Land Surveying
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.
Initial Licensure
Education Overview
Applicants for licensure must either
- a) have graduated from a four-year land surveying curriculum as specified in MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 4 from an accredited institution of higher learning, or
- b) hold a bachelor's degree that includes 22 semester credits in land surveying, divided among at least six of the land surveying categories in MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 4, items A-K.
Applicants may sit early for the FS Exam by meeting the minimum requirements in MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 2, but will still need to meet the education above to receive their Land Surveyor-in-Training designation, to sit for the PS and MNLS Exams, and to be licensed.
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).
Experience Overview
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, gained under the direct supervision of a licensed land surveyor. How much experience you need depends upon the type of education you earned. See MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 3 for details. Qualifying experience gained prior to meeting the education requirements must meet the conditions specified in MN Rule 1800.3505 Subp. 3C.
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.
Examination Overview
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.
Examination Application Packets
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 ApplicationPrinciples & Practice of Surveying (PS) &
Minnesota Land Surveying (MNLS) Exam Application
Use the combined PS/MNLS Application to apply for one or both exams.
Exam Application Deadlines
The FS and PS exams are computer based and administered year-round.
- There is no Board application deadline. If approved, you have within three years of the date of the application to register with NCEES and take the exam before your application to the Board expires. If your application expires or if you fail the exam, you must reapply to the Board.
- NCEES exam registration: You may register at any time, once approved. Once registered, you have one year to schedule your exam before your authorization by NCEES to sit for the exam is forfeited. Testing day/site reservations through NCEES are on a first-come, first-served basis and are restricted by seat availability at each test center.
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 |
|---|---|
| April 23, 2021 | CLOSED |
| October 22, 2021 | August 9, 2021 |
| April 22, 2022 | February 7, 2022 |
Examination Costs
| Exam | Board Application Fee | Exam Fee |
|---|---|---|
| FS | $25 | Paid to/set by NCEES |
| PS | $75* | Paid to/set by NCEES |
| MNLS | $75* | $250** |
*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).
Next Steps After the Exams
After Passing the FS Exam
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.
After Passing the PS and MNLS
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 and issues you a license number.
Regardless of when obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year.
Additional Resources
Application / Exam Resources
From the Board
MN Rules Examination of Land Surveyor ApplicantsFAQs Change Name/Address MNLS Candidate Handbook
From NCEES
FS Exam Specs PS Exam SpecsExaminee Guide Exam Prep Materials
Guidelines on Progressive Experience
NCEES YouTube Channel
Relevant Links
FS/PS Exam Registration NCEES Local Professional Organizations Other State Boards
Licensure by Comity (Reciprocity) or EEE
If you already hold a license in another jurisdiction or took the required exams in another jurisdiction, use the form below to apply for a license in Minnesota. There are two means by which to apply; both use this same form—you select your choice on the form.
- Comity applications are reviewed based on the education, examination and experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota at the time of your original licensure. (For example: If you were originally licensed in 1998, your credentials will be evaluated based on the education, examination and experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota in 1998.) Your required experience must have been obtained prior to passing the PS exam and it must be verified by whomever was your supervisor at that time.
- EEE (Education, Examination, and Experience) applications are reviewed based on licensure requirements currently in place in Minnesota. This application method is for those who did not obtain all of their experience prior to passing the PS exam or for those who are unable to obtain verification of the experience that was obtained prior to the exam. Applicants may submit verified experience that was obtained after passing the PS exam to meet the minimum experience requirement.
To document experience, you can either submit an NCEES Record containing your verified experience or use the Employment History and Experience (EHE) form, which is part of the PS Comity Application Form packet.
Land Surveying Comity Application
If your application is approved, 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 in Minnesota until the Board processes your license.
Regardless of when obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year.
Stay Connected
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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