Mississippi
Mississippi land surveyors are regulated by the Mississippi Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Surveyors. The license title is Professional Surveyor (PS), and the intern designation is Surveyor Intern (SI). Mississippi is notable for requiring state residency for initial applicants. Both the FS and PS exams are required regardless of extensive education, experience, or licensure in other states.
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
Establish Mississippi Residency and Meet Education Requirements
Mississippi requires residency for initial applicants (with limited exceptions for students at in-state ABET schools and MOU applicants). An ABET-accredited BS degree in engineering or surveying is required, or an acceptable equivalent. Engineering technology degrees alone do not qualify — this is state law and cannot be waived. Graduate degrees from ABET-accredited undergraduate programs may also qualify when coupled with a non-ABET BS.
- 02
Pass the FS Exam and Enroll as Surveyor Intern
Available nowThe NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. Both the FS and PS exams are required regardless of extensive education, experience, or licensure in other states. Apply online through the board's website to enroll as a Surveyor Intern (SI).
- 03
Gain Qualifying Experience
Accumulate qualifying surveying experience per Rule 5.2 of the Board Rules. Experience requirements vary based on education pathway. The board accepts NCEES Records from initial PS applicants. Co-op experience may receive up to 6 months credit (though other states may not recognize a PS exam taken before full experience is accrued).
- 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. The board may recognize PS exams passed in another state if: the applicant was a resident of that state, the exam was passed in accordance with that state's regulations, and any experience deficiency per Mississippi requirements has been cured.
- 05
Apply for Licensure
Submit your completed application with all required documentation. The board does not issue refunds for application fees. If submitting an NCEES Record, complete all sections of the online application — the NCEES Record supplements but does not replace the application.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 12 PDH per annual renewal period
- Ethics Requirement
- 1 PDH in Ethics every 2 years
- Carryover
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Self-Study
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Renewal Period
- Annual
- Pre-Approval Required?
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Audit
- Not confirmed — verify with board
Coming in from another state?
Mississippi has limited reciprocity. State residency is generally required for initial applicants. The board may recognize exams passed in another state if the applicant was a resident of that state at the time, the exams were passed in accordance with that state's regulations, and any experience deficiency according to Mississippi requirements has been cured. Both the FS and PS exams are required regardless of existing licensure elsewhere.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Mississippi's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.