300+ Free CA Land Surveyor Practice Questions

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Which state agency regulates professional land surveyors in California?

California Department of Real Estate

Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG)

California Contractors State License Board

California Board of Architecture

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Free Land Surveyor Practice Test by State 2026: 4,300+ Questions24 min read

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CA Land Surveyor Exam

70%

Passing Score

BPELSG

100 Q

Exam Questions

BPELSG

4 hrs

Time Limit

BPELSG

None

CE Per Cycle

BPELSG

6 yrs

Experience Required

BPELSG

$1,200

Total Fees

LicenseMap 2026

California requires passing the NCEES FS and PS exams plus a state-specific exam covering California boundary law and minimum technical standards. The state board (BPELSG) oversees licensing under California Business and Professions Code.

Sample CA Land Surveyor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CA Land Surveyor exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 300+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which state agency regulates professional land surveyors in California?

A.California Department of Real Estate

B.Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG)

C.California Contractors State License Board

D.California Board of Architecture

Explanation: The California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists (BPELSG) regulates professional land surveyors under the Professional Land Surveyors' Act, Business and Professions Code Sections 8700-8805. The Board is within the Department of Consumer Affairs.

2What is the formal name of the California law governing land surveyors?

A.California Surveying Act

B.Professional Land Surveyors' Act (Business and Professions Code Sections 8700-8805)

C.Land Survey Regulations Act

D.California Property Survey Code

Explanation: The Professional Land Surveyors' Act is codified in the Business and Professions Code, Chapter 15, Sections 8700 through 8805. B&P Code Section 8700 states that this chapter may be cited as the Professional Land Surveyors' Act.

3What examinations must an applicant pass for California PLS licensure?

A.Only the NCEES PS exam

B.The NCEES FS, NCEES PS (national component), and a supplemental California-specific examination

C.Only the California-specific exam

D.The FE and PE exams

Explanation: California requires passage of the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, a second division exam that incorporates the NCEES PS exam (national component) and a supplemental California-specific examination. The California-specific exam includes a separate part testing knowledge of state-specific laws and regulations.

4What are the six primary content areas of the California Professional Land Surveyor Examination?

A.Only boundary law and mathematics

B.Business Practices/Project Management, Research/Planning, Field Operations, Analysis/Evaluation, Mapping/Document Preparation, and Professional Consulting

C.Only field operations and legal descriptions

D.Only mathematics and law

Explanation: The 2025 California PLS Examination Test Plan organizes questions into six content areas: I. Business Practices and Project Management (10%), II. Research, Project Planning and Preparation (16%), III. Field Operations and Investigations (20%), IV. Analysis and Evaluation (26%), V. Mapping and Document Preparation (16%), VI. Professional Consulting (12%).

5What is the application fee for a California professional land surveyor license?

A.$100

B.$125

C.$175

D.$250

Explanation: Under 16 CCR Section 407(a)(4), the prescribed application fee for licensure as a professional land surveyor in California is $175. The examination fee for the California State-Specific Land Surveying exam is also $175. The biennial renewal fee is $180.

6How often must California PLS licenses be renewed?

A.Annually

B.Every two years (biennial)

C.Every three years

D.Every five years

Explanation: Under the California Professional Land Surveyors' Act, individual PLS licenses must be renewed every two years (biennially) from the assigned renewal date. The biennial renewal fee is $180 for licenses expiring on or after January 1, 2021.

7What is the biennial renewal fee for a California PLS license?

A.$100

B.$150

C.$180

D.$200

Explanation: Under 16 CCR Section 407(c), the two-year biennial renewal fee for a California PLS license that expires on or after January 1, 2021, is $180. Failure to renew results in an expired license and the inability to legally practice land surveying.

8Under BPC Section 8726, which of the following is considered the practice of land surveying in California?

A.Only drawing maps

B.Determining the location of boundary lines of real property, setting monuments, preparing subdivision maps, and geodetic surveying

C.Only GPS measurements

D.Only construction staking

Explanation: BPC Section 8726 broadly defines the practice of land surveying to include determining location of fixed works, topographic surveying, locating boundaries, surveying for subdivision of land, setting reference/control/boundary monuments, geodetic or cadastral surveying, producing related maps and documents, and writing legal descriptions.

9What is the California Subdivision Map Act?

A.A federal law governing subdivisions

B.A state law governing the division of land for sale, lease, or financing purposes (Government Code Sections 66410-66499.58)

C.A county ordinance

D.A regulation of the BPELSG

Explanation: The California Subdivision Map Act (Government Code Sections 66410-66499.58) governs the division of land for sale, lease, or financing purposes. It requires local agencies to regulate and control the design and improvement of subdivisions, including the recording of tentative and final maps prepared by licensed land surveyors.

10Under the California Subdivision Map Act, what is a 'subdivision'?

A.Only large developments with more than 100 lots

B.The division of any unit of land for the purpose of sale, lease, or financing, whether immediate or future

C.Only commercial land divisions

D.Only land divisions requiring environmental review

Explanation: Government Code Section 66424 defines 'subdivision' as the division, by any subdivider, of any unit or units of improved or unimproved land for the purpose of sale, lease or financing, whether immediate or future. This includes condominium projects and community apartment projects.

About the CA Land Surveyor Exam

The California land surveyor state exam covers California boundary law, minimum technical standards, Mt. Diablo, San Bernardino, and Humboldt meridians PLSS procedures, state board regulations under Business & Professions Code §8700, and professional surveying ethics and practice standards.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Varies (California BPELSG)

CA Land Surveyor Exam Content Outline

25%

CA Boundary Law

California boundary determination, adverse possession, riparian rights, easements

25%

CA Standards of Practice

Minimum technical standards, plat requirements, monument standards, accuracy

20%

CA Regulations

BPELSG licensing, continuing education, ethics, disciplinary process

15%

Legal Descriptions

Metes and bounds, PLSS, legal descriptions, deed interpretation

15%

Professional Practice

Professional liability, sealing/stamping, contracts, expert witness

How to Pass the CA Land Surveyor Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 70%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 4 hours
Exam fee: Varies

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CA Land Surveyor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master California boundary law principles under Business & Professions Code §8700

2Study California minimum technical standards for surveys

3Know the BPELSG licensing requirements and disciplinary procedures

4Understand PLSS procedures for the Mt. Diablo, San Bernardino, and Humboldt meridians

5Review California professional practice and ethics standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the California land surveyor state exam cover?

The CA state exam covers California boundary law under Business & Professions Code §8700, minimum technical standards, PLSS procedures, state licensing regulations, and professional practice standards specific to California.

How many questions are on the California land surveyor state exam?

The California state-specific land surveyor exam typically contains around 100 multiple-choice questions covering state laws, standards, and boundary principles unique to California.

What is the passing score for the California land surveyor state exam?

California requires a score of 70% or higher to pass the state-specific professional land surveyor examination.

What are California's continuing education requirements for land surveyors?

California requires professional land surveyors to complete no mandatory continuing education but renewal every two years, including mandatory ethics and standards of practice content.