Your future begins now

Interested in an exciting, lucrative, and rewarding career in Indiana land surveying? You’ve come to the right place.

LAND SURVEYORS DON’T ASK IF THEY CAN FIND A JOB

Instead, they decide where would they like to work. That’s because the demand for surveyors is high and continues to grow. High demand means job security and great benefits. Surveyors also collaborate with many other professionals including engineers, architects, attorneys, realtors, developers, contractors, and advise landowners.

What is Land Surveying?

Land surveying is the essential process of determining property boundaries and preparing sites for construction. 

Combining detective work with high-tech field measurements and computer-aided drafting, Indiana land surveyors are an integral component in land development and growth across the state. This includes tasks such as boundary surveys, topographic mapping, and construction staking. A career in land surveying provides opportunities for excellent salary, travel, work outdoors, and work on a multitude of different and interesting projects.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s projections over the next decade show the need for land surveyors and technicians will outpace the average growth for all occupations. And whether you wish to work for an existing surveying or engineering company, a government agency such as the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), or start your own land surveying business, the sky’s the limit for the Indiana Land Surveyor.

Who are land surveyors?

Land surveyors are engineers, architects, historians, searchers, archeologists, and adventurers. Surveyors play a vital role in society and are instrumental in the development of all of properties, buildings, bridges, and roads in America.

What do surveyors do?

Surveyors make precise measurements to determine property boundaries, and provide data relevant to the shape and contour of the Earth’s surface for engineering, map making, and construction projects.

What are the benefits of a career in surveying?

Surveyors occupy a respected position among professionals in Indiana, and compensation for licensed surveyors and land surveying paraprofessionals has continued to grow enormously. A survey of licensed surveyors conducted by the Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors found an average salary of $106,000.

The Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors is the organization that supports students during their education and professional growth. Find out about scholarship opportunities. Find out more about the benefits of being a member here.

Students – Getting Started

The U.S. Department of Labor’s projections over the next decade show the need for land surveyors and technicians will outpace the average growth for all occupations. 

Starting A Career In Surveying

The U.S. Department of Labor’s projections over the next decade show the need for land surveyors and technicians will outpace the average growth for all occupations. Below you’ll find the educational requirements needed to become a licensed professional land surveyor, the qualifications for the land surveying exam, and financial aid opportunities to help you achieve your educational and professional goals.

Approved Land Surveying Curriculum

One of the goals of ISPLS is to keep the public, especially young people, informed about surveying education opportunities in and around the State of Indiana. Please click on the name of the university or college below to further explore the opportunities they offer.

Other Programs

Qualifications For Examination

The following information is from 865 IAC 1-2-1:The education of all applicants must include the following minimum level of education:

  • (1) Twelve (12) semester credit hours in college level mathematics, including at least a three (3) semester credit hour course in calculus or differential equations. One (1) course of no more than three (3) semester hours in statistics may count toward the required twelve (12).
  • (2) Five (5) semester credit hours in college level physics.
  • (3) Six (6) semester credit hours in any of the following college level science subjects:
    • (A) Chemistry.
    • (B) Astronomy.
    • (C) Physics.
    • (D) Geology.
    • (E) Botany.
    • (F) Dendrology.
  • (4) Twenty-seven (27) semester credit hours in college level surveying courses consisting of the following:
    • (A) Courses totaling at least twenty-four (24) semester credit hours that include substantial course work in each of the following eight (8) subjects:
      • (i) Land survey systems with substantial content related to the U.S. Public Land Survey System including the various instructions for surveys of the public lands, original surveys and resurveys, section corner perpetuation, lost and obliterated corners, and subdivision of sections.
      • (ii) Property surveying.
      • (iii) Analysis of and writing of property descriptions.
      • (iv) Boundary law.
      • (v) Surveying calculations, including mensuration statistics.
      • (vi) Subdivision planning and design.
      • (vii) Control surveying including GPS.
      • (viii) Geographic information systems (GIS).
    • (B) Courses totaling at least three (3) semester credit hours that include substantial course work in one (1) of the following:
      • (i) Topographic surveying.
      • (ii) Photogrammetric surveying.
      • (iii) Route surveying.
      • (iv) Construction surveying.

One (1) basic engineering course related to roads, storm drainage, and sanitary sewer extensions may be counted toward the requirements of this clause.

The following tables are to be used with 865 IAC 1-2 “Rule 2”, 865 IAC 1-5 “Rule 5”, Indiana Code 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4) through (b)(7). “Practice of surveying”, and 865 IAC 1-12-3(a) Surveyor responsibility.

Degree (no honorary or correspondence degrees may be used)Work Experience Required  following  the receipt of the  first  degree obtainedTotal Years  of Work Experience Required under a licensed land surveyor
Associate degree3 yrs.6 yrs.
Bachelor’s degree not in a board-approved surveying curriculum2.5 yrs. after Bachelor’s or 2.5 yrs. after Associates if earned5 yrs.
Bachelor’s degree in a board-approved surveying curriculum*2 yrs. after Bachelor’s or 2 yrs. after Associates if earned4 yrs.
Master’s degree in surveying following bachelor’s degree not in a board-approved surveying curriculum2 yrs. after Bachelor’s or 2 yrs. after Associates if earned4 yrs.
Master’s degree in surveying discipline  following bachelor’s degree in a board-approved surveying curriculum*1.5 yrs. after Bachelor’s or 1.5 yrs. after Associates if earned3 yrs.
Doctorate in surveying following a bachelor’s degree not in a board-approved surveying curriculum1.5 yrs. after Bachelor’s or 1.5 yrs. after Associates if earned3 yrs.
Doctorate in surveying discipline following a bachelor’s degree in a board-approved surveying curriculum*1 yr. after Bachelor’s or 1 yr. after Associates if earned2 yrs.
  • No experience obtained before the applicant’s 18th birthday shall qualify.
  • The surveying experience must be progressive in nature and show that the applicant has demonstrated the ability to assume continuously increasing levels of responsibility and sophistication in the surveying activities listed in 865 IAC 1-12-3(a).
  • At least 60% of an applicant’s surveying experience must be in the activities listed in IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(4) through IC 25-21.5-1-7(b)(7).

Licensed Application and Instruction

Visit the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency at https://www.in.gov/pla/professions/state-board-of-registration-for-professional-surveyors/license-application-and-instruction/ for more information on licensing requirements and how to submit an application.

ISPLS/ISPLS Foundation Scholarships

The Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors, Inc. (ISPLS) and the Indiana Professional Land Surveyors Foundation, Inc. (IPLSF) is pleased to provide financial assistance through scholarships to students pursuing a career in the land surveying profession and seeks to become a Professional Surveyor.
ISPLS and IPLSF currently offers four scholarships which are 1) the John G. McEntyre Endowment Scholarship 2) the Peggy Archer Memorial Scholarship 3) the IPLSF Purdue University Calumet Scholarship; 4) the IPLSF Benchmark Scholarship. Details concerning these scholarships are found below. Additionally, ISPLS has ten regional chapters across the State of Indiana that from time to time participate in awarding scholarships. Typically these chapters select their recipients based upon the recommendations from the ISPLS Scholarship Committee. However, there are a few chapters that have their own scholarship application and process. View the full list of scholarships.

Free ISPLS Membership Instructions

ISPLS offers students pursing a career in surveying the opportunity to connect with surveyors across the state through networking opportunities, education and resources to help you start your career. Join ISPLS today!

Transitioning From Technician To Surveyor

Make the transition from technician to surveyor and learn why you should.

Why become a professional licensed surveyor?

From a higher median salary to more employment flexibility, a career as a professional land surveyor allows you to do use the skills you’ve acquired as a technician while offering more opportunities for career growth. 

What education is needed?

Land surveyor’s need a bachelor’s degree and all of the education requirements from Indiana Code  865 IAC 1-2-1  to be met. The clock start’s ticking as soon as you earn any degree–so if you have an Associate’s degree, you can begin earning work experience at the same time as you continue meeting the educational requirements. 

Educators

Educators have the unique opportunity to help students learn about the ever growing career field of land surveying.

Career Days & Job Fairs

Is your school holding a career day or job fair? If so, invite your local ISPLS Chapter to be a presenter. They will gladly speak about the profession and may also bring field equipment for their presentations. Contact ISPLS Communication Coordinator Rachon Lucio for more information.

Trig-Star

Trig-Star is an extracurricular competition held each your across Indiana. The timed exercise involves solving trigonometry problems using right triangle formulas and the laws of sines and cosines. It’s a perfect opportunity to introduce students to the surveying profession. Visit trig-star.com or contact the ISPLS State Coordinator Tony Gregory.

Additional Resources

For more information, please visit the following land survey/GIS/mapping education resources to realize the tremendous opportunities for students who choose a land surveying career path.

Land Surveying Career Brochure
Get Kids Into Survey
Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors
George Washington as a Land Surveyor (Lesson Plan)

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