MS Land Surveyor
Mississippi Professional Surveyor (Land Surveyor) Licensure Examination
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ExploreAbout this exam
The Mississippi Professional Surveyor (PLS) credential is issued by the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, a state agency established by the legislature in 1928. Its stated mission is to safeguard life, health, and property and to promote the public welfare through a complete licensure process that confirms each Professional Surveyor is properly qualified to practice in Mississippi. The Board regulates surveying through investigation and disciplinary authority granted by Title 73, Chapter 13 of the Mississippi Code, so licensure is both a legal requirement and an ongoing professional obligation.
This study material is aimed at surveyors preparing for the Mississippi licensure examination - candidates building on a surveying education and field experience, and licensed surveyors from other jurisdictions who want a structured refresher.
Preparation should follow the blueprint: legal principles and boundary law; measurement, computations, and field procedures; land records, cadastral systems, and research; mapping, platting, and control surveys; and professional practice, ethics, and Mississippi regulation. Because the Board's rules and fee schedule change, always confirm current requirements, fees, and scheduling directly with the Board before applying. A practical sequence is to review boundary law and records first (they underpin everything else), then computations and field procedures, then plats and control, finishing with Mississippi regulation and ethics. Practice with timed sets and document every rule citation you rely on.
What you'll study
About MS Land Surveyor preparation
Who issues the Mississippi Professional Surveyor license?
The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, established by the state legislature in 1928. The Board regulates engineering and surveying through investigation and disciplinary authority granted by Title 73, Chapter 13 of the Mississippi Code.
How many questions are on the exam, and how long does it take?
The Board's public site does not publish a question count, time limit, or passing score. Confirm the current exam structure with the Board office (601-359-6160 or [email protected]) rather than relying on secondhand figures, since rules are periodically revised.
What score do I need to pass?
No passing standard is stated on the Board's public site. Treat any specific cut score you hear as unverified and check with the Board or the current rules text before you plan your study targets around it.
What does the exam cover?
Expect the five core areas of surveying practice: legal principles and boundary law; measurement, computations, and field procedures; land records, cadastral systems, and research; mapping, platting, and control surveys; and professional practice, ethics, and Mississippi regulation. Regulation questions should reflect the Board's current rules.
Are there new rules I should study from?
Yes. The Board's home page states: "Temporary Rules in effect as of October 16, 2026," with the operative text posted on the Rules & Regulations page. Read the temporary rules directly - do not study from an older printed rule set or a summary someone else prepared.
How much does applying cost, and is there a reduced-fee option?
The Board's site does not list the standard licensure application fee; consult the Fee Schedule page. Limited licensure is not an option for surveyors: the Board notes it is open to Professional Engineer applicants only, for a single legal case, with an application fee increased to $150.
What is the best study order?
Start with boundary law and land records, because they define what your measurements must prove. Then move to computations and field procedures, then mapping, platting, and control. Finish with Mississippi regulation and ethics, reviewed last so the current rules stay fresh.
What are the most common ways candidates lose points?
Weak boundary-law reasoning - treating measurements as controlling over written record evidence - and citing outdated or memorized rules instead of the operative text. Also common: skipping ethics and professional-practice questions as 'free' items, and poor time allocation on computational problems.
When is license renewal, and should I check my status first?
The Board's site states: "Renewal season is now open through December 31, 2026," and encourages licensees to check license status before beginning the renewal process. Use the online renewal and licensee search tools on the Board's site.
How do I contact the Board?
Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, 455 North Lamar Street, 2nd Floor - Suite 208, Jackson, MS 39202. Phone 601-359-6160; email [email protected]. Verify fees, forms, and deadlines there before submitting anything.