Ohio
Ohio land surveyors are regulated by the Ohio State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors (PEPS). The license title is Professional Surveyor (PS). Ohio recently modified its licensure requirements to increase pathways into the profession, including allowing part-time experience, overlapping engineering/surveying experience, and an additional Board-approved surveying curriculum pathway. Ohio requires 30 PDH per biennium with strict limits on correspondence coursework.
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
Ohio offers multiple education pathways: (1) ABET-accredited surveying program (EAC, ETAC, or ANSAC); (2) Any bachelor's degree with 30 semester hours of surveying courses meeting the NCEES Surveying Education Standard (max 6 hours in GIS); (3) BS in Civil Engineering with at least 16 hours of Board-approved surveying courses. The Board recently adopted the 30-hour pathway based on recommendations from the PLSO/CEAO task force.
- 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 progressive surveying experience. Ohio now allows part-time experience and up to 2 years of overlapping engineering and surveying experience to count. Experience must demonstrate increasing responsibility in surveying activities.
- 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
Apply for Registration
Submit your completed application to PEPS with all required documentation. Registration renewal is online. Licenses expire December 31 of odd-numbered years.
After you're licensed.
What this state requires to keep your license active.
- Total Hours
- 30 PDH per biennial period (December 31 of odd years)
- Ethics Requirement
- At least 2 PDH in professional ethics or rules relevant to the practices of surveying (effective January 1, 2018)
- Carryover
- Up to 15 PDH may carry forward from the previous biennium
- Self-Study
- Maximum 3 PDH per year from correspondence courses (paper, online, or other formats); courses must include interaction (exam or Q&A)
- Renewal Period
- Biennial — expires December 31 of odd-numbered years
- Pre-Approval Required?
- No — PEPS does not pre-approve providers or courses; providers and activities must meet board standards
- Audit
- Random audit possible; records must be maintained for 4 years
Coming in from another state?
Ohio offers comity licensure — verify specific requirements with PEPS. The board recently modified requirements to increase accessibility to the profession.
Verify everything yourself.
Every detail above is sourced from these documents. If the board updates, we update — usually within a week.
Ohio's prep, when it's ready.
We'll email you when the state-specific exam prep launches — no waitlist tricks, no spam, no obligation.