Principles and Practice of Surveying Exam - Professional Land Surveyors
Requirements
An applicant may qualify for the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam by meeting the educational and experience requirements specified in one of the following subsections of the Professional Land Surveyors law:
Update to Title 15. Professional Land Surveyors
Educational Requirements
§15–305.
(a) In addition to the other qualifications for a license to practice land surveying, an applicant shall qualify under this section by meeting the educational, experience, and examination requirements set forth in subsection (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this section.
(b) An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:
(1) has graduated on completion of at least a 4–year curriculum in land surveying that the Board approves from a college or university that is accredited by, or is a constituent unit of an institution accredited by, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools or the equivalent regional accrediting association of other regional areas;
(2) has at least 2 years of experience in land surveying that is satisfactory to the Board and that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying; and
(3) has passed the following examinations:
(i) fundamentals of surveying;
(ii) the principles and practice of surveying; and
(iii) unless excused by the Board, State–specific examination modules specified and approved by the Board that pertain to the practice of surveying in the State.
(c)(1) An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:
(i) has graduated on completion of at least a 4–year curriculum in physical sciences or applied sciences from a college or university that is accredited by, or is a constituent unit of an institution accredited by, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools or the equivalent regional accrediting association of other regional areas;
(ii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, has at least 4 years of experience in land surveying that is satisfactory to the Board and that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying; and
(iii) has passed the following examinations:
1. fundamentals of surveying;
2. the principles and practice of surveying; and
3. unless excused by the Board, State–specific examination modules specified and approved by the Board that pertain to the practice of surveying in the State.
(2) For each 30 semester hours or its equivalent that an applicant completes in land surveying–related courses that the Board approves, the Board may allow a 1–year credit towards the experience requirements of paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection for a maximum of 3 years.
(d)(1) An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:
(i) has graduated on completion of at least a 4–year curriculum from a college or university that is accredited by, or is a constituent unit of an institution accredited by, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools or the equivalent regional accrediting association of other regional areas;
(ii) has a minimum of 30 credit hours of land surveying–related courses that the Board approves;
(iii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, has at least 4 years of experience in land surveying that is satisfactory to the Board and that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying; and
(iv) has passed the following examinations:
1. fundamentals of surveying;
2. the principles and practice of surveying; and
3. unless excused by the Board, State–specific examination modules specified and approved by the Board that pertain to the practice of surveying in the State.
(2) For each additional 30 semester hours or its equivalent that an applicant completes in land surveying–related courses that the Board approves, the Board may allow a 1–year credit towards the experience requirements of paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection for a maximum of 3 years.
(e)(1) An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:
(i) is a high school graduate or the equivalent;
(ii) has a minimum of 30 credit hours of land surveying–related courses that the Board approves;
(iii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, has at least 6 years of experience in land surveying that is satisfactory to the Board and that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying; and
(iv) has passed the following examinations:
1. fundamentals of surveying;
2. the principles and practice of surveying; and
3. unless excused by the Board, State–specific examination modules specified and approved by the Board that pertain to the practice of surveying in the State.
(2) For each additional 30 semester hours or its equivalent that an applicant completes in land surveying–related courses that the Board approves, the Board may allow a 1–year credit towards the experience requirements of paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection for a maximum of 3 years.
(f)(1) An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:
(i) applies for a license on or before December 31, 2025;
(ii) is a high school graduate or the equivalent;
(iii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, has at least 9 years of experience in land surveying that is satisfactory to the Board and that indicates to the Board that the applicant may be competent to practice land surveying;
(iv) has passed the following examinations:
1. fundamentals of surveying;
2. the principles and practice of surveying; and
3. unless excused by the Board, State–specific examination modules specified and approved by the Board that pertain to the practice of surveying in the State.
(2) For each 30 semester hours or its equivalent that an applicant completes in land surveying–related courses that the Board approves, the Board may allow a 1–year credit towards the experience requirements of paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection for a maximum of 3 years.
Required Experience
Applicants must demonstrate in their applications that they possess the required experience as outlined in the Guidelines for Experience Requirements for Professional Surveyor License chart.
Minor Engineering - An applicant for the principles and practice examination shall have two years of experience generally known as "minor engineering experience." An applicant may be able to meet a two-year experiential requirement set forth in this regulation by the following methods acceptable work experience, acceptable education; or a combination of acceptable work experience and acceptable education.
Educational Equivalency - In order to meet the minor engineering requirement, an applicant may claim three semester credit hours as an equivalent of six months of minor engineering experience after the completion of courses of instruction in the following areas: hydraulics; surface water hydrology; route surveying or road design; storm drainage system design; storm water management design; sediment and erosion control design; or infiltration. These courses must be offered by a university, community college, professional surveying organization, or other qualified provider acceptable to the Board. For more details, see COMAR 09.13.07.04.
Application Process
First-time Candidates
Examinees register and schedule their appointments through their MyNCEES accounts. During the registration process, examinees select their exam location. Next, they are presented with a list of available exam dates. If examinees are not happy with the choices, they can browse through the available dates at other NCEES-approved test centers.
Re-exam Candidates
Re-examinees must apply online using the link at the top of this page. Examinees who fail an examination will receive a track number and instructions along with a results letter. The fee for re-examination is the total of the exam fee(s) plus the $60 test administration fee.
Approved candidates will be sent examination admittance and general examination information at least two weeks prior to the examination.
Study Materials
Information about study materials for the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam can be viewed at NCEES.
Exam Information
You must REGISTER online with NCEES.
The PS exam is transitioning to computer-based testing (CBT) in October 2016. Registration and scheduling will open on June 20, 2016 for the CBT PS exam, with first testing appointments available in October 2016. The new PS exam will allow for year-round testing at approved Pearson VUE test centers. This gives examinees the freedom to pick the exam time, date, and location. The new format will include a digital PS Reference Handbook. Examinees will receive their results 7–10 days after the exam. Learn more about the transition of the PS exam to CBT.
Special Accommodations
The Maryland Board for Professional Land Surveyors complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in accommodating examination candidates with special needs.
Requests for special testing accommodations can be made when registering with NCEES. For more information, visit the Special Accommodations section on the NCEES website.