STUDENTS

GETTING STARTED IN 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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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!