In Illinois, land surveyors are licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. In order to become a Professional Land Surveyor, you must first be licensed as a Land Surveyor-in-Training. Licensure requirements for a Land Surveyor-in-Training include:

  • a baccalaureate degree in land surveying from an accredited college or university; or
  • a baccalaureate degree in a related science including at least 24 semester hours of land surveying courses from a board-approved curriculum of an accredited institution;
  • passage of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Land Surveying Examination; and,
  • payment of fees.

A Land Surveyor-in-Training license is good for ten years and may not be renewed.

Applicants for Professional Land Surveyor must meet the following requirements:

  • be licensed as a Land Surveyor-in-Training;
  • have completed a minimum of four years experience, subsequent to licensure as a Land Surveyor-in-Training, in responsible charge of land surveying operations under the direct supervision and control of a Professional Land Surveyor;
  • have a baccalaureate degree in a related science including at least 24 semester hours of land surveying courses from a board-approved curriculum at an accredited institution; and,
  • pass the Principals and Practice of Land Surveying Examination and the Illinois Jurisdictional Examination.

Licensure must be renewed every two years and requires 20 hours of continuing education.

Additional licensing information can be obtained from:

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Springfield, IL 62786
Phone: 217.785.0800, Fax: 217.782.7645