Licensure Requirements

In order to be licensed to practice surveying in North Carolina, an individual, in addition to paying the required fees, must be of good character and reputation, must satisfactorily pass the examinations administered by the Board, and must submit evidence of education, and a specific record of progressive surveying work of a nature and level acceptable to the Board.

A. Education and Experience

The experience required is dependent upon the educational attainment of the applicant. The greater the surveying educational level, the less land surveying experience required for approval for seating for examinations and eventual licensure. The following levels of surveying education and the experience requirements for each are those required by North Carolina Statutes and the Board:

(1) College Graduate, with Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Surveying.

[This degree must contain a minimum of 45 semester hours (or quarter hour equivalent) of surveying subjects.]

An applicant with the above degree, from a curriculum of four or more years, may take the Land Surveying Fundamentals Examination (Exam I) upon graduation and award of the degree.

After successful completion of the Fundamentals Examination, and upon completion of a minimum total of two (2) year of progressive practical land surveying experience, one year of which shall have been under a practicing Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), applicants are eligible to apply for the Land Surveying Principles and Practice Examination (Exam II).

(2) Technical Institute or Community College Graduate, with an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Surveying Technology.

[This degree must contain thirty (30) quarter hours (or semester hour equivalent) of surveying subjects, and must be approved by the Board. Appropriate coverage must be given to the legal aspects of surveying practice, subdivision design and planning, surface drainage and photogrammetry.]

An applicant with the above degree, from a curriculum of two or more years, may take the Land Surveying Fundamentals Examination (Exam I) upon graduation and award of the degree.

After successful completion of the Fundamentals Examination, and upon completion of four (4) years of progressive practical land surveying experience, three (3) of which shall have been under a practicing Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), applicants are eligible to apply to take the Land Surveying Principles and Practice Examination (Exam II).

(3) High School Graduate, or Equivalent.

An applicant with a high school diploma, or its equivalent, may take the Land Surveying Fundamentals Examination (Exam I) upon completion of a minimum of five (5) years of progressive practical land surveying experience, four (4) years of which are under a practicing Professional Land Surveyor (PLS).

After successful completion of the Fundamentals Examination, and upon completion of a minimum total of seven (7) years of progressive practical land surveying experience, six (6) years of which are under a practicing Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), applicants are eligible to apply for the Land Surveying Principles and Practice Examination (Exam II).

B. Progressive Land Surveying Experience

In evaluating the work experience required, the Board will consider the total experience record, and the progressive nature of the record.

The term "progressive practical land surveying experience" means that during the period of time in which an applicant has made a practical utilization of knowledge acquired, the applicant has shown continuous improvement, growth and development in the utilization of that knowledge as revealed in the complexity and technical detail of the work product or work record. The applicant must also show that over that same period of time, greater individual responsibility for the work product has continually been assumed.

It is the experience and opinion of the Board that there is no substitute for full-time land surveying experience. While the Board may give some credit for part-time experience, it generally lacks continuity, real responsibility, and generally does not encompass all facets of land surveying. Weekend, part-time and related experience will be given credit as judged appropriate by the Board.

C. Miscellaneous

Applicants with foreign degrees may request an evaluation of their education through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). The results of such an evaluation will be mailed to the Board and the recommendations contained therein will be considered in assessing an applicant's qualifications. Applicants should contact the Board office to obtain information on requesting such an evaluation.

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