Licensure Requirements in North Carolina

STEPS TO EARNING YOUR PLS

If you are interested in becoming a Professional Land Surveyor, there are several avenues to achieve this goal. See the chart below to decide which route is a good fit for you:

EDUCATION




+
YEARS OF 
SUPERVISED
EXPERIENCE
(Under PLS)


BS Surveying
(45-semester hrs: Survey Courses)
            2  
AAS Degree Surveying Technology
(20-semester hrs: Survey Courses)
  +           5  
High School Diploma or Equivalent  & Apprenticeship
(Click Here for Rules)
  +           7  
High School Diploma or Equivalent   +           9  
In addition to the above educational & experience requirements, you must successfully take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam. Once you pass the FS Exam, you must successfully take and pass either the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam OR the Mapping Sciences (MS) Exam in order to obtain your license to practice surveying in North Carolina.

SURVEYING EXAMS
   
Fundamentals of Surveying
(FS) Exam
Online Exam
(8 hrs)
   
Principles and Practice of
Surveying (PS) Exam
prerequisite = successfully passing FS
Part 1
Online Exam (6 hrs)
Submit a Printed Map
for Review
Part 2 - Written (2 hrs)
North Carolina Specific
Mapping Sciences
(MS) Exam
prerequisite = successfully passing FS
Part 1
Online Exam (6 hrs)
Submit a Printed Map
for Review
Part 2 - Written (2 hrs)
North Carolina Specific
You may take the FS and Part 1 of either the PS or MS before meeting the required number of years of supervised experience. Part 2 may only be taken after the required supervised experience is obtained. In addition, you may apply to be certified as a Surveyor Intern (SI) after taking the FS.  
For additional information visit the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers & Surveyors
Note: As a result of Senate Bill 219 being ratified, the current experience requirements to become a Professional Land Surveyor in NC became effective July 1, 2022. The Rules Review Commission has approved temporary Rules effective July 1, 2022, that address the Land Surveyor Apprenticeship pathway to licensure (21 NCAC 56.0601) and Surveyor Intern requirements (21 NCAC 56.0608).