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100+ Free NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Practice Questions

Pass your NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Why should a survey crew identify an emergency meeting point and site address before starting remote field work?

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Key Facts: NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Exam

200

Official Level I Questions

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

4 hours

Exam Duration

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

Open book

Exam Format

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

70%

Normal Passing Score

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

0 years

Level I Experience Requirement

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

75

Official Field Equipment and Operations Questions

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

Use this practice bank for the NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I exam. The official Level I exam is open book, proctored, 200 multiple-choice questions, and 4 hours long. The normal passing score is 70%, subject to CST Board adjustment. This 100-question set follows the official Level I work-element proportions: Survey Types and History 8, Field Equipment and Operations 37, Survey Control 3, Survey Computations 25, Office Operations and Plan Reading 17, and First Aid and Safety 10.

Sample NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary purpose of the NSPS Certified Survey Technician program?
A.To issue state licenses to practice land surveying independently
B.To certify survey technicians who demonstrate defined technical competencies
C.To replace professional surveyor supervision on boundary projects
D.To approve final plats for public recording
Explanation: The CST program is a national certification program sponsored by NSPS to recognize technicians who have demonstrated job-related surveying competencies at defined levels. Certification supports career development and employer assessment, but it is not a license.
2Which statement best describes a boundary survey?
A.A survey used only to locate underground utilities
B.A survey concerned with property lines, corners, and evidence of ownership limits
C.A survey used only to set finished floor elevations
D.A survey that measures rainfall and stream discharge
Explanation: Boundary surveying focuses on locating, retracing, and documenting property boundaries using records, monuments, measurements, and field evidence. Level I candidates should know how boundary work differs from construction, topographic, and hydrographic surveying.
3A crew is asked to collect ground elevations, breaklines, drainage features, and visible improvements for design mapping. What type of survey is this most directly describing?
A.Topographic survey
B.Mortgage closing survey
C.Astronomic survey
D.Geodetic triangulation adjustment
Explanation: A topographic survey gathers terrain and feature information that can be shown as contours, spot elevations, breaklines, and mapped planimetric features. It is commonly used for engineering design and site planning.
4Which surveying activity is most associated with construction staking?
A.Researching historic deed chains only
B.Marking planned positions or elevations in the field so construction can be built in the correct location
C.Preparing a weather forecast for field crews
D.Replacing all design drawings with field sketches
Explanation: Construction staking transfers design information to the field by marking lines, grades, offsets, structures, utilities, or other planned work. The technician must understand stakes, markings, offsets, and communication with the party chief.
5Why is it important for a Level I technician to recognize different survey types before beginning field work?
A.Each survey type uses the same notes, tolerances, equipment, and deliverables
B.Survey type affects what evidence is collected, how observations are checked, and what information must be recorded
C.Survey type matters only to office staff after the field work is complete
D.Survey type determines the color of the instrument case but not the field procedure
Explanation: Different survey types emphasize different evidence, measurements, checks, and deliverables. A boundary survey, topographic survey, construction layout, and control survey all require different attention in the field even when some equipment overlaps.
6Which statement best distinguishes plane surveying from geodetic surveying for Level I purposes?
A.Plane surveying treats the work area as a flat plane for ordinary local projects; geodetic surveying accounts for earth curvature over larger areas
B.Plane surveying is always done indoors; geodetic surveying is always done underwater
C.Plane surveying uses only GPS; geodetic surveying uses only steel tapes
D.Plane surveying has no angles; geodetic surveying has no distances
Explanation: Plane surveying assumes a relatively small project area where earth curvature can be ignored for practical work. Geodetic surveying is used when curvature, larger networks, and reference systems must be considered.
7A field book from an older survey references a chain as a measuring unit. What should a Level I technician know?
A.A surveyor's chain is 66 feet long
B.A surveyor's chain is exactly 100 feet long
C.A chain is a magnetic bearing, not a distance
D.A chain is used only for vertical angles
Explanation: The Gunter's or surveyor's chain is 66 feet long and is historically important in U.S. land measurement. Recognizing historic units helps technicians understand older records and field notes.
8A proposed route survey must support centerline alignment, profiles, cross sections, and later construction staking. Which field-note habit best supports that work from the beginning?
A.Record only final plotted sheets and discard raw measurements
B.Use stationing, offsets, descriptions, and sketches that connect observations to the route alignment
C.Record all distances as approximate paces because route surveys are preliminary
D.Avoid sketches so the office can infer all relationships from point numbers
Explanation: Route work depends on a clear relationship between observations and the alignment. Stationing, offsets, feature descriptions, sketches, and organized notes make it possible to build profiles, sections, maps, and stakeout data reliably.
9Before placing an instrument on a tripod, what is the best first step with the tripod?
A.Fully close all leg clamps so the legs cannot be adjusted
B.Set the tripod head approximately level and centered over the point at a comfortable working height
C.Point one leg directly at the sun to reduce glare
D.Leave the tripod loose until all observations are complete
Explanation: A stable setup begins with the tripod centered over the point, legs firmly planted, and the head roughly level at an appropriate height. This makes precise centering and leveling faster and safer for the instrument.
10What is the main purpose of a plumb bob, optical plummet, or laser plummet during instrument setup?
A.To measure air temperature for tape correction
B.To center the instrument over a ground point
C.To magnify the rod reading
D.To convert slope distance to horizontal distance
Explanation: Plumbing devices are used to bring the instrument's vertical axis over the survey point. Accurate centering is essential because an off-center instrument introduces position and angle errors.

About the NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Exam

The NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I certification is an entry-level survey technician credential sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Level I focuses on basic field operations, survey types, field equipment, survey control, computations, note taking, drafting/CAD, map reading, first aid, and safety. The Program Book states that Level I has no experience requirement and that certification does not license an individual to practice surveying.

Assessment

Open-book, proctored Level I examination with 200 multiple-choice questions. This 100-question practice set is scaled to the official Level I work-element counts.

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

Normal passing score is 70%, subject to CST Board adjustment based on exam analysis

Exam Fee

$180 individual; $120 student, active military, veterans, or qualifying group rate in the July 2024 Program Book (National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) / Certified Survey Technician Board (CSTB))

NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Exam Content Outline

15 official questions

Survey Types and History

Different survey types, their purposes, plane versus geodetic concepts, route and construction surveys, boundary and topographic work, and basic historical surveying units and practices.

75 official questions

Field Equipment and Operations

Care, cleaning, setup, transport, calibration awareness, field radios, line clearing, point establishment, taping, leveling, compass reading, total station and prism basics, data collectors, field duties, and field notes.

6 official questions

Survey Control

Horizontal and vertical control, benchmarks, control monuments, control point records, and basic field checks before relying on control.

50 official questions

Survey Computations

Arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, linear measurement, angular units, slope distances, elevations, grades, stationing, area conversions, bearings, and coordinate calculations.

34 official questions

Office Operations, Plan Reading and Preparation

Map and plan types, scales, contours, legends, north arrows, title blocks, profiles, plan notes, CAD layers, drafting line weights, revisions, coordinate systems, and map preparation basics.

20 official questions

First Aid and Safety

Basic first aid, emergency response, traffic control, OSHA-aware construction safety, PPE, heat illness, lightning, electrical hazards, excavation safety, and remote-site planning.

How to Pass the NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Normal passing score is 70%, subject to CST Board adjustment based on exam analysis
  • Assessment: Open-book, proctored Level I examination with 200 multiple-choice questions. This 100-question practice set is scaled to the official Level I work-element counts.
  • Time limit: 4 hours
  • Exam fee: $180 individual; $120 student, active military, veterans, or qualifying group rate in the July 2024 Program Book

Keys to Passing

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

NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I Study Tips from Top Performers

1Study by official work-element weight. Field Equipment and Operations plus Survey Computations account for 125 of the 200 official Level I questions.
2Practice open-book speed. The exam is open book, but four hours for 200 questions leaves limited time for slow searching.
3Memorize common conversions: 5280 feet per mile, 43,560 square feet per acre, 60 minutes per degree, and 100 feet per station.
4For leveling problems, write the sequence: benchmark elevation plus backsight equals height of instrument; height of instrument minus foresight equals new elevation.
5For field operations, focus on why setup quality matters: centering, leveling, backsight, target height, prism constant, rod plumb, and data collector job settings.
6Use field-note practice. Clear descriptions, sketches, point numbers, rod heights, instrument information, and site conditions prevent office confusion.
7Review plan sheets systematically: title block, revision date, scale, north arrow, legend, notes, units, coordinate basis, and the specific feature being measured.
8Treat safety questions as stop-work judgment. Traffic, lightning, power lines, excavations, heat illness, and medical emergencies take priority over production.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NSPS CST Level I exam?

The NSPS CST Program Book states that Level I has 200 multiple-choice questions and 4 hours to complete the exam. This practice bank has 100 questions scaled to the same work-element proportions.

Is the NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level I exam open book?

Yes. The Program Book states that the Level I examination is open book. Candidates should still practice timed lookup and calculations because the four-hour exam is broad.

Does Level I require survey experience?

The Program Book states that Level I has no experience requirement. Higher CST levels have additional qualification requirements.

Does CST certification license someone to practice surveying?

No. The Program Book states that certification does not license individuals to practice surveying and that professional survey licensing is regulated by state boards.

What score is needed to pass?

The Program Book states that the normal passing score is 70%, while the Board has the right to modify the cut-off score based on exam analysis.

Which calculators are allowed?

The Program Book calculator policy allows only specified Casio fx-115/fx-991 models, HP 33s/35s models, and TI-30X/TI-36X models. Candidates should check the current official policy before test day.