How Do I Become a Land Surveyor?

Look into the requirements for your state.?ÿ It's most likely a case of needing additional studies and time working for a Surveyor before meeting the minimum requirements for the Fundamentals exam.?ÿ Then there is additional time required before taking the Principles exam.?ÿ Your timeline might be a bit longer than you expect.

A couple of assumptions, first, that you want to be a licensed surveyor, two, you reside in Pennsylvania. Second, there are usually three steps in becoming licensed. First, take the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, then take the Practice of Surveying Exam, then write the State Specific exam. Each step has certain requirements.

Pennsylvania requirements for the FS:

Penn statutes show that you need a Bachelors civil degree (ABET certified), or Associates survey degree (ABET certified), or 6 years experience. Found here:?ÿ https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/049/chapter37/s37.47.html No matter the path you pursue, you need to be sure it is ABET accredited. You don't even have to go back to school if you don't wish to.

You could also talk to someone on your state board to see if you could apply your existing degree. I have a BS in Forestry and Environmental Science, but since it was in a "related degree," as defined in Michigan, I was able to supplement my degree with an additional 12 credits of Survey education and they allowed me to write the examination.

Pennsylvania requires 4 years of relevant experience after becoming a Surveyor-in-Training (completing the FS exam) in order to write the PS and State Specific examinations. So, in a best case scenario, I think you're looking at 6 years minimum to being a Professional Licensed Surveyor.?ÿ

If I were in your scenario, I would recommend you start surveying immediately, as a field crew member, gaining experience and pursuing a degree at the same time. You will be a much better surveyor as a result.

Goodluck!

~Raybies

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All the info above is good.

Additionally, if you want maximum license mobility (between states) consider the 4 year ABET degree route regardless of PA requirements.

As you know, each state has it's own requirements, and if you want to get licensed in another State by by comity you will have to meet their requirements as of the date you were first licensed. This means if you have a license based on experience only or experience and a 2 year degree, there are certain states that you CAN'T be licensed in until you go back to school (no matter how much experience you have as a licensed professional). I don't have a list of those states but take a look at where you might want to move and look at their requirements.?ÿ

See if any of the ABET schools will give you transfer credit for some/many of your previous degree courses.?ÿ

Good luck - we need surveyors familiar with project process - I suspect that your environmental compliance experience makes you familiar with development projects and NEPA - all helpful in seeing the big picture.?ÿ

Find another career choice. People do not value what surveyors provide, hell surveyors do not value what they provide.

Don't listen to naysayers. If you really have your mind made up this the direction you want to take, go for it. Get into a ABET accredited surveying program. You may find that experience will lead to more opportunities whether that be in GIS or any of a myriad other geospatial related fields. Get some real world experience working for surveyors and find out what you like and don't. The work I do is very challenging, both mentally and physically and it took much longer than two years to get there. There's all kinds of nasties from weather to wildlife to fruitcake nutjobs off their meds. Some people thrive on it, some not so much. I've been very fortunate in that I'm well respected and well rewarded financially and the best part is, I love what I do, which makes getting up in the morning to go to work that much easier. I've held a Series 7 securities license, fished the Bearing Sea in winter, swung a framing hammer for a living and I'm here to say surveying has been far and away?ÿthe best career choice for me yet.?ÿ?ÿ

Don't limit yourself to the ABET programs. Not many of them work well with part time or distance education. Most (all?) accept something like "other acceptable degree". Check out some part time and/or distance programs that you think might work for you and then talk to someone on the board of the state you want to start in to see if it will work. In my opinion some of the the non ABET programs are better at teaching you what you need and are more flexible.

In the meantime get work on a survey crew. Many states will credit this time towards their requirements.?ÿ?ÿ

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Thanks for the recommendations!?ÿ Yes, I do a lot of work under NEPA for my current job.?ÿ It's ironic that I got an environmental degree, but now I never leave my cubicle (or my home desk).?ÿ So, I'm looking for a job outdoors, where I can use technical equipment, and have a little more excitement -?ÿwhere I don't just answer emails all day long!

To clarify my timeline, I was thinking I would need 2 years of school to get a surveying job, but ideally I would switch careers right now.?ÿ Down the road I would to become licensed.?ÿ I will look into the ABET accredited surveying programs and?ÿwill start applying to some job postings for surveying work.?ÿ The problem is?ÿI have 13 years experience where I am now and?ÿso I'm guessing I may have to take a pay cut to get my foot into the door with no experience.?ÿ Also, my current company will pay for schooling, but only if it applies to what I'm doing.?ÿ Hopefully, I could find a company that would?ÿprovide assistance with schooling.?ÿ Just a few logistics I need to work out.

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You would definitely take a cut in pay, and the move upward may be very slow.?ÿ You may well have to have a lot of years in before you can take your licensing exam.?ÿ That varies from state to state, but in some states it may require 10 or more years.?ÿ Also, aren't there environmental jobs that you can work outdoors in??ÿ It might be an easier transition to go to another job in?ÿ your field.

I'm not trying to discourage you, because I got hit with the surveying bug and I am a "lifer".?ÿ You might just want to do a little research before you make the plunge.

Boundary work is (arguably) the coolest but possibly the lowest paying work.?ÿ Boundary work can be done with a smaller firm and/or self-run where you have more control in what you do.?ÿ There our big firms out there that pride themselves in the high-tech end and have mobile lidar, and aerial work and call themselves "geospatial engineers" or other super-fancy names.?ÿ Some of these guys do very little boundary work unless it's on a larger scale like DOT work.?ÿ That might be a better-pay job with a larger company.?ÿ?ÿ

Good luck with whichever way you choose to go.

How to become a land surveyor? Here is the short list. Take any three, or more, and you can get there...

Have a grandpa that did it

A dad that did it

Do it since your were 5 yrs old.

Work your butt off.

Get borned that way.

Drink too much

Learn to lie.

Learn to hate lying.

Learn to post of RPLS.com, and not care what others think.

Learn to lace your boots, ONE at a time!

Stay out of meth. You won't last, but you will burn high!

(Best Regards!)

Nate

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I am a student in the Great Basin program, and it is pretty demanding from what I can tell so far. I have an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Civil/Construction Engineering Technology. It transferred in for all but 3 of the undergraduate classes. I figure with 2 classes in the Spring and Fall Semesters, and possibly one in the summer, I have about 3 years until I graduate. I am already licensed, so it is a personal thing for me.

Byron Calkins, the program advisor, is in the process of getting the program ABET accredited. It has been designated by the NSPS as the model program for surveying education moving forward. The classes are pretty affordable, and while they are distance education based, demand attention, and staying on top of your work. The last I heard, the program has about 90 or so students enrolled. Several members of this forum are either attending, or have graduated from this program.

Check your state requirements with your Board of Land Surveying (or whichever board regulates surveyors). What state are you in?

woodland6: Surveying is a lifestyle, and it varies hugely.

Surveying has been my life since 1970, with minor diversions. I have no regrets. The majority of us are rather unique characters, hard to describe.

More formal education is great, always, but it may not really help much in landing an entry level job.

I would advise seeking out a local surveyor/firm that would consider you as something like Intern, kinda part time while you remain on good terms with your present employer.

Your vision of "I wanna be a surveyor" needs to get fleshed out a bit. Best of luck!

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A couple of articles from my perspective that may be of interest to you:

https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=cdf7e9cc9a1a12b28f21f7ff4&id=e52bae8950

https://us1.campaign-archive.com/?u=cdf7e9cc9a1a12b28f21f7ff4&id=ed818c57ba

Best of luck on your quest.

I like maps, check out this one: https://psls.org/chapters

I suggest attending some chapter meetings. It may be a group of good old boys, or a dynamic younger crowd. Either way, can't hurt.

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I relocated a few times over the years. The local Surveyor's Assn. was always a great resource, especially when I was looking for work.