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

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

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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 the licensure decision to be made by the Board Member during the next Board meeting.  Meetings are held in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Apply for a License ONLINE

The general information below outlines the process to obtain each type of surveying license.  The Board has precise education/experience requirements, which are outlined in the Code of Arkansas Rules 17 CAR §285-304 Surveyor Intern & 17 CAR §285-305 Professional Surveyor. Please review these carefully.

Surveyor Intern (SI)

Qualifications (17 CAR §285-304) – Submit your $50.00 application fee, and meet the qualifications by supplying:

  • 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 – and at least thirty (30) hours of surveying or surveying-related courses. One or more of the courses shall emphasize U.S. Public Land Survey System aspects and principles, and one or more of the courses shall emphasize Law and Professionalism in Geomatics or Surveying; AND

  • Verification 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.

Upon successful verification of the information, a Surveyor Intern license may be issued. 

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

Professional Surveyor (PS)

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

Original licensure (17 CAR §285-305 (a)) – You’re seeking “your first PS license” Apply for a License ONLINE, submit your $75.00 application fee, and meet the qualifications by supplying:

  • Proof of graduation from one of the following programs:

    1. A Bachelor of Science degree in Surveying, Geomatics, Geomatics Engineering, Spatial Information Systems with a minor or emphasis in Surveying, from a program accredited by ABET or approved by the Board; or

    2. An Associate of Science or Associate of Applied Science degree in Surveying or Surveying Technology from a program approved by the Board; or

    3. A baccalaureate degree from a curriculum of four (4) years or more and at least thirty (30) hours of surveying or surveying-related courses. One or more of the courses shall emphasize Public Land Survey System aspects and principles, and one or more of the courses shall emphasize Law and Professionalism in Geomatics or Surveying.

  • 3 or 6 years of acceptable experience after completing the requirements for graduation from 1, 2, or 3 above.

    • 3 years – If your degree is number “1.” or “3.” above.

    • 6 years – If your degree is number “2” above (AS or AAS in Surveying or Surveying Technology.

  • Verification of passing the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam;

  • Be admitted to, or previously have passed, the Principles of Surveying (PS) exam;

  • Pass the AR State Specific Exam.

The Arkansas State Specific is offered in April and October. Approved applicants will receive exam fee payment instructions.

Reciprocity (Comity) licensure (17 CAR §285-305 (b)) – You seek licensure based upon a license in another jurisdiction. Apply for a License ONLINE, pay your $200.00 application fee, then meet the qualifications by supplying:

  • Supply proof that you are a PS in good standing in another state or jurisdiction; and

  • 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” page. There are allowances regarding: when you took the PS exam, when you earned our experience, and waiving the FS exam.

  • Pass the FS exam; and

  • Pass the PS exam; and

  • Pass the Arkansas State Specific Exam.

Reinstatement – Contact the Board

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.