300+ Free IA Land Surveyor Practice Questions

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Which board regulates professional land surveyors in Iowa?

Iowa Board of Professional Regulation

Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Secretary of State

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

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IA Land Surveyor Exam

70%

Passing Score

IELS

100 Q

Exam Questions

IELS

4 hrs

Time Limit

IELS

30 PDH

CE Per Cycle

IELS

4 yrs

Experience Required

IELS

$500

Total Fees

LicenseMap 2026

Iowa requires passing the NCEES FS and PS exams plus a state-specific exam covering Iowa boundary law and minimum technical standards. The state board (IELS) oversees licensing under Iowa Code Chapter 542B.

Sample IA Land Surveyor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IA 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 board regulates professional land surveyors in Iowa?

A.Iowa Board of Professional Regulation

B.Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board

C.Iowa Department of Natural Resources

D.Iowa Secretary of State

Explanation: The Iowa Engineering and Land Surveying Examining Board, operating under the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), regulates professional land surveyors in Iowa under Iowa Code Chapter 542B. The board establishes education, experience, and examination requirements for licensure.

2Under Iowa Code Chapter 542B, what examinations must a land surveyor pass for licensure?

A.Only the NCEES FS exam

B.Only the NCEES PS exam

C.The NCEES FS exam, NCEES PS exam, and the Iowa State Specific Land Surveying exam

D.Only the Iowa State Specific exam

Explanation: Under Iowa Code 542B.14, an applicant for licensure as a professional land surveyor in Iowa must pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, and the Iowa State Specific Land Surveying examination. The state-specific exam tests knowledge of Iowa laws and standards.

3How many professional development hours are required for biennial license renewal for Iowa land surveyors?

A.20 hours

B.24 hours

C.30 hours

D.36 hours

Explanation: Iowa land surveyors are required to obtain 30 professional development hours (PDH) each biennial renewal cycle. No more than 10 hours may be taken online or through correspondence courses. This is among the higher CE requirements nationally and reflects Iowa's emphasis on continuing professional development.

4How many of the 30 required PDH for Iowa license renewal may be taken online or through correspondence?

A.All 30 hours

B.No more than 15 hours

C.No more than 10 hours

D.None; all must be in-person

Explanation: Under Iowa regulations, no more than 10 hours of the 30 required professional development hours may be taken online or through correspondence courses. The remaining 20 hours must be obtained through in-person education, seminars, conferences, or other approved methods.

5What is the penalty for an applicant who fails two consecutive Iowa state-specific land surveying examinations?

A.Permanent disqualification

B.Not allowed to retake the exam for one year

C.Must complete additional coursework immediately

D.Must retake the FS exam

Explanation: Under Iowa Administrative Code 193C-5.1(10), an applicant who has failed two consecutive examinations of the state-specific portion of the professional land surveying examination is not allowed to retake the state-specific portion for one year. This waiting period allows the applicant time for additional study and preparation.

6Under Iowa Code Chapter 355, what does the Standards for Land Surveying chapter establish?

A.Tax assessment procedures

B.Standards for all land surveying activities including boundary location, monuments, and plat requirements

C.Building code requirements

D.Zoning regulations

Explanation: Iowa Code Chapter 355 (Standards for Land Surveying) establishes standards for all land surveying activities in the state, including boundary location, monumentation, measurement standards, plat of survey requirements, subdivision plat requirements, and descriptions. These standards apply to all agencies and persons engaged in the practice of land surveying.

7Under Iowa Code 355.2, who must comply with the Standards for Land Surveying?

A.Only private surveyors

B.Only government agencies

C.All agencies of the US government, Iowa, political subdivisions, and all persons engaged in land surveying

D.Only county surveyors

Explanation: Under Iowa Code 355.2, the Standards for Land Surveying apply to all agencies of the United States government, the State of Iowa, or a political subdivision of Iowa, and to all persons engaged in the practice of land surveying. This broad applicability ensures uniform standards across all surveying activities in the state.

8Under Iowa Administrative Code 193C-11.3, what is the standard for boundary location in property surveys?

A.Boundaries may be estimated

B.Every property survey shall be made in accordance with the legal description (record title) boundaries as nearly as is practicable

C.Only physical boundaries matter

D.Boundaries are set by the county assessor

Explanation: Under IAC 193C-11.3, every property survey shall be made in accordance with the legal description (record title) boundaries as nearly as is practicable. The surveyor must acquire data to retrace boundaries, analyze the data, make field surveys, locate and connect monuments, and set monuments marking the corners of the parcel.

9Under Iowa Administrative Code 193C-11.7, what must be affixed to the top of each monument set by an Iowa surveyor?

A.A flag

B.A cap of reasonably inert material bearing the Iowa license number of the surveyor

C.A reflector

D.A painted mark only

Explanation: Under IAC 193C-11.7, the licensed land surveyor shall affix to the top of each monument set by the surveyor a cap of reasonably inert material bearing an embossed or stencil-cut marking of the Iowa license number of the licensed land surveyor. Monuments or marks placed in pavements need not be capped.

10Under Iowa Administrative Code 193C-11.7, what must permanent monuments be constructed of?

A.Any material

B.Reasonably permanent material solidly embedded in the ground and capable of being detected by commonly used magnetic or electronic equipment

C.Only concrete

D.Only iron pipes

Explanation: Under IAC 193C-11.7, permanent monuments shall be constructed of reasonably permanent material solidly embedded in the ground and capable of being detected by commonly used magnetic or electronic equipment. This requirement ensures that monuments can be found using standard locating techniques even after being buried or covered.

About the IA Land Surveyor Exam

The Iowa land surveyor state exam covers Iowa boundary law, minimum technical standards, Fifth Principal meridian PLSS procedures, state board regulations under Iowa Code Chapter 542B, and professional surveying ethics and practice standards.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Varies (Iowa IELS)

IA Land Surveyor Exam Content Outline

25%

IA Boundary Law

Iowa boundary determination, adverse possession, riparian rights, easements

25%

IA Standards of Practice

Minimum technical standards, plat requirements, monument standards, accuracy

20%

IA Regulations

IELS 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 IA 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

IA Land Surveyor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master Iowa boundary law principles under Iowa Code Chapter 542B

2Study Iowa minimum technical standards for surveys

3Know the IELS licensing requirements and disciplinary procedures

4Understand PLSS procedures for the Fifth Principal meridian

5Review Iowa professional practice and ethics standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Iowa land surveyor state exam cover?

The IA state exam covers Iowa boundary law under Iowa Code Chapter 542B, minimum technical standards, PLSS procedures, state licensing regulations, and professional practice standards specific to Iowa.

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

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

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

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

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

Iowa requires professional land surveyors to complete 30 professional development hours each biennium, including mandatory ethics and standards of practice content.