report by major topic
Exam fee
$225 exam fee payable directly to NCEES
Examination outline
  • 1. Surveying Processes and Methods (16–24 of 110 questions)
    • A. Instrumentation (e.g., GNSS/GPS, levels, total stations, robotic total stations, scanners, UAS)
    • B. GNSS/GPS surveys (e.g., static, kinematic, OPUS, real-time networks)
    • C. Control surveys (e.g., horizontal, vertical, network design, accuracy standards)
    • D. Cadastral (e.g., Public Land Survey System [PLSS], boundary, metes and bounds, land title)
    • E. Topographic surveys
    • F. Construction surveys (e.g., layout, as-built, quantity)
    • G. Land development (e.g., subdivision design/platting, land use, environmental, flood plains, wetlands)
    • H. Field record keeping and documentation (e.g., procedures, field books, raw data files)
  • 2. Mapping Processes and Methods (14–21 of 110 questions)
    • A. Basic mapping concepts (e.g., scaling, symbols, features, legend, contours, cartography)
    • B. Types of maps (e.g., plan and profile, cross section, plat, record of survey, ALTA, topographic, planimetric)
    • C. CAD (e.g., 2-D, 3-D, building information modeling [BIM])
    • D. GIS (e.g., feature collection, map projections, coordinate systems, metadata, database design and management, spatial data analysis, GIS applications)
    • E. Digital terrain model (e.g., machine control, triangulated irregular network [TIN], digital surface model, digital elevation model)
    • F. Photogrammetry and remote sensing (e.g., close range, conventional, softcopy, ground control, quality control, flight planning, project planning, UAS, drone, LiDAR, satellite, digital image analysis and processing)
  • 3. Boundary Law and Real Property Principles (19–29 of 110 questions)
    • A. Public records and descriptions (e.g., land descriptions, mineral rights, ownership rights, weighting evidence)
    • B. Common law principles (e.g., controlling elements, unwritten rights, adverse possession)
    • C. Easements (e.g., granted, implied/prescriptive)
    • D. Simultaneous and sequential conveyances
    • E. Metes and bounds
    • F. PLSS
    • G. Water law (e.g., riparian, littoral rights, water marks/levels)
    • H. Sources of law (e.g., federal/state/local, administrative, common, citations, legal research)
    • I. Encumbrances (e.g., restrictive covenants, mortgages, liens)
    • J. Real property law (e.g., deeds, chains of title)
  • 4. Surveying Principles (13–20 of 110 questions)
    • A. Basic surveying (e.g., horizontal surveys, vertical surveys, understanding of historical methods and instruments, route surveying, magnetic declination)
    • B. Geodesy (e.g., spherical trigonometry, geometric, physical, geodetic coordinates, orthometric corrections, convergence, geodetic reductions, gravity modeling, geoid modeling)
    • C. Applied geodesy (e.g., datums and datum conversions, latitude/longitude, coordinate transformations, state plane coordinate system [SPCS], map projections, control networks, reduction of observations, deflection of vertical, satellite coordinate systems)
  • 5. Survey Computations and Computer Applications (17–26 of 110 questions)
    • A. Coordinate geometry
    • B. Traverse closure and adjustments
    • C. Leveling (e.g., differential, trigonometric, reciprocal, precise)
    • D. Least squares adjustments
    • E. Area
    • F. Horizontal curves
    • G. Vertical curves
    • H. Volume (e.g., mass diagrams, earthwork)
    • I. Spreadsheets
    • J. Slopes and grades
  • 6. Business Concepts (11–17 of 110 questions)
    • A. Project planning (e.g., resource management, scheduling, cost estimation, tracking)
    • B. Safety (e.g., signage, basic first aid, safety equipment)
    • C. Liabilities (e.g., negligence, employee behavior, errors and omissions)
    • D. Contracts (e.g., basic elements, scope of work, specifications)
    • E. Supervision (e.g., survey team leadership, personnel management)
    • F. Project documentation and record management
    • G. Ethics
    • H. Communication (e.g., written communication, oral communication, alternate forms of communication, conflict resolution)
  • 7. Applied Mathematics and Statistics (10–15 of 110 questions)
    • A. College mathematics (e.g., trigonometry, analytical geometry and calculus, linear algebra and matrix theory)
    • B. Probability and statistics (e.g., mean, median, mode, hypothesis testing, normal distribution, linear regression)
    • C. Measurement science (e.g., error analysis, error propagation, positional tolerance, positional accuracy, random/systematic/blunder errors, unit conversions)
    • D. Quantitative reasoning (e.g., critical thinking, data analysis and validation, blunder detection, data quality, redundancy)
Examination sources

Indiana Specific Law Exam (Part 2B)

Provider
State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors
Format
Written examination with multiple-choice questions and a graded legal-description writing problem
Time limit
2.5 hours
Passing score
70%
Examination outline
  • Principles and practice — Indiana Section B (IC 25-21.5-6-1(2)(B))
    • Federal laws and regulations
    • Practices pertaining to the establishment, description, and reestablishment of land boundaries
    • The platting of subdivisions
    • Ethical, economic, and legal principles relating to the practice of surveying
    • Principles of mathematics relating to the practice of surveying
    • Indiana laws and rules
    • Work that the professional surveyor is permitted to perform under IC 25-21.5
    • Writing and interpreting legal descriptions and solving narrative problems regarding the analysis and execution of surveys and survey problems
  • Legal description writing problem
    • No abbreviations
    • No symbols, other than for degrees, minutes and seconds
    • Correct spelling and punctuation
    • Adequate curve data
    • Designation of the basis of bearings
    • Appropriate reference to the Office of the County Recorder
    • Proper caption referencing the underlying original survey
    • Proper controlling calls to or along monuments, aliquot lines, adjoiners, water features, and other appropriate controls
    • Adequate and appropriate curve data
    • Proper reference to controlling physical monuments, including relationship to the surface of the ground
    • No conflicting or extraneous wording
    • Reference to and along a meander line, if appropriate
  • Multiple-choice questions — published general topics
    • Engineering Design
    • Indiana Rules and Regulations related to surveying
    • Indiana Survey Standards and IC 25-21.5-1-6.5
    • Indiana continuing education requirements
    • Geodesy
    • ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
    • Surveyor General Edward Tiffin’s instructions for surveys of the public lands
    • The United States Public Land Surveys System
    • Legal Principles
    • Legal Descriptions
Examination sources

Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam

Provider
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); administered year-round via computer-based testing at approved Pearson test centers
Format
Computer-based, closed book with an electronic reference (NCEES PS Reference Handbook and the specified standards); U.S. Customary units; questions require a variety of approaches and methodologies, including design, analysis, and application
Exam questions
100 questions
Time limit
7 hours, including a tutorial and an optional scheduled break
Passing score
Results reported as pass or fail; failing examinees receive a diagnostic report by major topic
Exam fee
$375 exam fee payable directly to NCEES
Examination outline
  • 1. Legal Principles (18–27 of 100 questions)
    • A. Principles of Evidence — 1. How to search for data and for physical evidence to evaluate data; 2. How to evaluate data; 3. Parol evidence; 4. Prescriptive rights; 5. Adverse possession; 6. Acquiescence; 7. Controlling elements; 8. Easement rights
    • B. Common Law Boundary Principles — 1. Historical and current common law principles; 2. Riparian and littoral rights; 3. Sovereign rights, including both navigable waters and eminent domain; 4. Sovereign land grants
    • C. Sequential and Simultaneous Conveyance Concepts — 1. Types of conveyances; 2. Junior/senior rights; 3. Record and physical evidence
    • D. Legal Descriptions for Real Property Transactions — 1. Preparation and interpretation of legal descriptions; 2. Controlling elements and how they impact the description; 3. Unwritten rights and how they impact the description; 4. Encumbrances and how they impact the description; 5. Easements and how they impact the description
    • E. Evidence for the Perpetuation of the U.S. PLSS
  • 2. Professional Survey Practices (22–33 of 100 questions)
    • A. Public/Private Record Sources — 1. Resources for private and public records; 2. Local public records indexing and filing system; 3. Local survey office records
    • B. Documentation, Supervision, and Clear Communication of Field Procedures — 1. Field surveying techniques; 2. Field surveying practices; 3. Data collection protocols
    • C. GPS/GNSS including satellite constellations, static GPS, RTK, PPP, and virtual networks
    • D. Surveying Principles and Computations — 1. Technical computations; 2. Applicable software
    • E. Monumentation Standards — 1. Applicable monumentation criteria; 2. Monument types
    • F. Land Development Solutions — 1. Regulatory land development criteria; 2. Construction criteria; 3. Land development implementation procedures
    • G. Survey Maps/Plats/Reports — 1. Technical communications by schematic, platting, and mapping processes and procedures; 2. Communication options
    • H. GIS — 1. GIS spatial databases and metadata; 2. Datums and projections related to GIS
  • 3. Standards and Specifications (8–12 of 100 questions)
    • A. BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions
    • B. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards — 1. Current ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey Standards; 2. State statutes regarding boundary surveys in conjunction with ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
    • C. FEMA Requirements — 1. FEMA specifications and instructions; 2. Horizontal and vertical datums related to FEMA flood zones; 3. Current FEMA elevation certificate; 4. FEMA Flood Insurance Study
  • 4. Business Practices (13–19 of 100 questions)
    • A. General Business Practices and Procedures — 1. Project planning and project management; 2. Deliverables; 3. Costs, budgets, and contracts; 4. Types of surveys; 5. Site features and conditions; 6. Scope of services; 7. Appropriate equipment and instruments
    • B. Risk Management Procedures — 1. Safety procedures; 2. QA/QC methods; 3. Risk management in contracts; 4. Insurance needs and requirements; 5. Potential liabilities
    • C. Professional Conduct
    • D. Communication with Clients, Staff, Related Professions, and the Public — 1. Different forms of communications; 2. Appropriate type of communication to convey concepts; 3. Related professions and their impact on client needs and deliverables
  • 5. Areas of Practice (24–36 of 100 questions)
    • A. ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys — 1. Legal documents, such as deeds, easements, and agreements; 2. Zoning information as applied to ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys; 3. Title insurance commitment letters and policies; 4. Underground features as applied to ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys
    • B. Control Networks and Geodetic Network Surveys — 1. Datums and reference frames relative to control networks; 2. Differences between local datums and geodetic datums; 3. Equipment appropriate for control surveys; 4. The Federal Geographic Data Committee Geospatial Positioning Accuracy Standards; 5. The National Geospatial Programs (NGP) Standards and Specifications—Digital Data Standards
    • C. Construction Surveys — 1. Construction plan reading; 2. Construction calculations including slopes, grades, and plan details; 3. Construction techniques and activities; 4. Horizontal and vertical positioning relative to a plan or datum
    • D. Boundary Surveys — 1. Physical boundary evidence; 2. Boundary reconciliations; 3. Historical measurement accuracy, equipment, and techniques; 4. Legal principles related to boundary surveys
    • E. Route Surveys for Alignments and Utilities — 1. Route alignment stationing practices; 2. Reading and interpreting roadway and utility plans
    • F. Topographic — 1. Topographic/planimetric mapping and control standards; 2. Interpretation, reconciliation, and adjustment of topographic survey data; 3. QA/QC procedures as applied to topographic surveys; 4. Ground, hydrographic, and remote sensing equipment; 5. The U.S. National Map Accuracy Standards as applied to topographic surveys; 6. Tools and techniques required to perform hydrographic, bathymetric, and remote sensing surveys; 7. Nomenclature related to utilities
    • G. Surveys to Establish New Parcels, Lots, or Units — 1. Types of subdivisions; 2. Platting; 3. Condominiums and associations; 4. Deed restrictions and restrictive covenants; 5. Zoning and subdivision ordinances
    • H. As-Built/Record Drawing Surveys — 1. As-built/record drawing calculations including slopes, grades, and plan details; 2. As-built/record drawing techniques and activities; 3. Horizontal and vertical as-built/record drawing positions relative to a plan or datum
    • I. Consultation Services — 1. Site topography and slope for development purposes; 2. Site access for development purposes; 3. Zoning standards related to new projects; 4. Floodplains as related to land development
Examination sources