There are several ways of applying for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor. Read the descriptions below to determine which application is appropriate for your situation.
- If you meet the qualifications for licensure and are not already licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in another jurisdiction, then you must apply for an initial License By Examination
- If you are already licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in another jurisdiction then you must apply for licensure By Endorsement
- If you were licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor in Kentucky but you license is expired for more than one year, you must apply for licensure By Reinstatement
Exam Results
Exam results will be provided by NCEES.
If you passed the FS exam, you may apply for a "Land Surveyor in Training" (LSIT) Certificate. The board does not require that you obtain the LSIT certificate but it is available if you need it for another purpose. See #2 below.
If you passed the PS exam, you may apply for licensure when you have obtained the required experience. See #4 below.
If you failed an exam less than three times, you can retake it by registering directly with NCEES. If you have failed three or more times, please contact kyle.elliott@ky.gov and provide proof of gaining additional knowledge, such as a review course.
Becoming a Professional Land Surveyor by Examination
1. Education
Kentucky requires a four-year college degree. Below are the three options:
- Option 1 – Graduation from a board-approved program of four (4) years or more in land surveying from a college or university.
- Option 2 – Graduation from a program of four (4) years or more in a major other than land surveying from a college or university of recognized standing plus completion of the 24 semester credit hour surveying core curriculum.
- Option 3 – Graduation from a civil, mining, or agricultural engineering program of four (4) years or more accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (EAC/ABET) plus completion of 12 semester credit hours of the surveying core curriculum.
2. Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) Exam
Do not register for the FS exam unless you meet the educational requirements outlined above, or you have senior standing in such a program and have completed at least 12 semester hours of the surveying core curriculum, or you have previous written approval from this board.
Passage of the FS exam does not guarantee:
- Certification as a Land Surveyor-In-Training (LSIT);
- Future approval to take the Principles & Practice of Surveying exam;
- Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS).
LSIT certification is not required, but if you need it for another purpose you can apply after passing the FS exam and graduating from one of the degree programs described above. To apply, complete the online application, a link to which is provided below; and have your school send an official transcript showing graduation either directly to us, or directly to NCEES.
3. Principles & Practice of Surveying (PPS) Exam
Do not register for the PPS exam unless you meet the educational requirements outlined under 1. above and have passed the FS exam.
Please note that passage of the Principles & Practice of Land Surveying exam does not guarantee licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). You must meet all requirements of KRS 322 including education, examinations, experience, moral character, and make application (see #4 below).
4. Initial Licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) By Examination
***If you are already licensed in another state, you must apply for licensure by endorsement. See "Become a Professional Land Surveyor by Endorsement" in the next section. Do not complete the application in this section.***
After meeting the Education, FS, and PPS requirements listed above, and obtaining four years of progressive surveying experience under the direct supervision of a licensed surveyor (three years under education option 1) with at least two years following graduation, you may apply for licensure.
Kentucky requires an NCEES Record as part of an Application for Initial Licensure By Examination. Information regarding obtaining a record can be found at
NCEES Records. Please follow the instructions at that website and contact the NCEES Records Department at 800-250-3196 if you encounter problems. You must request NCEES transmit the record to us; we cannot do this for you.
NCEES will charge a fee of $100 to transmit the completed record to us. However, we charge no application fee or any other fee until you need to renew the license. You will then have a Record that you can maintain throughout your career with no charge for updates and a reduced fee of $75 for each transmission to other states where you seek licensure.
If your application is approved, you will receive documentation of selected Statutes and Regulations pertaining to the practice of Professional Land Surveying in Kentucky. Once the Kentucky Board has received the signed certification page back,
we will finish the processing of your application, and issue your
license.
Becoming a Professional Land Surveyor by Endorsement
Applicants Already Licensed in another State, U.S. Territory, Possession, or the District of Columbia
If you are licensed in any state, territory, or possession of the United States, District of Columbia, or any foreign country, you are eligible for licensure in Kentucky by Endorsement provided the requirements and qualifications supporting your original license equal or exceed Kentucky’s requirements in effect on the date your original license was issued.
Kentucky requires an NCEES Record as part of an Application for Licensure by Endorsement. Information regarding obtaining a record can be found at the NCEES Record. Please follow the instructions on that website and contact the NCEES Records Department at 800-250-3196 if you encounter problems. You must request NCEES transmit the record to us; we cannot do this for you.
BE ADVISED: Applications will ony be kept open for up to six months, and professional references must be recent, from within the past six months. ALL experience MUST be verified and up to date, you CANNOT just get a total of four years of experience verified.
In addition to the NCEES Record, please complete the application below. You will be required to
pay the $300 application fee when you complete and submit your
application. All fees are non-refundable. If your application is approved, you will receive documentation of selected Statutes and Regulations pertaining to the practice of Professional Land Surveying in Kentucky. Once the Kentucky Board has received the signed certification page back, we will finish the processing of your application, and issue your license.
Online Application For Licensure By Endorsement
We can only view your NCEES Record for 60 days and we will not begin the review process without both the record and the online application. The application review process generally takes about two to three weeks but may take up to six weeks, depending on the circumstances and the current volume of applications.
Please be aware that your company will also need a Business Entity Permit unless you are a sole proprietor practicing in your own name.
Spouse of an Active Duty Member of the Armed Forces Assigned to a Duty Station in Kentucky
A
spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United
States assigned to a duty station in Kentucky should complete the paper
Endorsement Application below, have an up-to-date NCEES Record (with a
license verification from another state, or licensing jurisdiction)
transmitted to the Kentucky Board, and supply the following information
with their application to become licensed without paying an application
fee:
- Proof in the form of a marriage license or certificate
that the applicant is married to a current member of the Armed Forces of
the United States; and
- Proof in the form of current duty orders that the applicant's spouse is assigned to a duty station in Kentucky.
Once you have completed the
paper endorsement application, and have had your up-to-date NCEES
Record transmitted to the Kentucky Board, email the paper application (below), and the required documentation above to kyle.elliott@ky.gov.
Active-Duty Military Spouse PE or PLS PAPER Endorsement Application Form (PDF 144KB).pdf
Applicants Licensed in another country
Becoming a Professional Land Surveyor by Reinstatement
Application for reinstatement must be made by individuals who previously held a Kentucky license that has been expired for more than one year, or a licensee who has elected "inactive" or "retired" status and now wants to practice land surveying.
Apply for reinstatement according to the instructions below:
- Fill out the application form.
- Reinstatement Application (PDF - 1028KB)
- Part III "Endorsers" should only be completed for the time period from licensure in Kentucky through the application date. The endorser number (left-hand side of the table) must be written in the upper right-hand corner of the corresponding Report of Professional Experience (RPE) (PDF - 780KB). The applicant is to complete Sections 1 and 3 and mail to the endorser to complete Section 2. Do not return with your application.
- Sign and date page 3 and include a check or money order for $500 made payable to the Kentucky Board of Licensure. All fees are non-refundable. If you prefer to pay this fee with a credit card, please call our office at (502) 573-2680.
- Mail application and fee to the Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers & Land Surveyors, 160 Democrat Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601.
The applicant must complete sixteen (16) professional development hours for each reporting period since the license expired or was placed in inactive or retired status, up to a maximum of thirty-two (32) hours including compliance with the requirements for courses in professional ethics and standards of practice. See 201 KAR 18 192 (PDF 129KB).pdf for further information.
Please be aware that your company will also need a Business Entity Permit unless you are practicing in your own name.
2. Complete the Surveying Affidavit.
Surveying Affidavit (PDF - 65KB).pdf
Indicate whether or not you have practiced land surveying since your license expired or was placed in inactive or retired status. If you did practice, please describe such practice on a separate sheet and attach to the affidavit.
3. Include a cover letter explaining the following:
- Why did you allow your license to expire or why did you place it in inactive or retired status?
- Why are you seeking reinstatement?
- What do you intend to do with your license if reinstated?
- What evidence of qualification for continued practice do you have as required by 201 KAR18:115?