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State Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors: Land Surveyor and Intern Applications and Forms

Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) and Land Surveyor Intern (LSI) Applications and Forms

Summary of Licensing Requirements - Land Surveying

Licensing Requirements for Professional Land Surveyor

Licensing Requirements for Professional Land Surveyors


For application and licensing questions, email directly to dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us.


Licensure by Endorsement with 1.5 hours Colorado State Specific Exam:

  • Licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction. Qualifications must be substantially equivalent to those currently required by the Board rules, policies, and the Practice Act.

Licensure by Education, Experience and Examination:

  • Graduate from a Board-approved surveying techology curriculum (ABET) of 4 or more years and have 2 years of progressive land surveying experience under the supervision of a PLS or an exempted federal employee. Must be currently enrolled as a Land Surveyor-Intern (LSI). If not a Colorado LSI or transferring LSI from another state, must take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam before being allowed to sit for the PLS exam. 
  • (II) Graduate from a non Board-approved surveying curriculum of 4 or more years and have 4 years of progressive land surveying experience of which at least 2 years must be under the supervision of a PLS or an exempted federal employee. Must be currently enrolled as a Land Surveyor-Intern (LSI). If not a Colorado LSI or transferring LSI from another state, must take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam before being allowed to sit for the PLS exam. 
  • (III) Graduate from a Board-approved 2-year surveying curriculum (defined in Board Rule 1.4(G)(2)(b)) or from a 4-year engineering curriculum that included surveying coursework as specified in Board Rule 1.4(G)(2)(c); and have 6 years of progressive land surveying experience of which 4 years shall have been under the supervision of a PLS or an exempted federal employee. Must be currently enrolled as a Land Surveyor-Intern (LSI). If not a Colorado LSI or transferring LSI from another state, must take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam before being allowed to sit for the PLS exam.
  • (IV) Graduate from a non Board-approved 4-year degree (defined in Board Rule 1.4(G)(2)(d))that included surveying coursework; and have 6 years of progressive land surveying experience of which 4 years shall have been under the supervision of a PLS or an exempted federal employee. Must be currently enrolled as a Land Surveyor-Intern (LSI). If not a Colorado LSI or transferring LSI from another state, must take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam before being allowed to sit for the PLS exam. 

The Board may allow an applicant to substitute the satisfactory completion of one academic year in a curriculum approved by the Board for one year of experience. The substitution of education for experience shall not exceed three years.


Licensure by Experience and Examination: 

  • Graduate from high school or its equivalent. Have 10 years of progressive land surveying experience of which at least 6 years must have been under the supervision of a PLS or an exempted federal employee. Must be currently enrolled as a Land Surveyor-Intern (LSI). If not a Colorado LSI or transferring LSI from another state, must take and pass the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam before being allowed to sit for the PLS exam. 

The Board may allow an applicant to substitute the satisfactory completion of one academic year in a curriculum approved by the Board for one year of experience. The substitution of education for experience shall not exceed three years.

Note: This path to licensure will be repealed effective July 1, 2020.

Enrollment Requirements for Land Surveyor Interns

Enrollment Requirements for Land Surveyor Interns


For application and licensing questions, email directly to dora_dpo_licensing@state.co.us.


Endorsement Without Further Examination:

  • Enrolled in good standing in another jurisdiction requiring qualifications substantially equivalent to those currently required by the Board rules, policies, and the Practice Act.

Enrollment by Graduation and Examination:

  • Graduate from a 4-year Board-approved surveying or surveying technology curriculum (ABET) to be eligible to take FS examination. 
  • Have senior status in a 4-year Board-approved surveying or surveying technology curriculum (ABET) to be eligible to take FS examination. Graduation required for enrollment.

Enrollment by Education, Experience and Examination:

  • Graduate from a 2-year Board-approved surveying curriculum (defined in Board Rule 4.7.2.2) and have a cumulative record of 2 years or more of progressive land surveying experience. 

Enrollment by Experience and Examination: 

  • Graduate from high school or the equivalent and have a cumulative record of 4 years or more of progressive land surveying experience, of which a maximum of 1 year of educational credit may be substituted. 
Applications

PLS and LSI - Licensing Requirements

Forms and Additional Resources

Company Registration

Colorado has no requirements for companies to become registered or "authorized" with its Board in order to provide land surveying in the state. Please check with the Colorado Secretary of State for any other requirements in order to do business in Colorado.

Continuing Education

At present, continuing education is not required to maintain or renew a Professional Land Surveyor license.

PS Exam: Transition to Computer-Based Testing

The April 2016 PS exam was the last exam in the paper/pencil format. Registration and scheduling opened June 2016 for the new computer-based testing (CBT) PS exam with first testing appointments available in October 2016. The new computer-based PS exam will allow for year-round testing at approved Pearson VUE test centers. This gives examinees the flexibility to pick the exam time, date, and location. The new format will include a digital PS Reference Handbook. Examinees will receive their results 7‚Äì10 days after the exam. Go towww.ncees.org for more information.

FS Exams: Computer-Based Testing

In January 2014, the FS exam transitioned to computer-based testing (CBT)and is no longer administered via pencil-and-paper format. Registration is now open year-round and examinees may select the exam time, date, and location that works best for them. Examinees will receive their results 7-10 days after the exam. For more CBT information, visit the NCEES website.

Intern Enrollment

  • Land Surveyor Intern enrollment is valid indefinitely or until a Professional Land Surveyor license is issued.
    No enrollment numbers or certificates will be issued.

Communication from the Division: The Division of Professions and Occupations\' primary communication is via email. Please be sure to include your email address on your application to receive important information about your application status and process.

License Expiration Grace Period for New Applicants: All new applicants who are issued a license within 120 days of the upcoming renewal expiration date will be issued a license with the next expiration date.

License Renewal Information: All Professional Land Surveyor licenses expire on October 31 of odd-numbered years.