300+ Free SC Land Surveyor Practice Questions

Pass your South Carolina Professional Land Surveyor Exam exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately

65% Pass Rate

300+ Questions

100% Free

1 / 300

Question 1

Score: 0/0

Which state board is responsible for licensing professional land surveyors in South Carolina?

Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation alone

South Carolina Board of Land Surveying

Board of Technical Professions

to track

Same family resources

More Land Surveyor Prep

Continue through related practice pages, study guides, comparisons, and articles from the same exam family.

Practice Pages

PS Principles and Practice of Surveying Practice200 questions Alabama Land Surveyor Practice300 questions Arizona Land Surveyor Practice300 questions Arkansas Land Surveyor Practice300 questions California Land Surveyor Practice300 questions Colorado Land Surveyor Practice300 questions

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

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SC Land Surveyor Exam

70%

Passing Score

PELS

100 Q

Exam Questions

PELS

4 hrs

Time Limit

PELS

16 PDH

CE Per Cycle

PELS

4 yrs

Experience Required

PELS

$500

Total Fees

LicenseMap 2026

South Carolina requires passing the NCEES FS and PS exams plus a state-specific exam covering South Carolina boundary law and minimum technical standards. The state board (PELS) oversees licensing under South Carolina Code Title 40.

Sample SC Land Surveyor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SC 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 board is responsible for licensing professional land surveyors in South Carolina?

A.Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors

B.Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation alone

C.South Carolina Board of Land Surveying

D.Board of Technical Professions

Explanation: In South Carolina, land surveyors are licensed by the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Surveyors, which operates under the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR). The board oversees both professional engineers and surveyors.

2How many professional development hours (PDH) must a South Carolina land surveyor complete per renewal cycle?

A.24 hours every 2 years

B.30 hours every 2 years

C.15 hours annually

D.20 hours every 2 years

Explanation: South Carolina requires licensed land surveyors to complete 30 professional development hours every 24-month renewal cycle. There is no limitation on the number of hours that may be completed online. License expiration follows a biennial cycle ending June 30.

3What is the minimum experience requirement to qualify for licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in South Carolina?

A.2 years under a licensed PLS

B.4 years under a licensed PLS

C.6 years under a licensed PLS

D.3 years under a licensed PLS

Explanation: South Carolina requires a minimum of four years of progressive land surveying experience under the supervision of a licensed Professional Land Surveyor. At least two of those years must be progressive experience in land surveying after completing the educational requirements.

4South Carolina distinguishes between Tier A and Tier B Professional Land Surveyors. What type of surveying does a Tier A surveyor perform?

A.Only photogrammetric surveys

B.Only GIS surveys

C.Land boundary surveys including property boundary determination

D.Only topographic surveys

Explanation: In South Carolina, a Tier A Professional Land Surveyor is licensed to perform land boundary surveys, which include property boundary determination, platting, and monumentation. Tier B has different educational requirements and focuses on non-boundary survey activities.

5Which examinations must a South Carolina applicant pass for Tier A Professional Land Surveyor licensure?

A.FS exam only

B.PS exam and state-specific exam only

C.FS exam, PS exam, and South Carolina State Specific Surveying examination

D.FS exam and PS exam only

Explanation: To obtain Tier A Professional Land Surveyor licensure in South Carolina, an applicant must pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, and a South Carolina State Specific Surveying examination. The state-specific exam tests knowledge of South Carolina laws and regulations governing land surveying.

6Under the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual, what is the minimum plat size that may be submitted for recording?

A.11 inches by 17 inches

B.8.5 inches by 11 inches

C.8.5 inches by 14 inches

D.24 inches by 36 inches

Explanation: According to the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual for Surveying (Regulation 49-460), the minimum plat size is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Plat sizes must also conform to the requirements of the Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds, or Register of Mesne Conveyance in the county where the plat will be recorded.

7The South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual classifies surveys into categories. What is the minimum angular closure for a Class A survey?

A.15 seconds times the square root of N

B.20 seconds times the square root of N

C.30 seconds times the square root of N

D.50 seconds times the square root of N

Explanation: Under the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual, Class A surveys have the most stringent accuracy requirements, with a maximum angular closure of 15 seconds multiplied by the square root of N, where N is the number of points in the traverse. This is the highest precision class in the state standards.

8What is the minimum linear closure ratio for a Class A survey in South Carolina?

A.1:3,000

B.1:5,000

C.1:7,500

D.1:10,000

Explanation: The South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual requires a minimum linear closure ratio of 1:10,000 for Class A surveys. This is the highest precision class. Class B requires 1:7,500, Class C requires 1:5,000, and Class D requires 1:3,000.

9According to South Carolina regulations, how should a corner tree be marked in boundary surveying?

A.One blaze and two chops

B.An 'X' and three chops on the sides where the line enters and leaves the tree

C.Two chops facing the property line

D.A painted mark with the surveyor's registration number

Explanation: Under the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual (Regulation 49-470), a corner tree shall be marked with an 'X' and three chops on the sides where the line enters and leaves the tree. Different markings apply to corner witness trees, side line trees, and property line trees.

10How should a corner witness tree be marked according to the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual?

A.An 'X' and three chops

B.Two chops facing the property line

C.One blaze and three chops or three chops facing the corner

D.A painted circle with registration number

Explanation: According to Regulation 49-470 of the South Carolina Standards of Practice Manual, a corner witness tree shall be marked with one blaze and three chops, or three chops facing the corner. This differs from a corner tree marking which requires an 'X' and three chops.

About the SC Land Surveyor Exam

The South Carolina land surveyor state exam covers South Carolina boundary law, minimum technical standards, metes and bounds state with colonial grant system boundary descriptions, state board regulations under SC Code Title 40, Chapter 22, and professional surveying ethics and practice standards.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Varies (South Carolina PELS)

SC Land Surveyor Exam Content Outline

25%

SC Boundary Law

South Carolina boundary determination, adverse possession, riparian rights, easements

25%

SC Standards of Practice

Minimum technical standards, plat requirements, monument standards, accuracy

20%

SC Regulations

PELS licensing, continuing education, ethics, disciplinary process

15%

Legal Descriptions

Metes and bounds, legal descriptions, deed interpretation

15%

Professional Practice

Professional liability, sealing/stamping, contracts, expert witness

How to Pass the SC 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

SC Land Surveyor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master South Carolina boundary law principles under SC Code Title 40, Chapter 22

2Study South Carolina minimum technical standards for surveys

3Know the PELS licensing requirements and disciplinary procedures

4Understand metes and bounds state with colonial grant system boundary description methods

5Review South Carolina professional practice and ethics standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the South Carolina land surveyor state exam cover?

The SC state exam covers South Carolina boundary law under SC Code Title 40, Chapter 22, minimum technical standards, state licensing regulations, and professional practice standards specific to South Carolina.

How many questions are on the South Carolina land surveyor state exam?

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

What is the passing score for the South Carolina land surveyor state exam?

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

What are South Carolina's continuing education requirements for land surveyors?

South Carolina requires professional land surveyors to complete 16 professional development hours each biennium, including mandatory ethics and standards of practice content.