Arizona
Arizona land surveyors are regulated by the Board of Technical Registration (BTR), a multi-discipline board that also oversees engineers, architects, geologists, and other technical professionals. The license title is Registered Land Surveyor (RLS), and candidates must demonstrate 72 months (6 years) of combined education and experience, plus pass three examinations: the NCEES FS, the NCEES PS, and the Arizona State Specific Land Surveyor Exam (AZLS).
Everything on one card.
The fields most candidates ask us about, pulled directly from the board's published requirements.
Step-by-step to PLS.
A linear view of the typical path — from education to license. Some steps overlap in practice.
- 01
Meet Education Requirements
Arizona offers flexible education pathways. Graduates of ABET-accredited or board-approved programs receive education credit toward the 72-month requirement per R4-30-208. The LSIT designation is optional in Arizona but requires graduating from a board-approved school or having 4 years of relevant education/experience, plus passing the FS exam. Non-ABET degree holders may apply for FS exam authorization through the board.
- 02
Pass the FS Exam
Available nowThe NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. Applicants with an ABET-accredited degree can register directly through NCEES. Non-ABET applicants must apply to the BTR for exam authorization, which can take up to 12 weeks for initial review.
- 03
Gain Qualifying Experience
Accumulate a total of 72 months (6 years) of combined education and experience in land surveying. Experience must be verified by current or former supervisors who are registered land surveyors using the BTR's Certificate of Experience forms, which must be submitted directly to the board by the supervisors. The experience should demonstrate progressive responsibility in land surveying activities.
- 04
Pass the PS Exam
Available nowThe NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. You must first pass the FS exam before being eligible for the PS exam. Non-ABET applicants may need separate board authorization to sit for the PS exam.
- 05
Pass the Arizona State Specific Exam (AZLS)
Prep coming soonThe AZLS is a 90-question, closed-book, multiple-choice exam administered at the BTR office in Phoenix. It covers Arizona surveying laws, boundary law, and minimum standards of practice. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass. You must pass the AZLS before applying for registration — this applies to all pathways including endorsement/comity.
- 06
Apply for Registration
Submit your registration application to the BTR along with all required documentation: proof of citizenship, government-issued identification, verification of all three exams, and the registration fee ($100 application + $225 initial registration). The BTR offers three pathways: traditional examination, endorsement, and Model Law Surveyor (MLS) designation. Board staff and/or volunteer registrants review your application.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 45 PDH per triennial (3-year) renewal cycle
- Ethics Requirement
- 4 PDH in Statutes and Minimum Standards required per renewal period
- Carryover
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Self-Study
- Not specified — verify with board
- Renewal Period
- Triennial — due every 3 years during the quarter of initial registration; $300 renewal fee
- Pre-Approval Required?
- Not specified — verify with board
- Audit
- Not specified — verify with board
Coming in from another state?
Arizona offers three pathways to registration for out-of-state licensees: (1) Traditional application with 72 months education/experience verification; (2) Endorsement for those with a valid license in another jurisdiction with substantially equivalent requirements and 5+ years of practice; (3) Model Law Surveyor (MLS) designation pathway for NCEES Record holders. All pathways require passing the Arizona State Specific Exam (AZLS). Unlike other BTR-regulated professions, land surveyors are specifically not exempt from examination requirements for comity.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Arizona's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.