1755 E Plumb Lane Suite 258, Reno, NV 89502

PLS Initial

Initial Professional Land Surveying (PLS) License

(First PLS license - not licensed in any other US state or US territory)

To be eligible to APPLY for INITIAL LICENSURE in NEVADA

The elements listed below are required of applicants for initial licensure in Nevada:

Education

  • Graduate of a four (4) year land surveying curriculum or a board approved equivalent. Please email board@boe.state.nv.us for questions related to equivalent education.

The following table shows the education and corresponding years of experience required. Contact Jasmine Bailey jbailey@boe.state.nv.us if you have a unique situation not covered in the table.

DegreeYears Credit (MAX)Years Acceptable Experience Required
Undergraduate (BS Surveying): ABET/EAC accredited44
Undergraduate (BS Surveying): ABET/ETAC accredited44
Undergraduate (BS Surveying): ABET/ANSAC accredited44
Undergraduate (BS Surveying): non-accredited44
Surveying Associates Degree + another associates degree44
Surveying Masters Degree22
Engineering degree with a minimum 30 surveying credits hours (must include a PLSS course)44
Non-Engineering Bachelor of Science degree with a minimum 30 surveying credit hours (must include a PLSS course)44
Bachelor of Arts degree with a minimum 30 surveying credits hours (must include a PLSS course)44
Bachelor of Arts degree + Surveying Associates Degree44
Military Specialty in Surveying + Surveying Associates Degree44

Examinations

  • Passed the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam unless this requirement is waived by the board.
  • Passed the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam.

Experience

Accrued four (4) or more years progressive land surveying experience. The experience is to indicate that the applicant is competent to be placed in responsible charge of land surveying work. Relevant experience is to include one or more of the following:

Records of Survey; Legal Descriptions; Record Searches; Public Surveying; Boundary Surveying; Construction Staking; Restoration of Monuments; and/or Established True Bearings from Astronomical Observations, State Coordinate Systems Monuments or USG & GS Monuments.

Two (2) of the four (4) years of experience is to have been completed under the supervision of a professional land surveyor unless this requirement is waived by the board.

I have a unique circumstance, am I still eligible to apply?

Unique circumstances might include—my references are civil engineers and I want to be licensed as a land surveyor; I didn’t take the FS exam; I don’t have two-years supervision under a professional land surveyor; etc.  

The board can waive certain requirements for licensure in unique circumstances.  When applying, an applicant would include a waiver request letter explaining the unique circumstances.  The waiver request is given special consideration when the board considers your application.   

For questions about your unique circumstance and your eligibility to apply, please contact Jasmine Bailey, Licensing Specialist, jbailey@boe.state.nv.us or 775.688.1231.

Application Process for Initial Licensure in Nevada

1. Transmit a completed NCEES Record to Nevada 
  • The fee to create an NCEES Record is $0.
  • The first-time fee to transmit the Record to Nevada (or any other state) is $100.
  • Subsequent transmittals are $75.
  • Transmittal fees are paid directly to NCEES.

Nevada uses the NCEES Record for its application. We recommend starting the NCEES Record process before completing the Nevada short electronic form. The Nevada board online application will require the entry of your NCEES ID#, which can only be obtained after you begin creating an NCEES Record.

2. Complete the Nevada Board short electronic application form 
  • The application fee is $25, paid to the Nevada Board.
  • The fee for active military and spouses is $0.
3. Board review and consideration of application
4. Pass the Nevada State Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination
5. Pay pro-rated license fee

Transmit a completed NCEES Record to Nevada

An NCEES Record includes the information listed below.

  • Education information (Transcripts are required for all academic credit. (Foreign degrees may require a credential evaluation)
  • Exam verification (Verification of NCEES FS and NCEES PS examinations)
  • Work experience (Chronological listing and verification of engineering and other work experience)
  • Professional references (five references, four from licensed professional land surveyors who can reflect the character and diversity of your experience and are personally acquainted with your professional reputation)
  • Additional questions for the applicant 

Click here for information about an NCEES record

2. Complete the Nevada Board short electronic application Form

The Nevada Board application requires the information listed below:

  • Personal bio information
  • Veteran status
  • Waiver requests (if any)
  • Nevada affidavit questions

Make sure to select PLS Initial Licensure Application – $25.00 from the drop-down menu.

3. Board review and consideration of application

Following the completion and transmission of your NCEES Record and the completion of the Nevada short electronic form via the Nevada board’s website, your application packet will be presented at a public meeting of the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors for consideration. The Nevada board meets twelve (12) times per year and at those meetings, board members deliberate and vote on the approval of initial licensure applications. To ensure board members have time to review all initial licensure application packets before board meetings, a cut-off deadline is typically set 7 days prior to each meeting. 

Following are the initial licensure application deadlines for upcoming board meetings.

  • September 14, 2023 – for consideration at regular board meeting September 21, 2023
  • October 5, 2023 – for consideration at interim board meeting October 12, 2023
  • November 9, 2023 – for consideration at regular board meeting November 16, 2023
  • December 7, 2023 – for consideration at interim board meeting December 14, 2023
  • January 17, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting January 24, 2024
  • February 1, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting February 8, 2024
  • March 7, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting March 14, 2024
  • April 4, 2024  – for consideration at interim board meeting April 11, 2024
  • May 2, 2024  – for consideration at regular board meeting May 9, 2024
  • June 6, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting June 13, 2024
  • July 11, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting July 18, 2024
  • August 1, 2024 – for consideration at interim board meeting August 8, 2024
  • September 5, 2024 – for consideration at regular board meeting September 12, 2024

4. Pass the Nevada State Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination

Following review of the COMITY LICENSURE application, successful applicants will be notified by email of the remaining two steps of the licensing process:

  • Nevada State Specific Professional Land Surveyor Examination
  • Pay pro-rated license fee 

To complete the licensure process, the approved applicant must pass a two-hour open-book examination on the surveying laws of Nevada and the procedures for the practice of land surveying. The passing grade for this exam is a minimum of 70%.

To help you prepare for the exam, we’ve provided a specification document with reference materials and a link to a practice exam.

5. Pay pro-rated license fee

After passing the Nevada-specific exam, the  applicant pays a prorated license fee to align with the appropriate biennial renewal period.

The biennial renewal schedule for Nevada is determined by the first letter of the licensee’s surname:

  • A through E – renew by January 1 of each odd-numbered year.
  •  F through K – renew by July 1 of each odd-numbered year.
  •  L through R – renew by January 1 of each even-numbered year.
  •  S through Z – renew by July 1 of each even-numbered year.

After completing the above steps, your Nevada license number will be issued. You will be emailed a copy of your Nevada pocket card with your license details as confirmation.