Nevada
Nevada land surveyors are regulated by the Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (NVBPELS). The license title is Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Candidates must pass the NCEES FS and PS exams and a state-specific survey exam. Nevada requires a 4-year accredited surveying degree or board-approved equivalent plus 4 years of progressive experience. Non-resident licensees meeting their home state's CE requirements are deemed compliant with Nevada CE.
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
Nevada requires a degree from an accredited 4-year surveying program or a board-approved equivalent. Verify your specific program's acceptability with NVBPELS.
- 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.
- 03
Gain 4 Years of Progressive Experience
Accumulate 4 years of acceptable, progressive, and verifiable work experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor. Experience must demonstrate increasing responsibility.
- 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.
- 05
Pass the Nevada State-Specific Survey Exam
Prep coming soonNevada requires a state-specific exam covering Nevada surveying laws and practices. Comity applicants must also pass this exam before becoming licensed in Nevada.
- 06
Apply for Licensure
Submit your application to NVBPELS. For comity applicants: go to NCEES.org to establish your NCEES Record, then request NCEES to transmit it to Nevada. Contact NCEES at (800) 250-3196 for assistance. Update your personal contact information within 10 days of moving.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 30 PDH per biennial renewal period
- Ethics Requirement
- 2 PDH in professional ethics + 1 PDH on provisions of NRS/NAC Chapter 625
- Carryover
- Excess PDH may carry forward and are included in the 30 PDH total
- Self-Study
- No limit on online courses
- Renewal Period
- Biennial
- Pre-Approval Required?
- Not confirmed — verify with board
- Audit
- Board may audit; NCEES CPC tracking recommended (free via MyNCEES account)
Coming in from another state?
Nevada offers comity licensure for PLSs licensed in other states. Comity applicants must pass the Nevada state-specific survey exam. NCEES Records are required — establish your record at NCEES.org and request transmittal to Nevada. For dual engineer-surveyor licensees, the 30 PDH must include 10 hours in land surveying and 10 hours in engineering. Non-resident licensees meeting their home state's mandatory CE requirements are deemed compliant with Nevada CE — just send proof of current license.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Nevada's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.