Arkansas State Board of Licensure

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Surveyor Intern (SI) & Professional Surveyor (PS) – Qualifications

The Board issues and maintains licenses for Surveyor Interns (SI) and Professional Surveyors (PS).  All PS – and some SI – applications require Board Member review and the licensure decision to be made during the next Board meeting.  Meetings are held in January, March, May, July, September, and November.  

What follows is general information on how to obtain each type of surveying license.  The Board has VERY precise education/experience requirements which are outlined in Article 8 D./E .  Please review these carefully.  Additional information may be found in the Board’s Rules by clicking “Rules/Laws/Standards” on the navigation bar above.

Surveyor Intern (SI)

Qualifications (Article 8.D. of the Rules)Apply for a License ONLINE, submit your $50 application fee, and meet one of the qualifications by supplying:

  • Proof of passing the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. Board authorization is not required to take the FS exam.  Please visit the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) website at www.NCEES.org for additional information; AND

  • Proof of graduation from one of the following programs:

    • a Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geomatics Engineering, or Spatial Information Systems with a minor or emphasis in Surveying, from a program accredited by ABET or approved by the Board; or
    • an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree in Surveying or Surveying Technology from a program approved by the Board; or
    • a baccalaureate degree from a curriculum of four (4) years or more that includes core general education courses in subsection i. (of Article 8.D.3.c.), or an engineering degree from a program that is EAC of ABET accredited. Both degrees require at least thirty (30) hours of surveying or surveying-related courses (see Rules for details). 

    Once the Board verifies this information, a Surveyor Intern license may be issued. 

    For more information about the licensure process, including how to apply, fees, cutoff dates, & approval process, please visit Surveyor Intern (SI) – Licensure Overview.

    Professional Surveyor (PS)

    Qualifications – The licensure you’re seeking determines your application type. The application types are Original, Comity, or Reinstatement.

    Original licensure (Article 8.E.1.) – You’re seeking your first PS license and you take both the Principles & Practice of Surveying (PS) and AR State Specific Exams.  There are specific education and experience requirements in the Rules, please read carefully. Apply for a License ONLINE, pay your $75.00 application fee, and meet the qualifications by supplying:

    • Proof of graduation from one of the following programs:

      • i. a Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying, Geomatics, GeomaticsEngineering, Spatial Information Systems with a minor or emphasis in Surveying, from aprogram accredited by ABET or approved by the Board; or
      • ii. an Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree inSurveying or Surveying Technology from a program approved by the Board; or
      • iii. a baccalaureate degree from a curriculum of four (4) years or more that includes both core general education courses in subsection A. and surveying or surveying related courses in subsection B., or an engineering degree from a program that is EAC of ABET accredited, and at least thirty (30) hours of surveying or surveying-related courses as specified in subsection B.

    • Also, depending upon which degree path you choose, you will need either three (3)  or six (6) years of experience; and
    • Proof of passing the FS exam; and
    • Be admitted to, or previously have passed, the Principles of Surveying (PS)exam; and
    • Pass the AR State Specific Exam

    The NCEES PS exam is administered year-round, the State Specific, in April and October. The cutoff dates for the State Specific Exam is January 1 for the April exam, and July 1 for the October exam.  Applicants should take note that all documentation must be received by the cutoff date.  Applications completed after this date will be held for the next exam administration.

    Approved applicants will receive PS and State Specific exam fee payment instructions.  For the PS exam, you will be directed to www.NCEES.org where you will register, log-in, sign-up and pay.  For the State Specific, you’ll receive “payment due-to-the-Board” instructions. 

    Exam grading takes about 6 – 8 weeks and results will be sent via emails from NCEES (PS exam) and the Board (AR State Specific).  An examinee who passes both exams will be given a license number.   

    Reciprocity (Comity) licensure (Article 8.E.2 of the Rules) – You’re seeking licensure based upon a license in another jurisdiction.   Apply for a License ONLINE, pay your $200.00 application fee, then meet the qualifications :

    1. Supply proof that you are a PS in good standing in another state or jurisdiction; and
    2. Meet the requirements for original PS licensure in Arkansas’ which were in effect at the time you received your initial PS license.  A summary of Comity Professional Surveyor’s Rules – 1967 to present is located on the “Rules/Laws/Standards” link at the top of the page; and
    3. Pass the FS exam; and
    4. Pass the PS exam; and
    5. Pass the Arkansas State Specific Exam.

    There are allowances regarding when you took the PS exam and when you earned your experience and also about waiving the FS exam.

    If approved the State Specific Exam may be taken in the Boards’ office, at a time which is convenient to both you and Board Staff.  Exam results take about 6 – 8 weeks and will be emailed to you.  An applicant that passes the exam will be given a license number.   

    • Reinstatement – coming soon

    For more information about the licensure process, including how to apply, fees, cutoff dates, coordinating your NCEES Council Record with our application, & approval process, please visit Professional Surveyor (PS) – Licensure Overview.

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