Free Montana state-specific land surveyor examination Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the Montana state-specific land surveyor examination practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1A Montana county is filling its separate county-surveyor office. The office has not been consolidated. Which applicant meets the professional qualification specified for county surveyor?

   1. A. A licensed professional engineer
   2. B. A registered engineer intern
   3. C. A licensed professional geologist
   4. D. A registered land-surveyor intern

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "a county surveyor must be a professional engineer as defined in 37-67-101 or professional land surveyor as defined in 37-67-101." A licensed professional engineer is one of the two qualifying professional credentials; the other listed applicants do not hold either specified credential.

   Reference: 7-4-2801. Qualifications for county surveyor and deputies, MCA — MCA 7-4-2801(1)

2. 2A Montana surveyor is recovering physical evidence from an earlier boundary survey. Which statutory element places that work within the practice of land surveying?

   1. A. Applying property-boundary law to recover and preserve earlier survey evidence
   2. B. Applying structural-design principles to evaluate a building frame
   3. C. Applying appraisal methods to estimate market value
   4. D. Applying title-insurance standards to underwrite ownership risk

   Answer: A

   Explanation: MCA 37-67-101 includes "the principles of property boundary law to the recovery and preservation of evidence pertaining to earlier land surveys" within land surveying. The described evidence-recovery work therefore falls within the statutory practice.

   Reference: 37-67-101. Definitions, MCA — MCA 37-67-101(13)(a)

3. 3In Montana easement terminology, what is the land to which an easement is attached?

   1. A. Servient tenement
   2. B. Leasehold tenement
   3. C. Residual tenement
   4. D. Dominant tenement

   Answer: D

   Explanation: MCA 70-17-103 states: "The land to which an easement is attached is called the dominant tenement."

   Reference: 70-17-103. Dominant and servient tenement, MCA — MCA 70-17-103

4. 4Outside the statutory exceptions, how must a Montana real-property interest for a term exceeding one year be created or transferred?

   1. A. By operation of law or a subscribed written instrument
   2. B. By an oral agreement witnessed by two neighbors
   3. C. By delivery of possession alone
   4. D. By an unsigned memorandum filed with the assessor

   Answer: A

   Explanation: MCA 70-20-101 says such an interest may not be handled otherwise than "by operation of law or a conveyance or other instrument in writing, subscribed by the party" or a lawfully authorized agent.

   Reference: 70-20-101. Transfer to be in writing -- statute of frauds, MCA — MCA 70-20-101

5. 5A condominium building is first occupied on May 1 and completed on May 20. Its initially recorded floor plans lack the verified statement that they accurately show the units as built. By what date must the declaration amendment with that statement be recorded?

   1. A. May 31
   2. B. June 1
   3. C. June 19
   4. D. July 19

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "within 30 days from the date of completion of the building or from the date of the first occupancy of the building, whichever first occurs" First occupancy on May 1 is the earlier trigger; 30 days later is May 31. June 19 incorrectly measures from completion.

   Reference: 70-23-306. Floor plans recorded with declaration -- certification, MCA — MCA 70-23-306(2)

6. 6A Montana county compares four proposed road projects for possible acquisition through eminent domain. Which described use is expressly included in MCA 70-30-102(7)?

   1. A. A publicly owned road for the benefit of county inhabitants
   2. B. A privately owned access road for the benefit of subdivision residents
   3. C. A privately owned road for the benefit of a single utility company
   4. D. A privately owned driveway for the benefit of a county contractor

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "roads, streets, alleys, controlled-access facilities, and other publicly owned buildings and facilities for the benefit of a county, city, or town or the inhabitants of a county, city, or town;" A publicly owned road for county inhabitants fits this enumerated use. The alternatives describe private roads or driveways for private beneficiaries and therefore do not establish the specified county public use.

   Reference: 70-30-102. Public uses enumerated, MCA — MCA 70-30-102(7)

7. 7Property owners petition a Montana board of county commissioners to create a planning and zoning district under MCA 76-2-101. What is the minimum statutory percentage of affected real-property owners who must petition?

   1. A. A petition from 50% of affected real-property owners
   2. B. A petition from 60% of affected real-property owners
   3. C. A petition from 67% of affected real-property owners
   4. D. A petition from 75% of affected real-property owners

   Answer: B

   Explanation: "on petition of 60% of the affected real property owners in the proposed district" The rule states a 60% affected-owner petition threshold, subject to its other conditions; the alternate percentages do not meet the specified threshold as the exact required figure.

   Reference: 76-2-101. Planning and zoning commission and district, MCA — MCA 76-2-101(1)

8. 8A landowner proposes to establish a new artificial obstruction inside a designated Montana floodway, with no statutory exemption. Which approval is required before establishing it?

   1. A. A permit from the department or responsible political subdivision
   2. B. A license from the department or responsible political subdivision
   3. C. An easement from the department or responsible political subdivision
   4. D. A variance from the department or responsible political subdivision

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "It is unlawful for a person to establish an artificial obstruction or nonconforming use within a designated flood plain or a designated floodway without a permit from the department or the responsible political subdivision." The rule requires the designated authority's permit; its license, easement, or variance is a different form of approval and does not meet this named requirement.

   Reference: 76-5-404. Artificial obstructions and nonconforming uses, MCA — MCA 76-5-404(2)

9. 9A land surveyor licensed in a state on the Montana board's adopted substantial-equivalency list applies for Montana licensure. How is that application treated as to education, examination, and experience?

   1. A. It is routine on those three requirements, though other bases may be nonroutine.
   2. B. It is nonroutine on those three requirements unless the applicant repeats the state exams.
   3. C. It is routine for the entire application, regardless of any other issue in the file.
   4. D. It is nonroutine for education but routine for examination and experience.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: "License applications from individuals licensed in substantially equivalent states are routine applications as to the education, examination, and experience requirements for licensure. Applications may be nonroutine on other bases." The adoption notice states "The agency has adopted the following rule as proposed:" Therefore the listed-state applicant's three qualification dimensions are routine, while another concern may still make the application nonroutine.

   Reference: 2025 MAR Notice 2025-266, proposed ARM 24.183.412 — PDF page 3

10. 10An operator is assembling a Montana oil-well drilling-permit application. Who must prepare the required well-location plat identified in the board's operator guidance?

    1. A. A registered professional land surveyor
    2. B. A licensed professional engineer alone
    3. C. A registered land-surveyor intern alone
    4. D. A licensed professional geologist alone

    Answer: A

    Explanation: "An application for permit to drill must include a well location plat prepared by a registered land surveyor." The operator guidance expressly requires the plat to be prepared by a registered land surveyor; the other credentials alone do not meet that requirement.

    Reference: Montana DNRC, For Current or New Operators — Required Drilling Notifications, well-location plat