Before you can be licensed, you must pass:
- Part 1 - NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam;
- Part 2 - NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam; and
- Part 3 - New York State Specific Land Surveying exam.
Parts 1 and 2 are developed by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Part 3 is developed by the New York State Board for Engineering and Land Surveying. (See General Requirements for information about laws and regulations governing licensure as a land surveyor in New York State which may be incorporated in the Part 3 of the exam.)
All exam applicants are required to read the "NCEES Examinee Guide" prior to being allowed to register for the exam. Please use this link to access the "NCEES Examinee Guide" at: https://ncees.org/exams/cbt/examinee-guide/
Part 1 - Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
This exam is delivered year round via a computer based testing service. See the NCEES website for additional information. www.ncees.org
For candidates from a Baccalaureate EAC or ETAC ABET accredited program in surveying or surveying technology:
If you are within 20 credits of graduating or have already graduated from a baccalaureate level EAC or ETAC ABET accredited program in surveying, you are eligible to apply directly to NCEES to take the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam.
To find out if your program is EAC or ETAC - ABET accredited you may go to the ABET web site here
For candidates NOT from a baccalaureate ABET accredited Program:
If you have not graduated from either an EAC or ETAC ABET accredited bachelors program in surveying, you must download and submit the New York State Land Surveying Application Forms and $70 fee so that your qualifications can be reviewed for approval by the Department. Once approved, you will be made eligible to sit for the FS exam via a letter sent to you from the NYS Board for Engineering and Land Surveying (Board) that will include instructions for how to schedule and pay the exam administrative fee with NCEES. Do not attempt to schedule the exam until you have received your letter of eligibility from the Board.
Part 2 - Principals and Practice of Surveying (PS) Land Surveying examination:
Beginning in October 2016, this exam will be delivered year round via a computer based testing service. The Department will notify you when you are eligible to take the professional licensing examinations and will include instructions on how to schedule and pay an additional fee to sit for the examination with NCEES. Do not attempt to schedule the examination until you receive your notice of eligibility. See the NCEES website for additional information www.ncees.org.
Part 3 - The New York State Specific
The Part 3 - the New York State Specific Land Surveying examination is administered twice a year, in April and October, at various sites throughout New York State. You must meet two different deadlines: the deadline for submitting your licensure application to the New York State Education Department and the deadline for scheduling the examination with our examination administrator Meazure Learning.
The deadlines for submitting a NYS licensure application for these exams are:
Exam Month |
Deadline for Licensure Applications |
March |
November 1 of previous year |
September |
June 1 of same year |
All required licensure application forms must be postmarked by the filing deadlines; there are no exceptions.
The Department will notify you when you are eligible to take the professional licensing examination and will include instructions on how to schedule and pay an additional fee to sit for the examination with Meazure Learning our examination administrator. Do not attempt to schedule the examination until you receive your notice of eligibility.
Part 3 - New York State Specific Examination
New York State Specific Land Surveying Examination
Test Blueprint valid April 2017 forward
Test Category |
NYS Specific Domain |
Number of questions |
Percentage of Test |
---|
Survey Analysis |
Computations/Analysis
Measurement/Location
Monumentation |
8 |
16% |
Survey Project Practices |
Documentation/Land Information Systems
Land Planning/Design
Project Management |
16 |
32% |
Survey Legal & Ethical Practices |
Ethics/Professional Responsibility
Legal Principles
Research |
26 |
52% |
Exam Item Totals |
50 |
100% |
Suggested Bibliography for the New York State Specific Land Surveyor Examination
The references listed in the suggested bibliography for the New York State LS exam may be located through or obtained from local libraries and their Inter-Library Loan Services; from the State Library; from professional colleagues and local and state professional societies (e.g., New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors). Please be advised that the suggested bibliography is a partial listing and does not represent a full list of information that may be included on the exam.
NCEES limits calculators allowed in examination room
NCEES has revised the examination policy concerning materials permitted in the examination room.
For further information regarding NCEES examinations please visit the NCEES website at www.ncees.org or call 1-800-250-3196.
Accommodations
Individuals with Disabilities/Sabbath Observers/Military
After your licensure/examination application materials have been reviewed and approved by the Department, you will be sent an eligibility letter. This letter will include instructions on how to schedule and pay the examination fee(s). The process to request a reasonable accommodation or alternate test date will be part of the registration/scheduling process with NCEES and Meazure Learning through their online system. If you are requesting accommodations, we suggest you begin the process as soon as the NCEES registration process opens for the exam you plan to take, as this will assist in the timely processing of your request.