NSPS CST Level II

It is the second of four certification levels in the NSPS-sponsored Certified Survey Technician program. It is offered in two tracks, field and office, and the exam covers the Level II work elements for the track you choose. Confirm current level requirements with the program before you register.

Certification is by examination, and the exam must be monitored by an approved Proctor. The program publishes a dedicated Proctor page and a 'Steps to Setting up an Exam' page for applicants, so read those before scheduling. This page does not state a question count, time limit, or passing score.

The program maintains a separate 'Exam and Retake Fees' page and a refund policy, so fees and retake terms should be read there rather than assumed. No fee amount or retake rule is given on the program home page. Check both pages before you pay so you understand the retake cost in advance.

Start with the published level descriptions and work elements, which define what Level II covers. Then take the sample tests to find weak areas, and use the recommended books or the online training to close those gaps. Work-element lists first, practice second, references third is the most efficient order for most candidates.

Level II assumes you already handle routine technician tasks and can apply procedures rather than just recognize terms. The program does not publish a pass rate or difficulty rating, so treat any specific difficulty claim you see elsewhere with caution. Judge your readiness with the sample tests and the Level II work-element list.

Choose the track that matches the work you perform and want to be certified in. The program publishes a track chart and level descriptions to help you compare. If your job mixes both, pick the one where your day-to-day responsibilities are strongest, since the exam tests that track's work elements.

The most common causes are preparing from general surveying knowledge instead of the published Level II work elements, skipping the sample tests, and misreading questions that hinge on a precise definition or procedure. Another frequent problem is scheduling the exam before confirming proctor arrangements. Confirm logistics early and study to the published element list.

The program home page links to a renewal information page announcing an upcoming change to the renewal process, but it gives no effective date or details of that change. Renewal terms, cycle length, and any requirements should therefore be confirmed directly with the program rather than assumed from older information.