If you are interested in land surveying, the Surveyor in Training (SIT) certification is the beginning point. SIT certification allows you time to obtain additional education and/or experience as you move towards licensure as a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS).
Only after all documents required are completed and submitted to the Board can an applicant be reviewed for approval. Once a decision has been reached by the Board in regard to an application, the applicant will be emailed the results of the review. If the application is rejected, the applicant will be told what they must supply to the Board in order for their application to become approved. Incomplete applications, miscellaneous application materials that have been sent to the Board and rejected applications will be held for a period of one year at the Board office before being discarded. Please contact licensing at the Board office if you should need any assistance.
There are five (5) ways to qualify to take the exam and upon passing, become an SIT:
The following documents/items are required to complete an application to take the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying Exam (FS Exam):
All questions must be answered. Failure to complete any portion of the application form will disqualify your application from the Board review. This application must be accompanied by a check or money order (unless applicant is a military service member - see section 2).
SIT Application - Request to take FS ExamThe application fee must be submitted with the application. This payment must be in the form of a check or money order. No cash is accepted.
A minimum of three reference waivers must be sent to the Board office by a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) or Licensed State Land Surveyor (LSLS). The form must be submitted in a sealed envelope with their seal stamped on the back of the envelope.
Reference Waiver FormThis form must be accompanied by course descriptions for each course from your collegiate catalog; not required if applying under section 1071.253 (1) All courses must be conferred by an official transcript.
Checklist DocumentThe applicant must submit certified college transcripts and any certificates of completion from other seminars/courses taken. Only transcripts in sealed envelopes from the collegiate institution will be accepted as ‘certified’.
An applicant can take the FS Exam as many times as needed to pass the exam. There is no limit to the amount of attempts an applicant has to pass the FS Exam and become certified. Once you have passed the FS Exam, an SIT certificate will be mailed to you.
NCEES generates and administers the FS Exam. The exam is computer based, offered at testing centers around the nation, and offered year-round. For more information about the FS exam protocol, please visit
NCEES.org.
All applicants are required to register with NCEES and pay the exam fee before the Board can approve the individual to sit for the exam. Once the applicant has completed these activities, they will receive an email from NCEES inviting them to select an exam time and location.
Once an applicant takes the exam, they and the Board, will be notified of their results.
As a condition for maintaining a SIT during the eight-year period of working towards RPLS registration, the certificate holder must complete professional education activities. This includes successful completion of courses supporting the development of skill and competence in professional land surveying and other Continuing Education (CE) approved by the Board. For more information on board approved CE please see our Land Surveyor Continuing Education page.
At the end of the eight year period if the certificate holder has not successfully completed registration but wishes to maintain the SIT certification, the Board will require written proof of completion of at least 32 hours of acceptable continuing education during the eight year period as set out in subsection (b) of this section. The certificate can then be renewed each 8 years. As a condition for renewal of a SIT certificate, the Board shall require a certificate holder to successfully complete 32 hours of continuing professional education courses per 8 years.
A SIT certification is valid for eight (8) years. However, a SIT is permitted to extend their certification on a 8 year basis. In order to extend a SIT certification an individual must apply to be extended and have completed 32 hours of Board approved course work or Board approved continuing education credits.
SIT Renewal Application