IFMP Authorized Surveying Officers Certification study plan

Define and correctly distinguish at least 25 core survey terms (datum, sounding, fix, epoch, reduced level, chart datum) in your own words

Explain the relationship between sounding reduction, chart datum, and vertical reference in a written paragraph without notes

Solve 15 unit-conversion and depth-reduction practice problems with at least 90% accuracy

Build a personal glossary of 40 terms with definitions and one worked example each

Explain the difference between territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ, and continental shelf baselines using equidistance and equitable-principle reasoning

Apply straight baseline and normal baseline rules to at least three constructed coastal scenarios

Identify the effect of islands, low-tide elevations, and bay-closing rules on a delimitation line

Draft a short written justification for a hypothetical median line between two states

Compare geodetic datums and explain datum transformation error in boundary and positioning contexts

Compute position fixes using at least two methods (range-range, bearing-range) in practice exercises

Plan a survey by selecting a positioning method, control scheme, and accuracy budget for a given scenario

Explain how projection choice and scale factor affect reported coordinates

Describe sound velocity, tide, and draft corrections and apply each to sample soundings

Select appropriate acquisition parameters (line spacing, frequency, coverage) for three different seabed and depth scenarios

Explain multibeam vs single beam vs side-scan use cases and their limitations

Identify common artifacts (multipath, bubble sweepdown, tide error) and their causes

Outline calibration and verification procedures for echo sounders, positioning systems, and sound velocity probes

Diagnose five fault scenarios from equipment symptoms and prescribe corrective actions

Explain bar-check and patch-test purposes and when each is required

Write a pre-survey equipment checklist aligned to a stated survey specification

Apply spike, gap, and outlier detection rules to a sample dataset and justify each rejection

Compute and interpret vertical and horizontal uncertainty statistics against a stated accuracy standard

Design a QC workflow with checkpoints from raw acquisition to final product

Distinguish validation against specification from internal consistency checking

Draft a survey report section covering methodology, accuracy statement, and limitations

Explain chart symbology and metadata conventions needed to translate survey data into a charting product

Produce a risk assessment identifying at least eight hazards with controls for a nearshore survey

Describe environmental and operational procedures for spill response, weather abort criteria, and crew safety

Summarize the legal duties of an authorized surveying officer including record retention, data integrity, and reporting obligations

Analyze three ethical dilemma scenarios and state a defensible course of action with reasoning

Complete two timed mixed-domain practice exams and review every missed item to root cause

Consolidate weak-area notes into a one-page pre-exam review sheet