Iowa
Iowa land surveyors are regulated by the Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board, housed within the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL). The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Candidates must pass the NCEES FS exam, the NCEES PS exam, and the Iowa State Specific Land Surveying Examination. Iowa requires board approval before registering for any exam with NCEES, and uses an education-based experience chart to determine total years required for licensure.
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
Iowa requires graduation from a post-secondary course of 2 or more years in mathematics, physical sciences, mapping and surveying, or engineering. The education-experience chart in IAC 193C—5.1(8) details specific requirements based on degree type. If your degree is not in surveying or engineering, you must have at least 9 credit hours in mathematics (including trigonometry) and additional surveying-specific coursework. All experience must occur after high school graduation.
- 02
Pass the FS Exam and Become a Land Surveyor Intern
Available nowThe NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. Iowa requires board approval before registering with NCEES — submit an application and wait for board review at the next scheduled meeting. Upon passing, you are certified as a Land Surveyor Intern (LSI).
- 03
Gain Qualifying Experience as LSI
Accumulate the required practical land surveying experience (typically 4 years as LSI). At least 50% must be field experience. All practical experience must be under the tutelage of a professional land surveyor. One year of experience equals 1,872 hours of full- or part-time employment. Five references are required, at least three from licensed PLSs. A detailed project statement describing a significant project from the last 12 months is also required.
- 04
Pass the PS Exam
Available nowThe NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round. Board approval is required before registering with NCEES. Applications are reviewed at the next regularly-scheduled board meeting.
- 05
Pass the Iowa State Specific Exam
Prep coming soonThe Iowa State Specific Land Surveying Examination is administered by the Board twice a year (April and October) for initial licensees, and throughout the year for comity applicants. The exam covers Iowa surveying laws, subdivision law, and state-specific practices. An applicant who fails two consecutive state-specific exams may be required to wait before retaking. A study syllabus is available on the DIAL website.
- 06
Receive Your License
Upon passing all required examinations and meeting education and experience requirements, the board will issue your Professional Land Surveyor license. Iowa follows the statute's chronological order: education/experience first, then FS/LSI, then professional experience, then PS and state-specific exams.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 30 PDH per biennial renewal period
- Ethics Requirement
- Not specified separately — verify with board
- Carryover
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Self-Study
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Renewal Period
- Biennial
- Pre-Approval Required?
- Not specified — verify with board
- Audit
- Not confirmed — verify with board
Coming in from another state?
Iowa offers licensure by comity for Professional Land Surveyors licensed in other states. All comity applicants must pass the Iowa State Specific Examination (administered year-round for comity applicants). Applicants may be interviewed by the land surveyor member(s) of the board. Applications are reviewed at regularly-scheduled board meetings. NCEES Council Records are accepted for verification of educational and professional records. Temporary permits may be granted to applicants who meet all requirements pending full board approval.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Iowa's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.