Texas Land Surveyor License

Learn about the Texas land surveyor licensing for engineering firms and individuals. Find out how Harbor Compliance can expedite the licensure process for you.

Texas Land Surveyor—A Complete Licensing Guide

Whether you’re an individual land surveyor or a registered firm, obtaining a land surveyor license (or certification) is mandatory if you want to offer your services in Texas.

Like any other U.S. state, Texas has rules and requirements you must meet to obtain and maintain your license and the right to operate in the state.

In this guide, we’ll go over the requirements and processes involved in securing a Texas land surveyor license for professionals and firms. We’ll also introduce Harbor Compliance—a reliable partner that streamlines the certification process for firms and helps you navigate complex and frequently changing state regulations.

Duties of a Texas Land Surveyor

A land surveyor helps engineers understand where and how they can build a project on a designated site. From marking down the pipelines to instructing construction crew members how deep they can dig a piece of land, these professionals jot down all the specifications.

The most critical aspect of the job is determining the boundaries of land. In virtually all cases, a plot of land will share its boundaries with other owners. This is when surveyors have to take an unbiased approach and not exceed the limitations of their respective areas. They can use resources, such as:

• Maps
• Government registered deeds
• The original survey of the land

Other tasks, such as construction staking, help the construction crew identify where to build a particular feature laid down by the client. These points are generally marked using sticks and colored flags. Every Texas land surveyor must follow the laws provided in the Texas Engineering Practice Act and Rules Concerning Practice and Licensure handbook.

Texas Land Surveyor License Requirements

Being a Texas-licensed state land surveyor gives you the ability to seal any survey and provide legal evidence that all work has been done by you or under your management. This is extremely important in case of mishaps and gives clients security during reworks.

Professionals and the firms that employ them must be properly licensed to provide land surveying services in Texas.

Individual Land Surveyor License Requirements

If you’re looking to become a professional Texas land surveyor, there are five requirements you have to meet

1. Prior documented experience—The first requirement is having verified experience in boundary land surveying. This should ideally be under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor. You can show your experience by submitting a Supplementary Experience Record (SER) form. There should be a minimum of three references from licensed or registered professional land surveyors in your experience form.
2. Background check—As per the usual process, you’ll need to undergo a standard criminal history check by providing your fingerprints to IdentoGO.
3. Education record—Submit your official degree transcripts to the board. You can even attach any certificates to show completion of additional seminars/courses. Ensure that transcripts are delivered in sealed envelopes from your university.
4. Exams—The final requirement is completing two exams—the Principles and Practice of Professional Surveying (PS) and the Texas Specific Surveying Exam (TSSE). Candidates can appear for the latter during the spring, fall, or summer season every year.
5. Surveyor in training certificate—You must possess a surveyor in training (SIT)Principles and Practice of Professional Surveying (PS) certificate to attain your license.

Filling Out the Land Surveyor License Application

Once you’ve ensured that you’re eligible to apply for a land surveyor license in Texas, you’ll have to visit the official Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website and fill out the Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) application.

Follow the steps below to learn how you can complete your application:

1. Filling the Application—The first thing to keep in mind is that you need to fill out the application entirely to be eligible. Any missed fields will lead to rejection.
2. Paying the application fee—All candidates must pay a standard $75 fee. You can send this via money order, cashier’s check, or personal check. The board of Texas does not accept cash for this license application.
3. Add necessary supporting documents—It’s crucial to add all your criminal record checks, college transcripts, and supplementary experience records.

As long as you follow these steps, you’ll be able to complete the application as per the board’s rules and avoid rejection. In case your application is rejected, the board will send an email detailing the things you missed out on.

Land Surveying Firm Registration Requirements

If, as an entity, you want to offer your surveying services to the public in the state of Texas, here are the licensing requirements you need to meet

• Register your firm with the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
• Complete the application process
• Pay the $150 fee

The application process is straightforward—all you need to do is fill out and submit the Surveying Firm Registration Form and pay the required fee. Once your application is approved, you’ll receive your Certificate of Registration.

In case your land surveyor firm is already registered in Texas, and you want to add a branch office to its record, you’ll have to complete a similar process. Fill out a Surveying Brach Form and email it to the Board’s Licensing department at licensing@pels.texas.gov. There are no fees for registering a branch office.

Note that the businesses engaged in surveying work need to deal with both categories of license requirements, and here’s why:

• To market surveying services and contract to provide them, companies are typically required to have a surveying firm license.
• To apply for a firm license, a surveying business must list at least one individual professional—professional-in-responsible-charge—on the license application.
• In case said individual allows their license to lapse, so does the company license.
• To avoid disruption, businesses must track firm licenses and licenses held by the professional-in-responsible-charge. Boards may allow companies a few days to address the issue by replacing or reinstating the lapsed license before the firm license is forfeited.
• It’s also essential for companies to keep track of other individual licenses held by employees so they can quickly find a replacement if needed.

Texas Land Surveyor License Renewal

Even though it’s crucial, obtaining a license is only the first step to becoming a land surveyor in Texas—you have to renew your license according to the regulations set by the board, which depend on whether you’re renewing an individual license or a company one.

Individual Land Surveyor License Renewal

Renewing your individual land surveyor license in Texas is a simple process. It’s completed online and depends on the type of license you need to renew. Consult the table below for more information:

Land Surveying Firm License Renewal

All land surveying firms in Texas must renew their certifications and pay the $150 fee by December 31 of every year. You can complete the process online, through the board’s designated portal.

If you don’t renew your license before January 1, your firm’s registration will be considered expired. Offering any surveying services with an expired license is considered a violation and can result in sanctions and penalty fees.

While both the firm registration application and renewal processes are quite straightforward, keeping track of all the regulations, requirements, and due dates can take a lot of time and effort. Considering the consequences of failing to meet said requirements, the lack of license management can certainly take its toll on your company. Outsourcing such duties to a team of professionals, such as Harbor Compliance, can save you a lot of time, money, and effort.

Expedite the Land Surveying Firm Registration Process With Harbor Compliance

Keeping up with the complexities of licensure requirements and processes can be especially challenging when running a business and having other important responsibilities.

Apart from land surveying firm certification, our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions offer architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry professionals other critical licenses, including:

• Engineering Firm
• Geoscience Firm

Benefits of Using Harbor Compliance’s Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions

Here are some additional benefits of choosing Harbor Compliance as your licensure service provider:

• A team of experts—Our team consists of seasoned professionals who are experts in the AEC industry regulations. From preparing thorough applications to tracking renewal deadlines, we will ensure you enjoy a smooth licensing journey.
• Stress-free operations—Our main aim is to help land surveyor professionals spend more time on their work and less time navigating government rules. You can outsource your certification application and license management to our team, well-versed in managing diverse licensing procedures.
• Quick support—You don’t need to wait days for someone from our end to respond. Our agile team is always present to assist you and explain any concepts you have questions about throughout the day.
• Access to Requirements Research Engine—This module is included in our Software Suite, which is powered by our proprietary Compliance Core™ algorithm. It provides detailed information concerning licensing requirements throughout the U.S., allowing you to stay informed about jurisdictional changes and meet the necessary requirements.

The Process of Ordering Harbor Compliance’s Service

Follow the steps below to order our Architecture & Engineering Compliance Solutions

1. Visit the solution page.
2. Click “Contact Us.”
3. Enter your information.
4. Verify that the details are correct and click “Let’s talk.”

You can choose from three flexible service options, which allow you to decide the extent to which you want to delegate your licensing workload:

• Self-managed—It’s designed for individuals who prefer a hands-on approach to their licensing process but still require support in navigating changing requirements. You gain access to our Software Suite, which has a vast database with information on over 800 AEC licenses across the U.S.
• Fully managed—It enables you to outsource most of the licensing process, such as researching requirements, document filings, and tracking renewal deadlines, to our team of experts. This service option only applies to company licenses.
• Hybrid—With this option, you benefit from a balanced blend of self-managed and fully managed services. You’ll gain access to our portfolio management software and receive guidance and support from our expert team to facilitate your licensing journey.

Additional Services by Harbor Compliance

Consult the following table to discover more Harbor Compliance services that your company can benefit from:

Texas Land Surveyor FAQs

Below, you’ll find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the Texas land surveyor license. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, visit our Information Center.

Make Land Surveyor Licensing Easier Than Ever With Harbor Compliance

Securing a Texas land surveying certification is essential to all professionals and firms that want to offer surveying services in the state. Partner with Harbor Compliance and outsource your land surveying firm certification to a team of experts.

Besides streamlining your certification process and handling your license management, we offer a free Harbor Compliance Score™ you can use to get your compliance score and check your company’s standing.

If you’re still unsure, schedule a demo to find out how our services work and if they meet your needs.

Want to know more about engineering and land surveying license requirements throughout the U.S.? Check the table below to find more useful guides: