Get Licensed in Minnesota
Seeking initial licensure as a land surveyor?
Find below information on the education, examination, experience requirements, as well as application details and forms.
Already licensed in another state?
See the sidebar "Licensure by Comity/EEE (Reciprocal Licensure)."
For general application information relevant to all professions, see Get Licensed.
Applicants most hold either a) a bachelor's degree from a four-year land surveying curriculum that meets the statutory requirements in place at the time of graduation, or b) a bachelor's curriculum that includes 22 semester credits in land surveying. Applicants may apply to sit early (prior to graduation) for the FS Exam under certain circumstances.
For details on all the above, see the application for the particular exam (below) or MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 2 (FS) or MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 3 (PS).
Applicants for the PS Exam and the Minnesota Land Surveying Exam (MNLS)—both of which are required for licensure in Minnesota—must provide evidence that they meet the qualifying experience requirements.
Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, practical experience at land surveying work. How much experience you need depends upon the type of education you earned. See MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 3 for details.
Use the Employment History and Experience (EHE) form, which is part of the Application Form packet. Customize and send a copy to every supervisor verifying your experience. The completed form must be sent by the supervisor directly to the Board.
In most instances, applicants must first pass the FS Exam and then the PS and MNLS Exams to be considered for licensure.
The FS and PS exams are administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES); but before you can register with NCEES, you must first apply to and be approved by the Board to sit for the exam. They are both computer based and offered year-round.
The MNLS Exam is administered by the Board in St. Paul.
These application packets provide a wealth of information regarding the application process, including links to Minnesota Rules and relevant associated websites (such as NCEES). We encourage you to thoroughly review the instructions and the forms.
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam ApplicationUse the combined PS/MNLS Application to apply for one or both exams.
The FS and PS exams are computer based and administered year-round. There is therefore no application deadline. Once your application is approved, you have 12 months in which to register with NCEES and take the exam before your application expires.
The MNLS is paper-based and administered by the Board at least twice each year from a location in St. Paul. You apply for a particular administration of the exam and must re-apply if you do not then sit on that particular date.
MNLS Exam Date | Board Application Deadline |
---|---|
October 11, 2019 | CLOSED |
April 24, 2020 | February 10, 2020 |
Exam | Board Application Fee | Exam Fee |
---|---|---|
FS | $25 | Paid to/set by NCEES |
PS | $75* | Paid to/set by NCEES |
MNLS | $75* | $400** |
*If you apply at the same time for both the PS and MNLS exams, a single fee of $75 covers both applications.
**Once your application for the MNLS is approved, you will receive location, schedule, and other details for this exam by mail. You will need to submit the exam fee by the deadline stated in that approval letter. You will also want to review the MNLS Candidate Handbook (see Additional Resources below).
See the application form for the exam you need to retake for how to reapply.
The Board will officially notify you by mail once you pass the FS Exam. If you have already provided the Board with an official (sealed, sent directly from the institution) copy of your final transcript(s), the Board will include your Land Surveyor-in-Training (LSIT) number with your notification. If you sat prior to graduation and so submitted an unofficial transcript with your FS application, note that the Board will not issue an LSIT number until they receive the required transcript(s).
Once you have your LSIT number and the required experience, you can apply to sit for the PS and MNLS exams.
The Board will notify you by mail once you pass each exam. Once you pass both the PS and MNLS you will be instructed by mail how to apply for your license. The license fee is $120.
Note: You are not licensed and cannot practice or hold out as licensed until the Board processes your license.
Regardless of when obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year.
Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience and Interior Design (AELSLAGID)
85 E. 7th Place Suite 160, St. Paul MN 55101 USA
8:00 am–4:30 pm, Monday-Friday
(651) 296-2388
TTY (800) 627-3529
FAX (651) 297-5310
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