Free New Mexico State Specific Surveying Exam Practice Questions

Sample Practice Questions

Try these 10 sample questions from the New Mexico State Specific Surveying Exam practice bank. Each includes the answer and explanation. Continue with the interactive practice above to review the full question set.

1. 1An employee surveys only internal facility features on land owned by the employer, and neither the employee nor employer offers surveying to the public. Which additional activity would defeat the statutory employee exemption?

   1. A. Locating internal facility features without defining a tract boundary
   2. B. Transcribing public-record parcel data into a nonauthoritative cadastre without positional modification
   3. C. Determining and monumenting the tract boundary
   4. D. Preparing a generalized facility map not reasonably relied on for precise locations

   Answer: C

   Explanation: The employee exemption does not extend to "any determination, description, portraying, measuring or monumentation of the boundaries of a tract of land."

   Reference: 2025 Practice Act — 61-23-27.10, p. 14

2. 2A professional surveyor has maintained inactive status for seven consecutive years and now wants to return to active practice. Which route applies?

   1. A. Pay the current renewal fee with no application.
   2. B. Complete exactly 15 PDHs and notify the Board.
   3. C. Make proper application and complete the Board-prescribed reinstatement requirements.
   4. D. Automatically convert to retired status and then reactivate.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: An inactive licensee beyond six consecutive years "may be readmitted to active practice of the profession only upon making proper application and completion of the requirements as prescribed by the board."

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.1.17(G), p. 4

3. 3How many professional-development hours must a New Mexico professional surveyor ordinarily obtain during each biennium?

   1. A. 2 PDHs during the biennium
   2. B. 30 PDHs during the biennium
   3. C. 15 PDHs during the biennium
   4. D. 45 PDHs during the biennium

   Answer: B

   Explanation: The rule requires "30 professional development hours (PDH) units" during the biennium. The separate ethics-or-business-content requirement does not change that total.

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.2.8(C), pp. 6-7

4. 4A New Mexico county publishes a parcel GIS that will be relied on as the authoritative location of boundaries affecting development rights. Which treatment is required?

   1. A. The work is surveying and must be performed by or under the responsible charge of a professional surveyor.
   2. B. The work is exempt tax mapping whenever a county publishes it.
   3. C. The work is general mapping if the database contains metadata.
   4. D. The work is supplemental surveying that any county employee may certify.

   Answer: A

   Explanation: The authoritative parcel layer is regulated surveying. The rule includes "Geographic information system (GIS)-based parcel or cadastral mapping used for authoritative boundary definition purposes wherein land title or development rights for individual parcels are, or may be, affected."

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.5.10(F)(1)(e), p. 21

5. 5A New Mexico professional surveyor receives disciplinary action from another licensing board. Within what time must the surveyor notify the New Mexico Board in writing?

   1. A. Within 30 days
   2. B. Within 60 days
   3. C. Within 90 days
   4. D. At the next biennial renewal

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Each licensee must notify the Board in writing "within 90 days, of the imposition of any disciplinary action by any other applicable licensing board."

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.7.9(D), p. 27

6. 6A surveyor is asked to sign a plan prepared independently by another office and never placed under the surveyor's responsible charge. What should the surveyor do?

   1. A. Sign if the other office supplies field notes.
   2. B. Sign if the client assumes responsibility.
   3. C. Decline to sign or seal the plan.
   4. D. Sign after adding a general disclaimer.

   Answer: C

   Explanation: Licensees may not affix signatures or seals to documents "not prepared under their responsible charge."

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.8.9(B)(2), p. 30

7. 7A licensed engineer who is not licensed as a surveyor prepares a legal description for a new unplatted tract. What does New Mexico require?

   1. A. The engineer may prepare it if no monument is set.
   2. B. The engineer may prepare it if the client waives a boundary survey.
   3. C. The engineer may prepare it as supplemental surveying work.
   4. D. A licensed professional surveyor must prepare it.

   Answer: D

   Explanation: Except for citing a recorded lot or parcel for reference or identification, "the preparation of legal descriptions is a form of surveying" and "must be performed by a licensed professional surveyor."

   Reference: 12.8.2 NMAC — 12.8.2.7(B)(7), p. 2

8. 8A surveyor seals a work product after delegating field collection. What must responsible charge include under the New Mexico Practice Act?

   1. A. Only administrative approval of the invoice
   2. B. Direction, control, supervision, and critical examination for compliance with professional standards
   3. C. Personal performance of every field measurement
   4. D. Client acceptance of the final location

   Answer: B

   Explanation: Responsible charge means "responsibility for the direction, control and supervision" of the work so the product has been "critically examined and evaluated for compliance with appropriate professional standards."

   Reference: 2025 Practice Act — 61-23-3(P), p. 2

9. 9A retired-status New Mexico professional surveyor places the title PS after the name on correspondence. What additional notation is required?

   1. A. Inactive
   2. B. Emeritus
   3. C. Nonpracticing
   4. D. Ret. or Retired

   Answer: D

   Explanation: A licensee on retired status may use PS after the name but "shall add "(Ret.)" or "(Retired)" after such title."

   Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.1.17(D), p. 4

10. 10A surveyor earns 48 qualifying PDHs in one New Mexico biennium. What is the maximum number that may be carried into the next biennium?

    1. A. 2 PDHs
    2. B. 10 PDHs
    3. C. 15 PDHs
    4. D. 18 PDHs

    Answer: C

    Explanation: When the biennial requirement is exceeded, "a maximum of 15 PDH units may be carried forward into the subsequent biennium."

    Reference: 16.39.1 NMAC — 16.39.2.8(C), p. 7