Skip to Content Accessibility Information

Exams - Professional Land Surveyors

Exams

Maryland Surveyor Exam Application Form

Requirements

To qualify for licensure in Maryland, an applicant must meet a combination of experience and/or education in order to apply for examination approval.  The following examinations are required to become a licensed professional land surveyor in Maryland:

Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) (Does not require Board approval)

Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS)

Maryland State Law and Ethics

Maryland Road Grade and Storm Drain/Minor Engineering

§ 9-303. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

An applicant may qualify for the Principles and Practice of Surveying and State specific exams by meeting the educational and experience requirements specified in one of the following Categories:

CATEGORY §15–305b.  (Academic Option, 2-years’ experience)

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.
  3. Demonstrates a minimum of 18-months in minor engineering experience.*

CATEGORY §15–305c.  (Academic Option, 4-years’ experience)

An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:

  1. 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;
  2. 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*
  3. 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 this category, for a maximum of 3 years.
  4. Demonstrates a minimum of 18-months in minor engineering experience.*

CATEGORY §15–305d.  (Academic Option, 4-years’ experience + 30 surveying credits)

An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:

  1. 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;
  2. Has a minimum of 30 credit hours of land surveying–related courses that the Board approves;
  3. 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;
  4. 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 this category, for a maximum of 3 years.
  5. Demonstrates a minimum of 18-months in minor engineering experience.*

CATEGORY §15–305e.  (Nonacademic Option, 6-years’ experience + 30 surveying credits)

An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:

  1. Is a high school graduate or the equivalent;
  2. Has a minimum of 30 credit hours of land surveying–related courses that the Board approves
  3. 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
  4. 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 this category, for a maximum of 3 years.
  5. Demonstrates a minimum of 18-months in minor engineering experience.*

CATEGORY §15–305f.  (Nonacademic Option, 9-years’ experience)

An applicant qualifies under this section if the applicant:

  1. Applies for a license on or before December 31, 2025
  2. Is a high school graduate or the equivalent
  3. 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
  4. 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 this category, for a maximum of 3 years.
  5. Demonstrates a minimum of 18-months in minor engineering experience.*

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 – To qualify for licensure in Maryland, all applicant must demonstrate at least 18-months in minor engineering experience.  To satisfy this requirement the applicant can utilize education (9 semester hours), experience, or a combination of the two.

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.

Examination Application Process (After obtaining Board approval)

First-time Candidates and Re-exam Candidates

The Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam is administered only via computer at Pearson VUE Testing centers by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES).

To apply for the exam, go directly to the NCEES website.

Board approval is not needed to take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam.

To apply for Maryland State exams through the Board’s Website

Study Materials

Information about study materials for the Fundamentals of Surveying exam can be viewed at NCEES.

Examination Sites

Sites are located throughout Maryland and the United States. Current locations are available online at the Pearson VUE website.

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.