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DE State licensure requirements

Delaware

Delaware land surveyors are regulated by the Board of Professional Land Surveyors, housed within the Division of Professional Regulation. The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), and candidates must pass the NCEES FS exam, the NCEES PS exam, and a Delaware 2-hour state exam on drainage and Delaware law. Delaware uses an hours-based system for education and experience requirements rather than years, with pathways requiring between 4,000 and 11,000 hours of qualifying experience.

See the pathway Board site
Quick reference

Everything on one card.

The fields most candidates ask us about, pulled directly from the board's published requirements.

01
Licensing Board
Board of Professional Land Surveyors
02
Board Website
dpr.delaware.gov/boards/landsurveyors/
03
License Title
Professional Land Surveyor (PLS)
04
Intern Title
Surveyor Intern (SI)
05
Education
4-year surveying program; or 4-year related program + 4,000 hrs experience; or 4,000-hr surveying technology program + 4,000 hrs experience; or 11,000 hrs experience + Level IV CST certification
06
Experience
8,000 hours as a Surveyor Intern under direct supervision of a licensed PLS for full licensure
07
Required Exams
FS (national), PS (national), Delaware 2-hour exam on drainage and Delaware law
08
Renewal
Biennial, expires June 30 of even-numbered years
09
CE Requirement
24 PDH per biennial period; 2–6 PDH in ethics; max 9 PDH in business/project management
10
CE Carryover
Up to 12 PDH may carry forward
11
Reciprocity
Yes — must hold license in another jurisdiction with substantially similar standards or 5+ years of licensure; must pass Delaware state exam
Pathway

Step-by-step to PLS.

A linear view of the typical path — from education to license. Some steps overlap in practice.

  1. 01

    Meet Education and Pre-Internship Experience Requirements

    Delaware offers multiple pathways to Surveyor Intern registration based on education: (1) College senior or graduate of a 4-year surveying program; (2) Graduate of a 4-year or more program acceptable to the Board with 4,000 hours of combined office/field experience under a licensed PLS; (3) Graduate of a 4,000-hour surveying technology program with 4,000 hours of experience; (4) 11,000 hours of experience under a licensed PLS with Level IV Survey Technician Certification (NSPS or equivalent). Experience cannot be concurrent with education.

  2. 02

    Pass the FS Exam and Register as Surveyor Intern

    Available now

    The NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. Apply through DELPROS (Delaware Professional Regulation Online Services) for SI registration. You must provide proof of passing from NCEES, transcripts, state/jurisdiction licensure verification, and a Statement of Supervising Land Surveyor form from each PLS who will supervise your internship.

  3. 03

    Complete 8,000 Hours of Supervised Internship

    As a Surveyor Intern, accumulate 8,000 hours of combined office and field experience in responsible charge of land surveying projects under the direct supervision of a licensed PLS who is actively practicing. If the supervisory relationship ends, both intern and supervisor must report the change to the Board within 30 days. Experience under a Maryland-licensed property line surveyor counts as equivalent. Use the Log of Intern Experience to track hours.

  4. 04

    Pass the PS Exam

    Available now

    The NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. Apply through DELPROS. You must submit Verification of Land Surveying Experience forms from each supervising PLS, stamped with their official seal.

  5. 05

    Pass the Delaware State Exam

    Prep coming soon

    Delaware requires a 2-hour written exam covering drainage law and Delaware-specific land surveying law and practice. This exam is required for both exam-pathway and reciprocity applicants. Apply through DELPROS for board approval to sit for the state exam.

  6. 06

    Receive Your License

    Upon verification of all education, experience, and examination requirements, the Board will issue your Professional Land Surveyor license at its next scheduled meeting (third Thursday of each month, except August and December). Applications are submitted online through DELPROS.

Available Azimuth Prep covers this exam now. Coming soon State-specific exam prep is in production.
Continuing education

After you're licensed.

What this state requires to keep your license active.

Total Hours
24 PDH per biennial renewal period
Ethics Requirement
No less than 2 PDH and no more than 6 PDH must be related to professional ethics
Carryover
Up to 12 PDH may carry forward to the next biennial period
Self-Study
Not specified — verify with board
Renewal Period
Biennial — expires June 30 of even-numbered years
Pre-Approval Required?
Yes — CE courses may be submitted for board approval; both licensees and course providers can request approval
Audit
Not specified — verify with board
Reciprocity

Coming in from another state?

Delaware offers licensure by reciprocity for land surveyors holding a current license in another jurisdiction. If you have been licensed for 5 or more years, or your jurisdiction has standards substantially similar to Delaware's, the process is streamlined. If licensed less than 5 years, you must submit copies of the other jurisdiction's licensing law for Board review. All reciprocity applicants must pass the Delaware 2-hour state exam on drainage and Delaware law. NCEES Records are accepted but not required.

Source documents

Verify everything yourself.

Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.

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