Maryland
Maryland land surveyors are regulated by the Board for Professional Land Surveyors, housed within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing under the Maryland Department of Labor. The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Maryland is unique in requiring two state-specific exams: Maryland Law and Ethics (2 hours) and Maryland Storm Drain and Road Grade Design (4 hours). Maryland offers five categories of licensure pathways ranging from an accredited surveying degree with 2 years experience to a non-academic pathway with 10 years 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
Determine Your Education Category
Maryland offers five categories under §15-305: (b) 4-year accredited LS curriculum + 2 years experience; (c) 4-year accredited physical science curriculum + 4 years experience; (d) any accredited 4-year degree with 30 credits in surveying + 4 years experience; (e) HS diploma + 10 years experience (non-academic); (f) sunset path ending December 31, 2025. All categories require 18 months of minor engineering experience (which can be partially satisfied through education — 9 semester hours = 2 years equivalent).
- 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. State approval is no longer required for the FS — go directly to NCEES.
- 03
Gain Qualifying Experience
Accumulate the required experience for your category (2–10 years). Experience must be documented using the Report of Professional Experience (RPE) form, which must be started by the applicant and completed by the person in Responsible Charge verifying the experience. The board must receive the RPE directly from the responsible official, not the applicant. Experience must include minor engineering activities.
- 04
Pass the PS Exam
Available nowThe NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round. Apply to the Maryland board — once approved, NCEES will be notified of your eligibility. Steps 3 and 4 (PS and state-specific exams) can be completed in any order.
- 05
Pass the Maryland State-Specific Exams
Prep coming soonMaryland requires two state-specific exams: (1) Maryland Law and Ethics — 2-hour, open-book, 60 multiple-choice questions covering Maryland laws and regulations; (2) Maryland Storm Drain and Road Grade Design — 4-hour, open-book, covering principles and practice problem-solving. Each exam costs $39 plus a $60 state-specific application fee. Exams are administered at the board office in Baltimore.
- 06
Receive Your License
Once all exams are passed and your application is approved, you will be notified of eligibility for licensure. Pay the licensing fee to receive your PLS license. Maryland does not have a reciprocal process — all applicants must meet Maryland requirements directly.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 24 CPC units per biennial (2-year) renewal cycle
- Ethics Requirement
- 4 CPC units per cycle in standards of practice, law, ethics, or codes of conduct (Category A); 6 CPC units in MD Law/Ethics/Min Standards every other licensing term
- Carryover
- Up to 12 CPC units earned in excess of 24 may carry forward (applied to the same category in which they were earned)
- Self-Study
- No limitations on online hours
- Renewal Period
- Biennial — $76 renewal fee
- Pre-Approval Required?
- Yes — providers must be pre-approved by the CPD Standards Committee
- Audit
- Board may audit; records must be maintained
Coming in from another state?
Maryland does not have a reciprocal process for land surveyor licensure. All applicants, regardless of existing licensure in other states, must meet Maryland's education, experience, and examination requirements and apply for an original license. However, applicants who have already passed the PS exam do not need to retake it if scores are available from NCEES. All applicants must pass both Maryland state-specific exams.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Maryland's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.