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100+ Free NSPS CST Level III Practice Questions

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

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Why preserve raw field records?

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NSPS CST Level III Exam

110

Level III Exam Questions

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

4 hours

Exam Time

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

Open book

Level I-III Exam Policy

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

70%

Normal Passing Score

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

3 tracks

Boundary Field, Construction Field, Office

NSPS CST Program Book July 2024

3.5 years

Direct Experience Path

Official task facts grounded to CST materials

As of May 20, 2026, the official July 2024 CST Program Book lists Level III as an open-book, four-hour, 110-question multiple-choice examination with a normal passing score of 70%, subject to Board adjustment. Level III has Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office tracks.

Sample NSPS CST Level III Practice Questions

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

1Which format matches NSPS CST Level III?
A.Open book, 110 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours
B.Closed book, 80 essay questions
C.150 questions in 6 hours
D.Two-month take-home report
Explanation: Level III is listed as an open-book, proctored, 110-question multiple-choice exam with a four-hour time limit.
2What is the direct Level III experience path?
A.One year survey work
B.Two years part-time staking
C.Five years supervision
D.3.5 years of surveying experience
Explanation: The direct Level III path is 3.5 years of surveying experience, separate from the education-substitution path.
3Which tracks are in the Level III matrix?
A.Residential, Commercial, Industrial
B.Level I, II, and IV
C.Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office
D.Hydrographic, Mining, Geodetic
Explanation: The Program Book matrix identifies Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office tracks.
4What normal passing score is stated?
A.80 percent fixed
B.70 percent subject to Board adjustment
C.60 percent fixed
D.65 percent by proctor
Explanation: The Program Book states a normal 70 percent score, with Board adjustment allowed based on exam analysis.
5Which work element dominates the Office track?
A.Office Operations, Plan Reading and Preparation
B.Boundary Surveys
C.Safety
D.Surveying History
Explanation: The Office track assigns 40 questions to Office Operations, Plan Reading and Preparation.
6Which work element dominates Construction Field?
A.Boundary Surveys
B.Principles
C.Survey Control
D.Field Equipment and Operations
Explanation: The Construction Field track assigns the largest count, 49 questions, to Field Equipment and Operations.
7What is an as-built survey intended to document?
A.Random temporary points
B.Only deed calls
C.Actual installed locations and elevations after construction
D.Proposed subdivision design
Explanation: As-built surveys record constructed conditions and compare them to design or project requirements.
8What supports one-foot topo contours?
A.Arbitrary point codes
B.Adequate breaklines and elevation shots
C.Only four corners
D.Ignoring drainage
Explanation: Contours require enough surface data, breaklines, and reliable coding to model terrain changes.
9Why mark offset and cut or fill on stakes?
A.To show how to build from the stake
B.To replace plans
C.To avoid records
D.To reuse stakes
Explanation: Stake markings communicate the relationship between the stake and design feature.
10What is a benchmark?
A.A deed call only
B.A horizontal angle point only
C.A point that cannot move
D.A point with known or assumed elevation
Explanation: Benchmarks provide the vertical reference for leveling, layout, and elevation checks.

About the NSPS CST Level III Exam

The NSPS Certified Survey Technician Level III credential recognizes advanced technician competence beyond Levels I and II. The Level III technician is expected to have thorough knowledge of survey computations, survey types, field operations, field note reduction, in-depth plan interpretation and preparation, supervisory skills, standard field and office procedures, principles of the profession, and technical standards. The official Program Book separates Level III into Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office tracks; this practice set intentionally blends track expectations so candidates can prepare under the single repository exam ID.

Assessment

110 open-book, proctored multiple-choice questions. The Program Book matrix lists Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office Level III tracks; this practice bank covers all three because the repository uses one Level III exam ID.

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

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

Exam Fee

$180 individual Level I-III fee listed in the July 2024 Program Book; verify current fees before applying (National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) Certified Survey Technician Program / approved proctor)

NSPS CST Level III Exam Content Outline

B=5, C=5, O=5

Surveying Types and History

Survey types, historical development, photo control, state plane, public land, metes and bounds, GPS, construction, and as-built contexts.

B=38, C=49, O=20

Field Equipment and Operations

Advanced field procedures, instruments, data collectors, GNSS, scanning/LiDAR, UAV, mobile mapping, GIS/BIM awareness, staking, field notes, and checks.

B=5, C=5, O=5

Survey Control

Control records, benchmarks, datasheets, project control, control recovery, and field checks.

B=16, C=16, O=16

Survey Computations

Traverse, inverse, intersection, adjustments, areas, quantities, curves, State Plane coordinates, network adjustments, and note reduction.

B=11, C=11, O=40

Office Operations, Plan Reading and Preparation

Field data entry, positional information, plan reading, profiles, cross sections, contours, CAD, Map Accuracy Standards, GIS, and deliverable QA.

B=8, C=8, O=8

First Aid and Safety

First aid, traffic control, construction safety, OSHA awareness, excavation, confined space, weather, PPE, and field risk management.

B=15, C=4, O=4

Boundary Surveys

Boundary establishment and retracement, title issues, ownership rights, land records, easements, monuments, and riparian rights.

B=5, C=5, O=5

Principles of the Profession

Ethics, standards awareness including ALTA, NGS, NSPS, ACSM, BLM, and ASCE, honesty, attire, property respect, and associations.

B=7, C=7, O=7

Supervisory Skills

Client contact, public and agency coordination, crew management, scheduling, equipment, workflow, records, timekeeping, and job charges.

How to Pass the NSPS CST Level III Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Normal passing score 70%, subject to CST Board adjustment based on exam analysis
  • Assessment: 110 open-book, proctored multiple-choice questions. The Program Book matrix lists Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office Level III tracks; this practice bank covers all three because the repository uses one Level III exam ID.
  • Time limit: 4 hours
  • Exam fee: $180 individual Level I-III fee listed in the July 2024 Program Book; verify current fees before applying

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 CST Level III Study Tips from Top Performers

1Do not treat the open-book format as easy; practice computations until workflows are fast.
2Study all three Level III tracks because this practice bank blends Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office expectations.
3For computations, write units and signs first to avoid leveling, bearing, grid-ground, and stationing mistakes.
4For boundary questions, distinguish evidence documentation from legal conclusions.
5For office questions, check coordinate system, vertical datum, feature codes, raw data, and plan revision status.
6For safety questions, choose the action that controls the hazard before continuing work.
7For supervision questions, favor clear instructions, communication, record keeping, proper charges, and escalation of conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The July 2024 CST Program Book lists Level III as 110 multiple-choice questions with a four-hour time limit.

Is the CST Level III exam open book?

Yes. The Program Book fact sheet states that Level I through III exams are open-book, proctored, multiple-choice examinations.

What score is needed to pass CST Level III?

The normal passing score is 70%, but the CST Board may modify the cutoff based on exam analysis from the testing agent.

What are the Level III tracks?

The Level III matrix lists Boundary Field, Construction Field, and Office tracks.

What are the Level III eligibility requirements?

This page uses the official facts supplied for the task: 3.5 years surveying experience, or 65 transcripted semester/quarter equivalent hours with 18 surveying/engineering-related semester hours plus 2.5 years full-time survey work.

Does CST certification license a person to practice surveying?

No. The Program Book explains that certification is not a license to practice surveying; professional survey licensing is regulated by state boards.