Illinois
Illinois land surveyors are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS), and the intern designation is Surveyor-in-Training (SIT). Candidates must pass the NCEES FS exam, the NCEES PS exam, and the Illinois Jurisdictional (IJ) exam, along with holding a 4-year degree with surveying coursework and 4 years of responsible charge experience.
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
Illinois requires a baccalaureate degree in land surveying from an ABET-accredited institution, or a baccalaureate degree in a related science with at least 24 semester hours of land surveying courses from an IDFPR-approved curriculum at an accredited institution. Foreign graduates must have credentials evaluated through NCEES. Applications are submitted through IDFPR's CORE online system (launched October 2024).
- 02
Pass the FS Exam and Obtain SIT License
Available nowThe NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. You must register through both IDFPR (for approval) and NCEES (for testing), with different deadlines and fees. Upon passing, you receive a Surveyor-in-Training (SIT) license. Important: the SIT license expires after 10 years and cannot be renewed — if you don't pass the PLS exam within that window, you must retake the FS.
- 03
Gain 4 Years of Responsible Charge Experience
Accumulate 4 years of experience in responsible charge of land surveying operations under the direct supervision and control of a Professional Land Surveyor, subsequent to SIT licensure. Experience must be submitted on the VE-LSR form. You may apply to take the PLS exam when you have, or will have, completed the 4 years prior to the exam date.
- 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 register through both IDFPR and NCEES with separate deadlines and fees.
- 05
Pass the Illinois Jurisdictional (IJ) Exam
Prep coming soonThe Illinois Jurisdictional exam covers Illinois-specific surveying statutes, rules, standards, and practices including the Illinois PLSS. This exam is required for all applicants including endorsement candidates.
- 06
Receive Your License
Submit your completed application through IDFPR's CORE system with all required documentation. If you are an Illinois SIT, bachelor's degree transcripts are not required — upload a copy of your SIT certificate instead. If practicing through a firm, a Professional Design Firm (PDF) registration with IDFPR may also be required.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 20 PDH per biennial pre-renewal period (24 months preceding November of even-numbered years)
- Ethics Requirement
- 4 PDH in IL statutes and rules; 2 PDH in professional conduct; 1 PDH in sexual harassment prevention (per Section 1130.400)
- Carryover
- Not specified — verify with IDFPR
- Self-Study
- All 20 PDH may be earned through online programs or courses
- Renewal Period
- Biennial — expires November 30 of even-numbered years
- Pre-Approval Required?
- No — but the board lists acceptable providers (IPLSA, NCEES, NSPS among others)
- Audit
- Random audit — records must be maintained for 6 years
Coming in from another state?
Illinois offers licensure by endorsement for surveyors licensed in other states. Depending on the profession-specific rules, endorsement applicants may or may not be required to pass an examination. Applications are submitted through IDFPR's CORE online system. Applicants must demonstrate education, experience, and examination credentials equivalent to Illinois requirements.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Illinois's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.