How to Become a Land Surveyor in Tennessee: PLSIT to PLS Steps

To become a land surveyor in Tennessee, you complete qualifying education, pass the Fundamentals of Surveying exam to earn a Professional Land Surveyor in Training (PLSIT) certificate, build supervised field experience under a licensed surveyor, then pass the Principles and Practice of Surveying exam and Tennessee’s state-specific exam before applying for full Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) registration. The Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors, part of the Department of Commerce and Insurance, sets and enforces every requirement under Title 62, Chapter 18 of the Tennessee Code.¹

The Two Steps at a Glance

Tennessee licenses surveyors in two stages. First you qualify as a PLSIT, which lets you work under a licensed surveyor and start counting experience toward full licensure. Then, once you’ve met the experience threshold and passed the remaining exams, you apply for the PLS license itself. The time you spend as a PLSIT counts toward the total experience the board requires, so the two stages connect rather than reset.²

Applicants must speak and write English, hold at least a high school diploma or GED, and be of “good character and repute” under the statute. Past disciplinary action by another state’s licensing board can be grounds for denial.³

Education You Need

Your education determines both whether you qualify to sit for the FS exam and how much supervised experience you’ll need later. The board reviews transcripts to confirm your coursework fits one of the approved categories.

A four-year bachelor’s degree from a board-approved surveying or surveying technology program is the cleanest path. With that degree, you can qualify for the PLSIT certificate without prior field experience.³

A bachelor’s in a related field such as civil engineering or geomatics works with at least 24 semester hours of board-approved surveying coursework. A bachelor’s in an unrelated field requires 36 semester hours of surveying coursework. An associate degree in surveying technology or a related technical field requires 30 semester hours of surveying coursework plus four years of progressive field experience under a licensed PLS just to reach the PLSIT stage.³

Getting Your PLSIT Certificate

The Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam is the gateway. It’s a computer-based test administered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), with 110 questions and a six-hour appointment window. The exam fee is $225, paid to NCEES, and testing is available year-round at professional testing centers.⁴⁵ Boundary law carries the heaviest weight on the exam, with 19 to 29 questions on topics like adverse possession, easements, metes and bounds descriptions, and chains of title.⁶

Once you’ve passed the FS and can document your education, you submit the PLSIT application through the Department of Commerce and Insurance’s CORE licensing portal. The fee is $25. You’ll need three character references, at least one of which must come from a licensed PLS. Each reference has to be sent to the board directly by the person providing it.⁷

Building Your Supervised Experience

Experience must be progressive — meaning you take on greater responsibility over time — and it must be performed under the direct supervision of a practicing PLS. How much you need for full PLS registration depends on your education:

Bachelor’s in surveying or surveying technology: 2 years of progressive experience in responsible charge under a licensed PLS
Bachelor’s in a related science, engineering, or technology field with 24 semester hours of surveying coursework: 2 years
Bachelor’s in a non-surveying field with 36 semester hours of surveying coursework: 2 years
Associate degree in surveying technology or related field with 30 semester hours of surveying coursework: 6 years
High school diploma or GED with 18 semester hours of surveying coursework: 10 years

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Time worked as a PLSIT counts toward these totals.² Document your work on the board’s experience verification form, completed by your supervising PLS. That form can also double as one of your required reference letters. The board may ask for additional documentation or schedule an interview if it has questions about your record.⁸

The Remaining Exams

Two more exams stand between you and full licensure. The Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam is the professional-level NCEES test covering advanced boundary law, subdivision design, and professional ethics. The fee is $375, and it’s computer-based with year-round availability.⁹⁵

Tennessee also requires a state-specific exam with two subparts. You need at least 70 percent on each subpart to pass. Subjects include the Tennessee Coordinate System, magnetic declination, writing and interpreting property descriptions from legal records, subdivision layout, topographic mapping, and the relative legal weight given to monuments, distances, bearings, and areas when re-establishing old boundaries.¹⁰

Applying for Full PLS Registration

The full PLS application costs $300, broken into a $200 application fee and a $100 registration fee. You submit through the CORE portal along with proof of your education, documented experience, and exam results.⁷

You’ll need five character references, and at least three must come from licensed Professional Land Surveyors with direct knowledge of your work. As with the PLSIT stage, each reference has to be completed and sent to the board directly by the person providing it. The board reviews every application individually and may request an interview.⁷³

If You’re Already Licensed in Another State

Tennessee does not offer true reciprocity. It uses a comity process instead: if you hold an active PLS license in another jurisdiction, you can apply for a Tennessee license without first obtaining the PLSIT certificate, but you still have to meet the board’s education and experience minimums and show proof of passing both the FS and PS exams. You’ll also need to pass the Tennessee state-specific exam, because your home state’s license doesn’t cover it.⁸

Keeping Your License Active

Tennessee land surveyor licenses expire on the last day of the calendar year. You can renew within 60 days of expiration through the CORE portal for $280.¹¹

Once you’ve held your license for at least two years, you have to complete 30 professional development hours (PDH) during each two-year renewal cycle, with at least two hours focused on surveying ethics and standards of practice. Qualifying activities include seminars, workshops, and approved online courses on topics like changes in surveying technology, updates to state statutes, and developments in boundary law. You can carry over up to 15 unused PDH hours from the previous cycle.¹²

You don’t submit PDH records with your renewal; you attest that you’ve completed them. The board audits licensees, and if you’re selected you’ll need to produce documentation, so keep certificates of completion on file. Renewing late or falling short on continuing education can trigger additional fees, delay renewal, or lead to suspension.¹¹

1
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Laws for Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
2
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
3
Justia. Tennessee Code 62-18-109 – Applications for Registration
4
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Fundamentals of Surveying Exam
5
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Exam Information for Tennessee Land Surveyors
6
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. FS CBT Exam Specifications
7
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors License Details
8
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Tennessee Land Surveyors Board – How to Get a License
9
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. Principles and Practice of Surveying Exam
10
Tennessee Secretary of State. Rules of Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors
11
Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Renewal
12
Legal Information Institute. Tennessee Comp. R. and Regs. 0820-05-.03 – Basic Requirements