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Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor

Information on Mapping Sciences Examination

Licensure Requirments

Application Processing

Application Procedure

Examination Procedure

Miscellaneous Procedure

Application Forms

Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor

Chapter 89C of the North Carolina General Statutes (GS 89C) provides that in order to safeguard life, health, and property, and to promote the public welfare, the practice of engineering and the practice of land surveying in North Carolina are subject to regulation in the public interest.

The statute further declares that it shall be unlawful for any person to practice or to offer to practice engineering or land surveying in North Carolina, as defined in GS 89C, or to use in connection with one's name or otherwise assume or advertise any title or description tending to convey the impression that one is either a Professional Engineer or a Professional Land Surveyor, unless duly licensed as such. The right to engage in the practice of engineering or land surveying is a personal right, based on the qualifications of the individual as evidenced by the certificate of licensure.

The North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors is charged with implementation of the statutes; authority for making rules in the performance of its duties; the responsibility of determination of the qualifications of applicants, through experience and examinations; and issuance of a certificate of licensure to those determined to be properly qualified.

The land surveying applicant is required to document and demonstrate qualifications for licensure through submission of an application to the Board of Examiners. The applicant is also required to further demonstrate abilities through the successful completion of the required examination sequence. The examination sequence consists of eight hours of examination in surveying fundamentals, and eight hours of examination in surveying principles and practices (administered in two parts). The applicant is required to pass each of these examinations after the Board has determined that the applicant has attained the required education and experience for each of the examinations.

Upon successful completion of the requirements, the Board will approve the applicant for licensure. The licensee will be issued a license number, and required to procure an official seal and to seal all land surveying work performed. The licensee continues to be subject to the statute and Board rules throughout the licensee's professional career.

Through this application, examination, and licensure procedure, the Board of Examiners fulfills the mission of regulation of the land surveying profession for the public protection in the state of North Carolina.

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