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Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) Exam
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for PS, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions100 questions
Testing time7 hours (includes a tutorial and an optional scheduled break)
ScoringPass/fail only; no numeric score or published cut score. Failing examinees receive a diagnostic report by major topic
Exam feeUSD 375 exam fee, payable directly to NCEES
Prep options
Study resources for PS
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Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- NCEES
- Category
- Surveying & Geoscience
- Current version
- CBT Exam Specifications effective January 1, 2019 (last updated 2024) — current; replacement specifications effective beginning July 2027 are already published (six-area structure, still 100 questions / 7 hours)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE
- Format
- Computer-based (CBT) at approved Pearson test centers; closed book with electronic reference
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment at approved Pearson test centers
- Results
- Results typically available within 7–10 business days, delivered via email notification and the MyNCEES account
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
100 multiple-choice questions (question counts per area are published as ranges) in five knowledge areas under the current spec: Legal Principles 18–27; Professional Survey Practices 22–33; Standards and Specifications 8–12; Business Practices 13–19; Areas of Practice 24–36. Closed book — an electronic reference handbook and specified standards are supplied on screen
Where rules vary
Exam itself is uniform nationwide; state boards set eligibility/approval requirements before registration
Eligibility
Designed for surveyors with at least four years of professional experience; many state licensing boards require board approval (and in some states an application fee) before NCEES registration
Retake policy
One attempt per testing window; no more than three attempts in a 12-month period