How to Get a License
Registration Requirements
Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam
Applicants who are applying for initial licensure by examination are required to obtain a Professional Land Surveyor In Training (PLSIT) certificate. The minimum requirements for the Professional Land Surveyor In Training (PLSIT) certificate are below.
Education Requirements
Applicants are required to indicate the pathway in which they are seeking licensure in accordance with current requirements; each pathway is listed below.
(i) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board.
(ii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences.
(iii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a non-surveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, plus an additional thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences.
(iv) Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering or technical field approved by the board with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of four (4) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(v) Obtain a high school education diploma or high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education, with a record of six (6) years of progressive practical experience which shall have been in responsible charge of the duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
Please note:
Applicants applying via education methods 2-4 must provide the course reporting form. This form can be found on our website here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/surveyors/forms/LSCourseReporting3415.pdf.
Applicants applying via education methods 4 & 5 must provide the Experience Verification Form. This form can be found here https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/commerce/documents/regboards/surveyors/forms/Experience-Verification-Form.pdf. This form must also be sent in directly by the Land Surveyor who is verifying the experience.
Examination Requirements
Applicants who wish to sit for the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam in Tennessee may register and pay directly with NCEES.
Reference Requirements
Applicants are required to provide three (3) references, one (1) being a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the reference via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
Once an applicant has obtained the Professional Land Surveyor in Training (PLSIT) certificate, they must submit an upgrade application to obtain licensure. Listed below are the minimum requirements for licensure.
Education Requirements
Applicants are required to indicate the pathway in which they are seeking licensure in accordance with current requirements; each pathway is listed below. Applicants are required to provide verification of their experience for the pathway in which they are seeking licensure. The experience verification form can be found here.
(i) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(ii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(iii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a non-surveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, plus an additional thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(iv) Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering or technical field approved by the board with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of six (6) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(v) Obtain a high school education diploma or high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education, with a record of ten (10) years of progressive practical experience which shall have been in responsible charge of the duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor, plus an additional eighteen (18) hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences.
Please note:
Applicants applying via education method (v) must provide the course reporting form.
Examination Requirements
Applicants are required to provide proof of passage of both the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam and the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS). Applicants who wish to sit for Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam may register and pay directly with NCEES. Applicants who wish to sit for the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS) may register and pay directly with PSI.
Reference Requirements
Applicants are required to provide three (5) references, three (3) being from Professional Land Surveyors (PLS). This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the reference via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
Additional Supporting Documentation
Applicants are required to provide two (2) plats with descriptions, along with a separate detailed narrative of the applicant’s role in the performance and production of the two sample plats. Plats should be stamped/sealed by the PLS who is in responsible charge. Because the plat shall be modified to meet all current applicable requirements for a plat in Tennessee (Tenn. Comp. R. Regs &0820-030.07(1)(a), it should be marked “FOR DEMONSTRATION PURPOSES” or a similar notation to ensure the security of the plat. Our rules and laws can be reviewed online here. You can also review plat requirements, a plat example, and other frequently asked questions regarding plats supplied with an application here.
Applicants are required to provide the board with official transcripts. These transcripts are to be sent to our board directly by the university (or the transcript service the university utilizes) via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
Tennessee does not register by reciprocity; applicants must meet the minimum requirements listed below to be considered for registration by comity:
Education and Experience Requirements
Applicants are required to indicate the pathway in which they are seeking licensure in accordance with current requirements. Applicants are required to provide verification of their experience for the pathway in which they are seeking licensure. The experience verification form can be found here. This form may also serve as one of your required references. This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the verifier via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
(i) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(ii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(iii) Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a non-surveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, plus an additional thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of two (2) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(iv) Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering or technical field approved by the board with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record satisfactory to the board of six (6) years of progressive practical experience in responsible charge of duties under a practicing professional land surveyor.
(v) Obtain a high school education diploma or high school equivalency credential approved by the state board of education, with a record of ten (10) years of progressive practical experience which shall have been in responsible charge of the duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor, plus an additional eighteen (18) hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences.
Please Note:
Applicants applying via education methods 2-5 must provide the course reporting form. This form can be found on our website here.
Examination Requirements
Applicants are required to have passed both the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) examinations. Verification of these examinations can be provided by the applicant, can be downloaded by board staff from the applicants NCEES profile, or by verification by another state board.
Applicants are also required to provide proof of passage of the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS) exam. Applicants who wish to sit for the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS) may register and pay directly with PSI.
Reference Requirements
Applicants are required to provide three (5) references, three (3) being from Professional Land Surveyors (PLS). This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the reference via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
Additional Supporting Documentation
Applicants are required to provide the board with official transcripts. These transcripts are to be sent to our board directly by the university (or the transcript service the university utilizes) via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
Applicants are required to provide two (2) plats with legal descriptions. You can review plat requirements, a plat example, and other frequently asked questions regarding plats supplied with an application here.
Applicants must have been previously registered in the State of Tennessee and hold an expired certificate.
Applicants are required to provide proof of completion of 30 professional development hours completed within the two years preceding the date of reapplication (with one unit in ethics & one other in standards of practice). The Tennessee approved course list can be found here.
An applicant whose certificate has been expired for four (4) years or more must also provide five (5) references, three (3) of which must be from professional land surveyors. A copy of the reference form can be found on our website here. This form must be sent to the board directly from the reference via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.