PA Land Surveyor
Pennsylvania Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) Licensure - NCEES PS Exam
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ExploreAbout this exam
In Pennsylvania, the credential that authorizes land surveying practice is the professional land surveyor license issued by the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists, which regulates surveying practice through licensure, registration, certification and discipline. The board also regulates surveyors-in-training, the pre-licensure step many candidates hold while completing experience requirements.
The NCEES PS exam is the national principles-and-practice examination used in that licensure path, and NCEES also administers the FS exam, generally the first step toward a surveyor license. The FS exam is computer based, administered year-round in testing windows at NCEES-approved Pearson test centers, and includes 110 questions. The appointment time is 6 hours, comprising a nondisclosure agreement, a tutorial, 5 hours and 20 minutes of exam time, and a scheduled break. A $225 exam fee is payable directly to NCEES. Reasonable accommodations are available to examinees who meet eligibility criteria and sufficiently document their request.
Preparation should combine board requirements - the Practice Act and board regulations - with technical review of surveying principles and practice. Candidates should confirm current exam specifications, registration steps and Pennsylvania application requirements directly with NCEES and the board before scheduling, since requirements and fees change over time. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with NCEES or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
What you'll study
About PA Land Surveyor preparation
What does the Pennsylvania board regulate?
The State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists regulates the practice, licensure and registration of engineers, land surveyors and geologists in the Commonwealth. It licenses professional land surveyors and surveyors-in-training and also addresses unlicensed practice. It may determine case by case whether a licensee engaged in unprofessional conduct by departing from an ethical or quality standard of the profession.
How long is the NCEES exam appointment?
Per NCEES, the FS exam appointment time is 6 hours. It includes a nondisclosure agreement of 2 minutes, a tutorial of 8 minutes, 5 hours and 20 minutes of exam time, and a scheduled break of 25 minutes. The FS exam includes 110 questions. Treat the scheduled break as part of the appointment, not extra working time.
How much does the NCEES exam cost?
NCEES states that a $225 exam fee is payable directly to NCEES for the FS exam. Pay it to NCEES, not to the Pennsylvania board. If you must retake, the board notes that you must also contact Pearson VUE to pay an additional administrative fee. Confirm current amounts with NCEES and Pearson VUE before registering, since fees can change.
What happens after I pass?
For a recent NCEES PE/PS/FS exam, the Pennsylvania board asks you to allow 30 days for the board office to process your results. You can check the status of your certificate-in-training or professional license through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) using the License Verification link. Allow the full processing window before contacting the board about a missing license or certificate.
What if I fail the exam?
You must re-register with NCEES once registration opens for their next administration. If your NCEES exam is computer based, you may re-register immediately. The board states you do not need to submit a refile application, a reexamination form, or otherwise notify the Pennsylvania Board that you need to retake. Register through your MyNCEES account and contact Pearson VUE to pay the additional administrative fee.
How hard is the exam, and what trips candidates up?
The FS exam is designed for recent graduates and students close to finishing an ABET-accredited undergraduate surveying degree, so expect breadth rather than trivia. Common failure modes are weak time management across 110 questions, skipped boundary-law and ethics review, and neglecting the board's Practice Act and regulations. Practicing under timed conditions and reviewing missed topics systematically is more effective than re-reading notes.
In what order should I study?
Start with the board's Practice Act and regulations so you understand the legal framework, then work through core surveying principles and practice, and finish with timed practice under exam conditions. Because the FS exam is computer based and offered year-round in testing windows, you can schedule study around a target date. Confirm current exam specifications with NCEES before finalizing your plan.
Are accommodations available?
NCEES states that reasonable accommodations are available for examinees who meet certain eligibility criteria and sufficiently document their request. If you need accommodations, begin the request process early and supply supporting documentation, because approval is not automatic. Direct accommodation questions to NCEES rather than the Pennsylvania board, since NCEES administers the exam and testing appointments.
Where can I get official answers about my application?
Contact the State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists for application and license questions. Note that neither the board, its staff nor counsel may provide legal advice or advisory opinions, including interpretations of law or regulations or how the board would vote in a case. For such guidance, the board invites you to consult a private attorney or professional organization.