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Land Surveyors study and document geographic information that is used to create maps and
resolve property disputes and mark boundaries. The profession has many titles such as Land Surveyor (LS),
Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), Registered Land Surveyor (RLS) and Professional Surveyor
and Mapper (PSM). They work with cameras, lasers, radar and other equipment. In order to get
certified, land surveyors must learn algebra through trigonometry and understand laws concerning
surveys, property and contracts.
Licensing for land surveyors is regulated by state boards. Some states use the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) exam as a
requirement for licensure. The first step to becoming a land surveyor is usually to acquire the
Land Surveyor-In-Training (LSIT) certificate. From there one works up to a professional license. California requires an eight hour
written exam and additional continued education and/or work experience. Applicants
must also not have a criminal background related to land surveying.
The State of Washington has more extensive requirements for licensure, including a law and ethics exam and eight
years of professional level experience, supervised by a licensed land surveyor.
One of the most famous Land Surveyors in history
was Abraham Lincoln, in which land surveying was his profession before entering politics.
