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MT State licensure requirements

Montana

Montana land surveyors are regulated by the Board of Professional Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors, housed within the Department of Labor and Industry. The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Montana requires the NCEES FS and PS exams plus a Montana State-Specific Law Exam administered through IQT testing centers. Three board-approved land surveying education programs are pre-approved, and the board may require applicants to appear for an interview.

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 Engineers and Professional Land Surveyors
02
Board Website
boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/professional-engineers-land-surveyors/
03
License Title
Professional Land Surveyor (PLS)
04
Intern Title
Land Surveyor Intern (LSI) — renewable biennially by June 30
05
Education
BS in board-approved surveying curriculum; or AAS in land surveying from approved program with additional experience; or 6+ years experience with 4 under PLS
06
Experience
4 years with BS degree; 6 years with AAS; varies with other pathways; comity applicants with less experience than MT requires must show 2x post-licensure experience for the deficit
07
Required Exams
FS (national), PS (national), Montana State-Specific Law Exam (CBT through IQT testing centers)
08
Renewal
Biennial, by June 30
09
CE Requirement
30 PDH per biennial (2-year) cycle
10
CE Carryover
Up to 15 PDH may carry forward
11
Reciprocity
Yes — by comity; applicants with less pre-licensure experience than MT requires must demonstrate 2x post-licensure experience for the deficit; must pass MT State-Specific Law 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 Requirements

    Montana has three pre-approved land surveying programs: (1) AAS in Land Surveying, Flathead Valley Community College; (2) Minor in Land Surveying with an engineering degree, Montana State University; (3) AAS in Civil Engineering Technology with Land Surveying Certificate, Highlands College of Montana Tech. Graduates of other programs must submit course descriptions. For the experience-only path, 6+ years of office/field experience with at least 4 years under a PLS is required.

  2. 02

    Pass the FS Exam and Obtain LSI Certificate

    Available now

    The NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam is computer-based, offered year-round at Pearson VUE testing centers. 110 questions, 6 hours. Submit the Land Surveyor Intern Application by Exam with the application fee, college transcripts, and three Verification of Character and Reputation forms. LSI certificates are now renewable biennially by June 30.

  3. 03

    Gain Qualifying Experience

    Accumulate the required years of progressive land surveying experience under the supervision of a PLS. The amount depends on your education pathway (4 years with BS, 6 years with AAS or experience-only). All foreign degrees must be evaluated by NCEES.

  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. Submit the Professional Land Surveyor Exam Application with the fee. The board may require you to appear for an interview. You will be notified in writing of your application status.

  5. 05

    Pass the Montana State-Specific Law Exam

    Prep coming soon

    The Montana State-Specific Land Surveyor Exam is a computer-based exam administered through ISO-Quality Testing, Inc. (IQT) at testing centers across the United States. A list of sources for exam questions is available on the board website. This exam is required for all applicants including comity.

  6. 06

    Receive Your License

    Upon passing all examinations and board approval of your application, you will be issued a Professional Land Surveyor license. All licensees must provide the department with their current mailing address and report any changes within 30 days (per HB 276, 2025 Legislative Session).

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
30 PDH per biennial (2-year) cycle
Ethics Requirement
Not specified separately — verify with board
Carryover
Up to 15 PDH may carry forward to the next renewal period
Self-Study
No limitations — all courses may be taken online
Renewal Period
Biennial — by June 30
Pre-Approval Required?
Not confirmed — courses must have clear purpose and objective relevant to field of practice
Audit
Board may request documentation of professional development activities
Reciprocity

Coming in from another state?

Montana offers comity licensure for PLSs licensed in other states. Important: Per MCA 37-67-313 (amended 2015), applicants who were licensed in another state with less experience than Montana requires for the same pathway must demonstrate post-licensure experience equal to 2x the pre-licensure experience deficit. All comity applicants must pass the Montana State-Specific Law Exam. The board may require an interview.

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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