Hawaii Land Surveyor Exam
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Hawaii Land Surveyor (LS) credential is one of the four EASLA license types administered by the state Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects within the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. It is the license that lets a person practice land surveying in Hawaii; the Board's renewal page states plainly that a licensee may not practice in Hawaii without a current, valid license. The Board's public page does not enumerate exam content domains, so this study set treats land surveying fundamentals and practice as a single domain. Expect to be tested on boundary principles, evidence and retracement, measurements and computations, coordinate systems, platting and legal descriptions, and the standards and ethics that govern practice. Preparation should center on the underlying statutes and administrative rules (HRS/HAR) the Board publishes, the NCEES national surveyor examination framework, and disciplined practice with boundary and computation problems. Because the Board's land-surveyor subpage currently returns a "page not found" error, confirm application forms, requirements, fees, deadlines, and examination dates directly with the Licensing Branch rather than relying on any third-party summary. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by the Board or DCCA.
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About Hawaii Land Surveyor Exam preparation
What is the Hawaii Land Surveyor license, and who issues it?
It is one of the EASLA license types regulated by the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors & Landscape Architects, part of DCCA's Professional and Vocational Licensing Division. The license authorizes land surveying practice in Hawaii, and the Board states you may not practice in the state without a current, valid license.
Where do I find the exam application, fees, and exam dates?
The Board's land-surveyor subpage currently returns a "page not found" error, so do not rely on cached copies. Use the Board's main page links to Application Forms, Requirements, Fees and Instructions and to Application Deadlines and Examination Dates, or call the Licensing Branch at (808) 586-3000 to confirm current details.
How hard is the exam, and what should I study first?
The Board publishes no pass rates, so treat difficulty claims skeptically. Begin with boundary retracement and evidence, since those questions reward judgment rather than memorization. Then move to measurement adjustment, coordinate geometry, area computations, and legal descriptions. Finish with statutes, administrative rules, and professional conduct, which are easy points if reviewed late.
What are the most common ways candidates lose points?
Three recurring failure modes: misapplying proportional adjustment to coordinates instead of to the underlying measurements, confusing record bearing with measured bearing during retracement, and answering boundary questions by opinion rather than by the hierarchy of evidence. Arithmetic slips in area and closure checks also cost points that are simple to protect through consistent checking routines.
Does Hawaii require continuing education for land surveyors?
The Board's renewal page states that architect licensees only must attest to 16 continuing-education hours in health, safety, and welfare subjects for the May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028 period. That requirement is expressly limited to architects. The page states no continuing-education attestation requirement for land surveyors, so confirm any change with the Board.
When does a Hawaii LS license expire, and what does renewal cost?
All EASLA licenses, regardless of issuance date, renew by April 30 of every even-numbered year. For the licensing period May 1, 2026 to April 30, 2028, online renewals are accepted March 9, 2026 through April 30, 2026, and the on-time Land Surveyor renewal fee is $204.00. Postcards were scheduled to mail March 6, 2026.
What happens if I miss the renewal deadline?
The license becomes unlicensed and you may not practice. There is no retire or inactive status; the license is simply forfeit. You may restore a forfeited LS license online within two years of expiration by paying the $220.00 restoration fee and meeting restoration requirements. After two years the license terminates and you must apply as a new applicant.
Is this study material officially connected to the Hawaii Board?
No. This is independent study content written for candidates preparing for the Hawaii land surveyor examination. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or published by the Board, DCCA, or NCEES, and it does not reproduce any commercial question bank. Always verify licensing procedures and fees against the Board's own published pages before acting.