300+ Free DC Land Surveyor Exam Practice Questions
Pass your District of Columbia Land Surveyor State Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A nonnavigable stream slowly and imperceptibly shifts over many years. Under common-law boundary principles, the boundary between riparian parcels usually:
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Key Facts: DC Land Surveyor Exam Exam
100
Free DC-specific practice questions
OpenExamPrep DC Land Surveyor bank
Title 47, Ch. 28
DC Code governing surveyor licensing
DC Code Title 47, Chapter 28, Subchapter I-B
1791
Year L'Enfant designed the City of Washington plan
L'Enfant Plan of the City of Washington
1846
Year the Virginia portion was retroceded to Virginia
Retrocession Act of 1846
FS + PS
NCEES exams required before the DC state exam
NCEES surveying licensure model
Square & Lot
DC parcel identification (non-PLSS)
DC Office of the Surveyor records system
DC layers a state-specific land surveyor examination on top of the national NCEES FS and PS exams. The District is a non-PLSS, square-and-lot and metes-and-bounds records jurisdiction whose permanent system of land records, maintained by the Office of the Surveyor and accessible through SurDocs, traces back more than two centuries to the L'Enfant/Ellicott layout of the city. This free bank provides 100 research-based, DC-specific practice questions with detailed explanations covering licensing law and ethics, the records system, the L'Enfant Plan and permanent Highway Plan, and DC boundary and plat practice.
Sample DC Land Surveyor Exam Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your DC Land Surveyor Exam exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 300+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Under DC Code Title 47, Chapter 28, Subchapter I-B, which board administers the licensing of land surveyors in the District of Columbia?
2Before sitting for the DC state-specific land surveyor examination, a candidate must generally first pass which national examinations?
3Which DC agency houses the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and the Occupational and Professional Licensing Administration (OPLA)?
4The DC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors sets the DC state-specific land surveyor exam primarily to test a candidate's knowledge of what?
5Practicing land surveying in the District of Columbia without a valid DC license is best characterized as what?
6A surveyor licensed in Virginia wishes to perform surveys in the District of Columbia. What is the correct path?
7Under DC professional conduct rules for land surveyors, sealing and signing a plat that the surveyor did not prepare or responsibly supervise is generally considered what?
8The professional seal of a DC-licensed land surveyor on a plat primarily signifies what?
9Which of the following is the most accurate description of the DC land surveyor's scope of practice under DC law?
10A DC-licensed surveyor discovers that a colleague is signing plats for surveys performed entirely by unlicensed staff without responsible supervision. Under DC professional ethics, the surveyor should generally do what?
About the DC Land Surveyor Exam Exam
The District of Columbia Land Surveyor State Examination is the DC-specific licensing exam administered by the DC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP/OPLA). Candidates first pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exams and obtain Board pre-approval, then sit for the District exam, which tests DC surveying law and ethics, the Office of the Surveyor and SurDocs records system, the L'Enfant/Ellicott survey and permanent Highway Plan, and DC boundary, description, and plat practice.
Assessment
DC state-specific exam after NCEES FS+PS and Board pre-approval (official DC DLCP/OPLA); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
Time Limit
Set by the DC Board
Passing Score
Set by the DC Board
Exam Fee
State exam fee (see DLCP) (DC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (DLCP/OPLA))
DC Land Surveyor Exam Exam Content Outline
DC Licensing Law, Scope & Professional Conduct
DC Code Title 47, Chapter 28, Subchapter I-B, Part H (§47-2853.111 et seq.): Board jurisdiction, the NCEES + pre-approval pathway, scope of practice, responsible charge, seal and certification, comity, discipline, and professional ethics.
DC Office of the Surveyor & SurDocs Records
Plats of subdivision and record plats, square-and-lot recordation, the 200-year permanent system of land records, SurDocs electronic access, and record lots versus assessment/taxation lots and parcels.
L'Enfant/Ellicott Survey & DC Highway Plan
The 1791 L'Enfant plan and Ellicott's revision, Banneker's boundary survey, the ten-mile square and boundary stones, the 1846 retrocession, and the permanent system of highways and dedication under DC Code Title 9, Chapter 1.
DC Boundary Determination & Descriptions
Square-and-lot and metes-and-bounds descriptions, hierarchy of conflicting elements, senior rights, lost-corner restoration, riparian/Potomac and federal-reservation boundaries, and the DC-Maryland and DC-Virginia rules.
DC Plat Preparation, Monumentation & Recordation
Recordable plat content and closure, monumentation, conformance to the Highway Plan and subdivision standards, surveyor certification, and Office of the Surveyor plat examination and recordation.
How to Pass the DC Land Surveyor Exam Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Set by the DC Board
- Assessment: DC state-specific exam after NCEES FS+PS and Board pre-approval (official DC DLCP/OPLA); this practice bank is 100 selected-response items
- Time limit: Set by the DC Board
- Exam fee: State exam fee (see DLCP)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
DC Land Surveyor Exam Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DC Land Surveyor State Examination?
It is the District of Columbia's jurisdiction-specific licensing exam, administered by the DC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors within DLCP/OPLA. It is taken after the national NCEES FS and PS exams and Board pre-approval and tests DC surveying law and ethics, the Office of the Surveyor records system, the L'Enfant/Highway Plan framework, and DC boundary and plat practice.
What do I need to do before sitting for the DC exam?
Candidates generally pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, gain qualifying experience, pass the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, and then obtain DC Board pre-approval of the application. Only after pre-approval may a candidate sit for the District's state-specific examination. Confirm all current requirements with DLCP/OPLA.
Why is the DC exam so focused on the Office of the Surveyor and the L'Enfant Plan?
DC is a non-PLSS jurisdiction laid out under the 1791 L'Enfant/Ellicott plan. Property is identified by square and lot, and the Office of the Surveyor maintains a permanent system of land records spanning more than two centuries, accessible through SurDocs. Understanding this records system and its historical basis is essential to boundary work in the District.
How is a record lot different from a tax lot in DC?
A record lot is created by a subdivision plat recorded with the Office of the Surveyor and is the lawful unit for conveyance and many development actions. An assessment and taxation lot is created by the Office of Tax and Revenue for tax administration and can differ from the record configuration, so the two are not always the same parcel.
What is the passing score and fee for the DC exam?
The passing score and exam fee are set by the DC Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and administered through DLCP/OPLA. Because these can change, candidates should confirm the current passing standard, fee, and exam logistics directly with DLCP before applying.
How many practice questions are in this free bank?
This free bank contains 100 research-based, DC-specific practice questions with detailed answer explanations and rationales for each wrong option. It covers DC licensing law and ethics, the Office of the Surveyor and SurDocs, the L'Enfant survey and permanent Highway Plan, and DC boundary and plat practice.