Taking the FS exam in another state

Rookie,

All very good questions and its great that you are seeking licensure.

The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam is offered totally through Pearson CBT centers nationwide and on a continuous basis throughout the year with some times closed. For jurisdictions that have LSIT or Surveyor Intern certifications, this is the exam that you will need to pass.

Most have education or experience or combination education/experience requirements. My reading of the NH LS Board web site indicates that "There are no prerequisites for the Surveyor-In-Training registration".

NH LS Board web site also states that you must first apply with the Board (appears to be simple online form with $75 fee) and then register with NCEES, choosing NH Board, for the FS exam (paying that fee of $225). Once your application is approved by the Board and you have registered with NCEES appropriately, it appears that the Board will approve your registration on the NCEES registration system which will then allow you to schedule a seat at ANY of the Pearson sites that this exam is offered. Unless the Board requires it, and I don't know of any that do, you do not have to travel to that state to sit for the exam.

Assuming that you eventually pass the exam and receive your LSIT certification, you will need to meet education/experience requirements for any state that you apply to for either LSIT Comity or LS licensure purposes.

All of this can be verified by contacting the NH LS Board and asking them questions. If they are like most boards, they are happy to help you.

There are several states that take a very hard line on whether an exam can be taken before or after acquiring the education/experience. That line of thinking is beginning to fade away and there are fewer boards that adhere to this, but you should be aware that some do. There are occasional reports that one board will not accept that you passed an exam prior to acquiring the necessary education or experience and may require you to sit again, but this is becoming rarer. Best bet when you begin to seek licensure, is to contact that board.

Hope this helps

I would look hard at the requirements of your home state. I would not want to jeopardize my standing with that Board in any way. The LSIT certification does not grant you any type of licensure privileges, or anything like that.

The time required, is just that, the time required. I would work hard, put yourself on a steady, progressive study pattern, and when you have the required experience, you will be ready. I would rather wait the required time, study while waiting that time, and pass it the first time.

Just my humble opinion.

I wish you the best of luck. We need energetic people in our profession. Glad you are a part of it.

All my information may be dated, especially with ncees taking over the FS testing, but here is my take.

Back when the FS was the LSIT, New York was one of the most difficult to be able to sit for the exam. It was fairly common for NY surveyors to get their LSIT in Pennsylvania.

The FS is jointly recognized by almost all states, and as such it is not really state specific. I would not be overly concerned about my state board when it comes to a FS examination. It is not like you are skirting the rules, there are any number of reasons to write the FS in another state...... The most common of which would be to be licenced in multiple states eventually.

Let's be honest about this, the FS exam while being a stepping stone to being licenced, is also a very good step in showing commitment and knowledge in your chosen field. It makes you far more employable if you have proven you have reached a particular standard.

Heck, if New York is as difficult as the rumors I have heard, you could easilly have a few other state licenses, by the time you are eligible to sit for the New York LS exam.

Incidentally, I got my LSIT in another state than I ended up getting licensed. No problems whatsoever.

Sources: former coworker worked in the area and learned about New York survey techs getting their LSIT in Pennsyvania.

The FS Exam is a national exam. State boards should stand down from requiring deferring qualifications to take the FS Exam. Those interested in the Exam should be allowed to take the exam without hindrance or regulation from any state board.

Upon passing the exam if the examinee wishes to apply for the SI or LSIT designation then the state boards can apply education requirements and regulations.

There should be no restrictions on who can take the FS Exam.

In NC there is but two requirements which is you can take;

1. One can take FS Exam only 3 times in a 12 month period. After the third attempt additional educational refresher courses may be in order. I think this should be 5 times.

2. One must have 10 years experience in surveying. This needs to be removed completely.

The FS exam is the accepted test most States use to demonstrate competency at the beginning of internship. How a State governs the order things are done is their business. Given the different histories of Title and Survey law that is completely appropriate.
I would not want my State to be known for assisting anyone in subverting the path established elsewhere...

PA Requires A BS CE And 10 Surveying Credits

If you do not have 10 credits and even if you do, Penn State Wilkes-Barre has 7 online surveying courses.

Take a course or two and apply for the fundamentals in PA. Be aware that taking the fundamentals may wipe your experience slate clean, but that interpretation is open for discussion.

Paul in PA

PA Requires A BS CE And 10 Surveying Credits

[sarcasm]Wow does PA require an MD and 10 law school courses to get admitted to the bar?[/sarcasm]

It is pretty much that easy. Find one that fits your credentials. The only catch is there may be a limit on how long it's good for. Used to be you had 5 years to pass all parts, at which point if you didn't you had to take all parts over. NCEES is advocating the States make it more uniform, including regional exams.

I don't know what the laws for to become a PLS are, but I'll assume (since its New York) that it's similar to New Jersey's laws. That being said:

I'm also a civil engineer, but I also have a 4 year degree in land surveying. In NJ, a 4 year surveying degree is a requirement for the LSIT and PLS. (it appears NY is the same: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/pels/). NH may be difference. It appears that CA, FL, NY and NJ are typically the most restrictive for PE and PLS licensing.

However, you can take the FS exam in any state, as it is the same exam nationwide. It's the PS exam which is state specific. From what I've heard, some states only require a high school degree plus experience for a license. I took my FE in Indiana and when applying to be an EIT, I just had to have Indiana fill out a form stating that I passed the exam (but that was before the exam was electronic, it might be easier to show proof of passing now).

Before, you used to have to apply with the state before you could take the FS exam. I think now, to save time, they just let you spend the money and take the exam first, then you apply to whatever state.

PA Requires A BS CE And 10 Surveying Credits

" Be aware that taking the fundamentals may wipe your experience slate clean, "

Can you expand on that?

In NH anyone can take the FS. When I took it several years ago there was a contingent of guys from PA there taking it for just that reason.

PA Requires Experience After The FS (SIT)

From the PA Requirements:

Section 4.3. Procedure for Licensing as Professional Land
Surveyor.
(a) An applicant for licensure as a professional land surveyor shall
satisfactorily complete the surveying fundamentals examination
and become certified as a surveyor-in-training and subsequently
show evidence of experience satisfactory to the board to prepare
for the land surveying principles and practice examination.

...

(2) An applicant who satisfactorily completes the fundamentals
examination shall be certified as a surveyor-in-training
without time limitation and may remain certified until
such time as he becomes licensed under this act as a
professional land surveyor.

...

(c) Each applicant for licensure shall be certified as a surveyorin-
training and shall pass an examination in land surveying
principles and practice. To qualify for the principles and practice
examination, the applicant shall demonstrate:
(1) Four or more years of progressive experience in land
surveying work performed after the issuance of the
surveyor-in-training certificate and under the supervision
of a professional land surveyor or a similarly qualified
surveyor of a grade or character to fit him to assume
responsible charge of the work involved in the practice of
land surveying.

Per the bold text above, if one has substantial experience prior to taking the FS, it does not count.

Paul in PA

Some States require residency for issuance of a first license.

PA Requires Experience After The FS (SIT)

Losing that prior experience is a little extreme.

I was approved to take all exams because I applied prior to the new regulations concerning a degree and had begun my career prior to 1990 or 1991.

I was able to use experience as my ticket into the exams. You're not allowed to do that anymore. Any applications after, was it 1991, were to be accompanied by a degree.

If you can prove your time, as you are required anyway, you should be able to keep it.

NYTaking the FS exam in another state

NY was one of those. I think there was a court case that says that's not allowed anymore. I think all States had to eliminate that requirement.

Rookie.
Rick has said it best. Do your research, study hard and go take it.

Jered

NYTaking the FS exam in another state

Idaho 54-1212 still reads that way. The exceptions are military stationed here and full time Idaho students or employees.

PA Requires Experience After The FS (SIT)

> Losing that prior experience is a little extreme.
>

That is very EXTREME!... I knew I should have taken the test right out of college for both FS and FE. I worked for a construction company and we didn't have any licensed surveyors or engineers and the experience was solely construction. There was no incentive to grab it then as I wouldn't get a raise being SIT or EIT. Now with the new job I can get both licenses, BUT still no raise if I obtain both. I guess the only incentive should have been my own being to get it so I had it. I'm still young and dumb but man was I even dumber back then. I'm kicking myself now reading this post and thinking that all those years experience down the drain.

Thanks for posting, and I'm sure to grab the FE and FS exams this year now!

Thanks for all the feedback, I wasn't expecting that much of a response. It looks like I probably will be able to take FS in the near future after all, and apparently I might not even have to make the trip to another state.
I am aware of my state's requirements. New York does have an experience only path of 8 years(or 4 year surveying degree + 4 years experience, or 2 year surveying degree + 6 years experience). And I believe without a surveying degree, I'm not eligible to take the FS until the same time I'm eligible for licensing. Whether or not they consider my bachelors in civil engineering as anything towards education, I'm not sure. Either way, I'd guess I probably have at least another 6 years, maybe the full 8 years before I'm allowed to take the test in this state. I'm perfectly fine waiting that long to go through the licensing process, I probably wouldn't even want to attempt it too much sooner if I was allowed. But I would like to build up any other credentials I can get in the meantime, a big one being the FS exam. And if I can take and pass it now, and I end up having to take it again 8 years from now, I'm ok with that. I would still consider it worth it. I'm not looking to jump ship anytime soon, but if another surveying opportunity came up that I was interested in, I'd like to be as competitive as I possibly can. Honestly, even if there wasn't a single state that would officially recognize me as a "Surveyor-in-Training", I'd still want to take the test if I could go directly through NCEES. There's also just a certain sense of accomplishment to it. Thanks again for all the info.