You’re probably familiar with boundary and land surveying for development, construction, property sales and boundary dispute resolution, but you might not know exactly what it means the be a land surveyor. In addition to formal education, boundary surveyors must meet a number of extra licensure and certification requirements. It’s important to know a little bit about the educational background of boundary surveyors in Texas so that you know what to look for in a prospective surveyor. Make sure you hire a land surveyor who meets all of the state requirements for professional surveying to ensure that you will receive reliable service.
Land surveying education
Regardless of what specific company or specialty a surveyor will go on to work for, they will begin their pursuit of surveying certification with an undergraduate degree. Most land surveyors earn a Bachelor of Science degree in land surveying from an institution accredited by the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET). This accreditation signifies that the institution’s land surveying program meets educational standards to ensure that students are prepared to earn their certification and pursue a career in land surveying. Recent surveying graduates may take the Fundamentals of Surveying exam as part of the process to receive their Professional Surveyor’s License.
Testing and certification
Once a prospective boundary surveyor has received their undergraduate degree, they must undergo several years of experience working under a professional surveyor before they can take their examination to obtain a Professional Surveyor’s License. Usually, it takes four years of work experience to qualify for an exam. For the work to count towards the experiential requirement necessary to qualify for the exam, it must be directly overseen by a professional land surveyor who has a current and valid Professional Surveyor’s License.
After completing the work requirement, a prospective surveyor may apply to take the examination through the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying chapter in their state. The Principles and Practices of Surveying exam is a computer-based test that’s administered year-round. The testing appointment lasts a staggering seven hours from start to finish. During that time, the test taker will have to answer a total of 100 questions in a two-part exam. Passing the test is no easy feat and requires extensive education, practical experience and supplementary knowledge. The average pass rate for the exam is just over 60 percent.
Find boundary surveyors in Texas
At D.G. Smyth & Company, we take the state requirements for boundary surveyors in Texas seriously, which is why each of our surveying professionals has extensive training as well as all of the necessary certification and licensure. We have been the premier provider of land and boundary surveying services in and around Uvalde, Texas since 1977, and we are dedicated to the quality of the work that we provide. We will work with you to assess your needs and utilize our extensive resources and expertise in order to complete your survey to the highest degree of accuracy and professionalism. To schedule your survey, simply give us a call today.