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

Board of Technical Professions

Board of Registration for Engineers and Surveyors

Department of Labor and Regulation alone

Board of Land Surveying

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

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: SD Land Surveyor Exam

70%

Passing Score

BTP

100 Q

Exam Questions

BTP

4 hrs

Time Limit

BTP

30 PDH

CE Per Cycle

BTP

4 yrs

Experience Required

BTP

$500

Total Fees

LicenseMap 2026

South Dakota requires passing the NCEES FS and PS exams plus a state-specific exam covering South Dakota boundary law and minimum technical standards. The state board (BTP) oversees licensing under South Dakota Codified Laws Chapter 36-18A.

Sample SD Land Surveyor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your SD 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 Dakota?

A.Board of Technical Professions

B.Board of Registration for Engineers and Surveyors

C.Department of Labor and Regulation alone

D.Board of Land Surveying

Explanation: In South Dakota, land surveyors are licensed by the South Dakota Board of Technical Professions (SDBTP), which operates under the Department of Labor and Regulation. The board also licenses architects, engineers, landscape architects, and petroleum release service providers.

2How many professional development hours (PDH) must a South Dakota 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 Dakota requires licensed land surveyors to complete 30 professional development hours every 24-month renewal cycle. At least 20 PDH must be in technical areas which directly safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare.

3What continuing education requirement distinguishes South Dakota from many other states?

A.All 30 PDH may be in any subject

B.At least 20 PDH must be in technical areas directly safeguarding public health, safety, and welfare

C.All 30 PDH must be in ethics

D.No PDH may be earned online

Explanation: South Dakota requires that at least 20 of the 30 required professional development hours be in technical areas that directly safeguard the public's health, safety, and welfare. The remaining hours may be in other professional development topics. This ensures surveyors maintain technical competency.

4What examinations must a South Dakota applicant pass for Professional Land Surveyor licensure?

A.FS exam and PS exam only

B.FS exam, PS exam, South Dakota surveying take-home exam, and South Dakota take-home exam on laws and rules

C.PS exam and state jurisprudence exam only

D.FS exam only

Explanation: South Dakota requires applicants to pass the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, a South Dakota surveying take-home exam, and a South Dakota take-home exam on laws and rules. This comprehensive examination process tests both national and state-specific knowledge.

5What is the minimum education requirement for land surveyor licensure in South Dakota?

A.High school diploma only

B.A bachelor-level degree in surveying from an ABET-accredited program, or a bachelor-level degree in a related or non-related program with additional surveying courses

C.A master's degree in surveying

D.No formal education is required

Explanation: South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:38:30:03 requires applicants to hold at least a bachelor-level degree. This can be in surveying from an ABET-accredited program, a related technical program, or even a non-related program or associate degree in surveying, with varying additional requirements for each pathway.

6How many semester credit hours of surveying education must a South Dakota licensure applicant complete?

A.12 semester credit hours

B.18 semester credit hours

C.24 semester credit hours

D.30 semester credit hours

Explanation: Under South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:38:30:03, each applicant for land surveyor licensure must complete at least 24 total semester credit hours of surveying education. The courses must range from basic principles through advanced applications and must include courses on the original Public Land Survey System and boundary surveying.

7What surveying topics must be included in the 24 semester credit hours required for South Dakota licensure?

A.Only GPS and GIS courses

B.Basic principles of surveying, advanced applications, original Public Land Survey System, and boundary surveying

C.Only mathematics and physics courses

D.Only legal courses

Explanation: South Dakota Administrative Rule 20:38:30:03 requires that the 24 semester credit hours of surveying education include at least one course in each of the following: basic principles of surveying, advanced applications of surveying, original Public Land Survey System, and boundary surveying. The courses must be unique in title and subject matter.

8How many semester credit hours of surveying courses must be completed before applying to take the FS exam in South Dakota?

A.12 semester credit hours

B.18 semester credit hours

C.24 semester credit hours

D.No minimum is required before the FS exam

Explanation: In South Dakota, an individual must have completed and/or be enrolled in at least 18 semester credit hours of surveying courses before being eligible to apply to take the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam. Upon passing the FS exam, the individual is enrolled as a land surveyor intern.

9What is a 'land surveyor intern' in South Dakota?

A.A person licensed to practice independently

B.A person who has passed the FS exam and is gaining experience under supervision before taking the PS exam

C.A student still enrolled in a degree program

D.A person who has passed all required exams

Explanation: In South Dakota, a land surveyor intern is a person who has passed the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam and is enrolled as an intern while gaining professional experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor. The intern works toward meeting the experience requirements needed to take the PS exam.

10What is the minimum experience requirement for South Dakota PLS licensure with a bachelor's degree in surveying?

A.2 years

B.4 years

C.6 years

D.8 years

Explanation: With a bachelor's degree in surveying from an ABET-accredited program, South Dakota requires a minimum of four years of qualifying land surveying experience under the direct supervision of a licensed land surveyor. Applicants with an associate degree require seven years of experience.

About the SD Land Surveyor Exam

The South Dakota land surveyor state exam covers South Dakota boundary law, minimum technical standards, Sixth Principal and Black Hills meridians PLSS procedures, state board regulations under SDCL Chapter 36-18A, and professional surveying ethics and practice standards.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

4 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

Varies (South Dakota BTP)

SD Land Surveyor Exam Content Outline

25%

SD Boundary Law

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

25%

SD Standards of Practice

Minimum technical standards, plat requirements, monument standards, accuracy

20%

SD Regulations

BTP 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 SD 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

SD Land Surveyor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master South Dakota boundary law principles under SDCL Chapter 36-18A

2Study South Dakota minimum technical standards for surveys

3Know the BTP licensing requirements and disciplinary procedures

4Understand PLSS procedures for the Sixth Principal and Black Hills meridians

5Review South Dakota professional practice and ethics standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the South Dakota land surveyor state exam cover?

The SD state exam covers South Dakota boundary law under SDCL Chapter 36-18A, minimum technical standards, PLSS procedures, state licensing regulations, and professional practice standards specific to South Dakota.

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

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

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

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

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

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