2023 Tennessee Code › Title 62 - PROFESSIONS, BUSINESSES AND TRADES (§§ 62-1-101 — 62-76-203) › Chapter 18 - LAND SURVEYORS (§§ 62-18-101 — 62-18-219) › Part 1 - LAND SURVEYOR GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 62-18-101 — 62-18-128) › Section 62-18-109 - Applications for registration

(a)
(1)
The board shall consider and evaluate a land surveyor applicant's qualifications based on:
(A)
The applicant's educational, technical, and land surveying experience;
(B)
Exhibits of land surveying projects with which the applicant has been associated;
(C)
Recommendations and character references; and
(D)
The payment by the applicant of a fee set by the board in accordance with §
62-18-125
with the approval of the commissioner of commerce and insurance.
(2)
The board shall, if authorized under this part, issue a certificate of registration as a land surveyor to any person who submits evidence satisfactory to the board that the person is fully qualified to practice land surveying.
(3)
A land surveyor applicant's qualifications may be reviewed at an interview if the board determines the review is necessary.
(4)
The board shall make a determination on educational credit for institute courses, correspondence courses, and other courses.
(5)
A person is not eligible for registration who:
(A)
Does not have a high school education diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED®);
(B)
Does not speak and write the English language; or
(C)
Is not of good character and repute.
(b)
The following shall be considered as the minimum evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant meets the qualifications of a professional land surveyor:
(1)
To be certified as a professional land surveyor in training (PLSIT), an applicant must:
(A)
Make a complete application to the board;
(B)
Be of good character and reputation;
(C)
Submit three (3) character references to the board, one (1) of whom is a professional land surveyor;
(D)
Comply with the requirements of this part;
(E)
Pass the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination; and
(F)
Satisfy one (1) of the following requirements related to education and experience:
(i)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board;
(ii)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering, or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences;
(iii)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a non-surveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, and an additional thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences;
(iv)
Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering, or technical field, approved by the board, with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, and a record of four (4) years of progressive practical experience under the direct supervision of a practicing professional land surveyor; or
(v)
Obtain a high school education diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED®) with a record satisfactory to the board of six (6) years of progressive practical experience under the direct supervision of a practicing professional land surveyor;
(2)
To be licensed as a professional land surveyor, an applicant must:
(A)
Make a complete application to the board;
(B)
Be of good character and reputation;
(C)
Submit five (5) character references to the board, three (3) of whom are professional land surveyors or individuals approved by the board and who have personal knowledge of the applicant's land surveying experience;
(D)
Pass the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (PS) examination and the Tennessee State Jurisdictional examination; and
(E)
Satisfy one (1) of the following requirements:
(i)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, obtain the PLSIT certification, and obtain a record satisfactory to the board of no less than a total of two (2) years of progressive practical experience. The progressive practical experience must have been obtained while in the responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor;
(ii)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a science, engineering, or technology curriculum of four (4) or more years related to the practice of land surveying, approved by the board, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, obtain the PLSIT certification, and obtain a record satisfactory to the board of no less than a total of two (2) years of progressive practical experience. The progressive practical experience must have been obtained while in the responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor;
(iii)
Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a non-surveying related curriculum of four (4) or more years, approved by the board, with a minimum of thirty-six (36) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, obtain the PLSIT certification, and obtain a record satisfactory to the board of no less than a total of two (2) years of progressive practical experience. The progressive practical experience must have been obtained while in the responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor;
(iv)
Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering, or technical field, approved by the board, with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, obtain the PLSIT certification, and obtain a record satisfactory to the board of no less than a total of six (6) years of progressive practical experience. The progressive practical experience must have been obtained while in the responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor; or
(v)
Obtain a high school education diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED®) with a minimum of eighteen (18) hours of board-approved coursework in the surveying sciences, obtain the PLSIT certification and obtain a record satisfactory to the board of no less than a total of ten (10) years of progressive practical experience. The progressive practical experience shall have been obtained while in the responsible charge of duties performed under a practicing professional land surveyor.
Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 650,s 1, eff. 4/4/2024.
Amended by 2023 Tenn. Acts, ch. 114, s 47, eff. 7/1/2023.
Amended by 2014 Tenn. Acts, ch. 714, s 1, eff. 4/16/2014.
Acts 1969, ch. 207, § 9; 1972, ch. 578, § 2; 1977, ch. 182, § 1; T.C.A., § 62-1809; Acts 1983, ch. 257, § 4; 1985, ch. 147, §§ 1-3; 1986, ch. 545, §§ 1, 2; 1997 , ch. 270, §§ 1-3.