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Surveyors

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a certification program for floodplain surveyors. The NSPS has also partnered with the Bureau of Land Management to create the certified federal surveyors program.

The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing offers voluntary certification for surveyors who specialize in photogrammetry and GIS. Certification is also provided by the GIS Certification Institute. 

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require that surveyors making property and boundary surveys be licensed or registered. The requirements for licensure vary, but most require a degree in surveying or a related field, a certain number of years of experience, and passing of examinations in land surveying. Generally, the higher the degree obtained, the less experience required. Those with bachelor's degrees may need four years of on-the-job experience, while those with a lesser degree may need up to 10 years of prior experience to obtain a license. State licensure departments provide information on the requirements. Those seeking employment in the federal government must take a civil service examination and meet the educational, experience, and other specified requirements for the position.

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