Professional Licensing - Virginia

Virginia Board of Architects, Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors And Landscape Architects

		Professional Land Surveyor
		Professional Engineer
		QUALIFICATIONS FOR LICENSING AND STANDARDS OF PROCEDUREFOR LAND SURVEYORS

18 VAC 10-20-280. Fee schedule.

All fees are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated.

	Application for Fundamentals of Surveying	$45
	Application for Principles of Surveying	$50
	Renewal	$80
	Application for Land Surveyor B	$50
	Comity	$50
	Out of State Proctor	$50
	Dishonored check	$25

The examination fee shall consist of the administration expenses of the department resulting from the board's examination procedures and contract charges. Exam service contracts shall be established through competitive negotiation in compliance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§11-35 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). The current examination shall not exceed a cost of $150 for the Fundamentals of Land Surveying, $150 for the Principles of Land Surveying, $90 for the Virginia State Examination and $55 for the Land Surveyor B examination to the candidate.

18 VAC 10-20-290. Character.

Applicants must be of good moral character.

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18 VAC 10-20-300. Requirements for land surveyor-in-training (LSIT).

The education or experience, or both, and examination requirements for land surveyor-in-training (LSIT) are as follows:

1. An applicant who has graduated from or is enrolled in a board-approved surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four years or more approved by the board and is within 12 months of completion of degree requirements is eligible for the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, and providing evidence of graduation, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in4raining, if the applicant is otherwise qualified. Applications must be accompanied by a certificate of good standing from the dean of the school.
   
   
2. 2.An applicant who has graduated from a curriculum of four years or more related to surveying as approved by the board and with a specific record of one year of approved land surveying experience shall be admitted to the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in-training, if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
   
   
3. An applicant who has earned at least a four-year bachelor's degree in a field unrelated to surveying and with a specific record of two years of approved progressive land surveying experience shall be admitted to the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in4raining, if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
   
   
4. An applicant who has graduated from a surveying curriculum of two years or more approved by the board with a specific record of four years of approved progressive land surveying experience shall be admitted to the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in-training, if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
   
   
5. An applicant who has successfully completed a survey apprenticeship program approved by the board with at least 480 hours of surveying related classroom instruction with a specific record of six years of approved progressive land surveying experience, shall be admitted to the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in-training, if the applicant is otherwise qualified.
   
   
6. An applicant who has graduated from high school with evidence of successful completion of courses in algebra, geometry and trigonometry with a specific record of eight years of approved progressive land surveying experience, shall be admitted to the Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination. Applicants who have accumulated college credits may apply credit hours approved by the board to help meet the experience requirement. One year of experience credit will be given for 40 semester hours of approved college credit. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be a land surveyor-in4raining, if the applicant is otherwise qualified.

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18 VAC 10-20-310. Requirements for a licensed land surveyor.

A land surveyor-in-training with a specific record of four years of approved land surveying experience under the supervision of a licensed land surveyor shall be admitted to an examination in the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying and a Virginia state examination. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be granted a license to practice land surveying, provided the applicant is otherwise qualified.

18 VAC 10-20-320. Requirements for a licensed land surveyor B.

1. An applicant shall hold a valid license as a land surveyor and present satisfactory evidence of two years of progressive land surveying experience in land surveyor B professional land surveying, as defined in §54.1-408 of the Code of Virginia, under the supervision and direction of a licensed land surveyor B or professional engineer.
   
   
2. An applicant shall also present satisfactory evidence of having passed board- approved courses in hydraulics and hydrology.
   
   
3. An applicant shall pass an examination as developed by the board. Upon passing such examination, the applicant shall be granted a license as a Land Surveyor B, if he is otherwise qualified.

18 VAC 10-20-330. Education.

Any applicant who has attended an institution not located in the United States shall have his degree evaluated by an education evaluation service if credit for such education is sought. The board reserves the right to reject, for good cause, any evaluation submitted by the applicant.

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18 VAC 10-20-340. Experience standards.

1. "Approved land surveying experience" means diversified training in land surveying under the supervision and direction of a licensed land surveyor or under the supervision and direction of an individual authorized by statute to practice land surveying. This experience shall have been acquired in positions requiring the exercise of independent judgment, initiative and professional skill in the office and field. Experience may be gained either prior to or after education is obtained. Notwithstanding the definition of "approved land surveying experience," the requirements set forth in 18 VAC 10-20-310 shall not be waived.
   
   
2. An applicant shall submit written verification from a licensed land surveyor or an individual authorized by statute to practice land surveying of work experience from each employment engagement utilized as land surveying experience on forms provided by the board.

18 VAC 10-20-350. Examinations; grading; reexamination.

1. The examination for land surveying under §54.1-400 of the Code of Virginia shall consist of two parts. Part I shall consist of the Fundamentals of Land Surveying. Part II shall consist of an examination in the Principles and Practice of Land Surveying and a Virginia State examination. These examinations shall be given semiannually at times designated by the board.
2. The examination for land surveying under §54.1-408 of the Code of Virginia (Land Surveyor B) shall be given at times designated by the board.
3. Unless otherwise stated, applicants approved to sit for an examination must register and submit the required examination fee to be received in the board office at a time designated by the board. Applicants not properly registered shall not be allowed into the examination site.
4. Candidates shall be notified of passing or failing but shall not be notified of actual scores. Only the board and its staff shall have access to examination papers, scores and answer sheets. Examinations may not be reviewed.
5. Upon payment of a reexamination fee, an applicant may retake parts of the written examination, which the applicant may have failed. Should the applicant not pass an examination within three years after being approved, the applicant must reapply and meet all current entry requirements.

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18 VAC 10-20-360. Licensure by comity.

All applicants for comity, after meeting the requirements of 18 VAC 10-2040, must also comply with the provisions of 18 VAC 10-20-300 and 18 VAC 10-20-310. However, the applicant may be required to take such examinations as the board deems necessary to determine his qualifications, but in any event, the applicant shall be required to pass a written Virginia state examination. The examination shall include questions on law, procedures and practices pertaining to land surveying in Virginia.

18 VAC 10-20-370. Minimum standards and procedures for land boundary surveying practice.

The following minimum standards and procedures are to be used for boundary surveys performed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The application of the professional's seal, signature and date as required by these regulations shall be evidence that the boundary survey is correct to the best of the professional's knowledge and belief, and complies with the minimum standards and procedures.

1. Research procedure. The professional shall search the land records for the proper description of the land to be surveyed and obtain the description of adjoining land as it pertains to the common boundaries. The professional shall have the additional responsibility to utilize any other available data pertinent to the survey being performed from any other source that is known. Evidence found, from all sources, shall be carefully compared with that located and found in the field survey m order to aid in the establishment of the correct boundaries of the land being surveyed. The professional shall clearly note inconsistencies found in the research of common boundaries between the land being surveyed and the adjoining land. It is not the intent of this regulation to require the professional to research the question of title or encumbrances on the land involved.
   
   
2. Minimum field procedures.
   
   
   1. Angular measurement. Angle measurements made for traverse or boundary survey lines will be made by using a properly adjusted transit type instrument, which allows a direct leading to a minimum accuracy of 30 seconds of arc or metric equivalent. The number of angles turned at a given station or corner will be the number which, in the judgment of the professional, can be used to substantiate the average true angle considering the condition of the instrument being used and the existing field conditions.
   2. Linear measurement. Distance measurement for the lines of traverse or lines of the boundary survey shall be made with metal tapes which have been checked and are properly calibrated as to incremental distances, or with properly calibrated electronic distance measuring equipment following instructions and procedures established by the manufacturer of such equipment. All linear measurements shall be reduced to the horizontal plane and other necessary corrections performed before using for computing purposes.
   3. Field traverse and boundary closure. The maximum permissible error of closure for a field traverse in connection with a boundary survey located in a rural area shall be one part in 10,000 (1/10,000). The attendant angular closure shall be that which will sustain the one part in 10,000 (1/10,000) maximum error of closure. The maximum permissible error of closure for a traverse in connection with a boundary survey located in an urban area shall be one part in 20,000 (1/20,000). The attendant angular closure shall be that which will sustain the one part in 20,000(1/20,000) maximum error of closure.
   4. Monumentation. As a requisite for completion of the work product, each boundary survey of a tract or parcel of land shall be monumented with objects made of permanent material at all corners and changes of direction on the boundary with the exceptions of meanders, such as meanders of streams, tidelands, lakes, swamps and prescriptive road rights-of-way; and each such monument, other than a natural monument, shall, when feasible, be identified by a temporary witness stake (which may be wooden). Where it is not feasible to set actual corners, appropriate reference monuments shall be set, preferably on line, and the location of each shall be shown on the plat or map of the boundary.
   5. All boundaries, both exterior and interior, of the original survey for any division or partition of land shall be monumented in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, when such monumentation is not regulated by the provisions of a local subdivision ordinance.
      
      
3. Office Procedures.
   
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   1. Computations. The computation of field work data shall be accomplished by using the mathematical routines that produce closures and mathematical results that can be compared with descriptions and data of record. Such computations shall be used to determine the final boundary of the land involved.
      
      
   2. Plats and maps. The following information shall be shown on all plats or maps, or both, used to depict the results of the boundary survey:
      
      
      1. The title of the boundary plat identifying the land surveyed and showing the district and county or city in which the land is located and scale of drawing.
      2. The name of owner of record and deed book reference where the acquisition was recorded.
      3. Names of all adjoining owners of record with deed book references, or subdivision lot designations.
      4. Names of highways and roads with route number, and widths of right-of-way, and or distance to the center of the physical pavement and pavement width, name of railroads, streams adjoining or running through the land, and other prominent or well-known objects or areas which are informative as to the location of the boundary survey including but not limited to a distance to the nearest road intersection, or prominent or well-known object. In cases of remote areas, a scaled position with the latitude and longitude must be provided.
      5. Bearings of all property lines and meanders to nearest 10 seconds of arc, or metric equivalent.
      6. Distances of all property lines and meanders to the nearest one hundredth (.01) of a foot or metric equivalent.
      7. Area to the nearest hundredth (.01) of an acre or metric equivalent for rural located surveys.
      8. Area to the nearest square foot or thousandth (0.001) of an acre or metric equivalent for urban located surveys.
      9. North arrow and source of meridian used for the survey.
      10. On interior surveys, a reference bearing and distance to a property corner of an adjoining owner or other prominent object, including but not limited to, intersecting streets or roads.
      11. Tax map designation of parcel number if available.
      12. Description of each monument found and each monument set by the professional.
      13. A statement that the boundary survey shown is based on a current field survey. The application of the land surveyor's seal, signature and date shall constitute compliance with all the current standards of a boundary survey as of the date of the application of signature unless otherwise clearly stated in the title of the plat that the plat is to be construed otherwise.
      14. If the land boundaries shown on the plat are the result of a compilation from deed or plats, or both, or based on a survey by others, that fact will be clearly stated and the title of the plat shall clearly depict that the plat does not represent a current boundary survey.
      15. Name and address of the land surveyor.
          
          
   3. Metes and bounds description. The professional shall prepare a metes and bounds description in narrative form, if requested by the client or their agent, for completion of any newly performed boundary survey. The description shall reflect all metes and bounds, the area of the property described, all pertinent monumentation, names of record owners or other appropriate identification of all adjoiners, and any other data or information deemed as warranted to properly describe the property. Customarily, the metes and bounds shall be recited in a clockwise direction around the property. For subdivisions, the professional shall prepare a metes and bounds description in narrative form for only the exterior boundaries of the property.

No metes and bounds description shall be required for the verification or resetting of the corners of a lot or other parcel of land in accordance with a previously performed boundary survey, such as a lot in a subdivision where it is unnecessary to revise the record boundaries of the lot.

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18 VAC 10-20-380. Minimum standards and procedures for surveys determining the location of physical improvements; field procedures; office procedures.

1. The following minimum standards and procedures are to be used for surveys determining the location of physical improvements on any parcel of land or lot containing less than two (2) acres or metric equivalent (sometimes also known as "building location surveys", "house location surveys", "physical surveys", etc.) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The application of the professional's seal, signature and date as required by these regulations shall be evidence that the survey determining the location of physical improvements is correct to the best of the professional's knowledge and belief, and complies with the minimum standards and procedures set forth in this section.
2. The professional shall determine the position of the lot or parcel of land in accordance with the intent of the original survey and shall set or verify permanent monumentation at each corner of the property, consistent with the monumentation provisions of subdivision B 4 of 18 VAC 10-20-370; all such monumentation other than natural monumentation, shall, when feasible, be identified by temporary witness markers (which may be wooden).

   When the professional finds discrepancies of sufficient magnitude to warrant, in his opinion, the performance of a land boundary survey (pursuant to the provisions of 18 VAC 10-20-370), he shall so inform the client or the client's agent that such boundary survey is deemed warranted as a requisite to completion of the physical improvements survey. When the professional finds discrepancies of sufficient magnitude to warrant, in his opinion, the performance of a land boundary survey (pursuant to the provisions of 18 VAC 10-20-370), he shall so inform the client or the client's agent that such boundary survey is deemed warranted as a requisite to completion of the physical improvements survey.

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   The location of the following shall be determined in the field:

   1. Fences in the near proximity to the boundary lines and other fences which may reflect lines of occupancy or possession.
   2. Other physical improvements on the property and all man-made or installed structures, including buildings, stoops, porches, chimneys, visible evidence of underground features (such as manholes, catch basins, telephone pedestals, power transformers, etc), power lines and poles, and telephones lines and poles.
   3. Cemeteries, if known or disclosed in the process of performing the survey; roads or travelways crossing the property which serve other properties; and streams, creeks, and other defined drainage ways.
   4. Other visible evidence of physical encroachment on the property.
      
      
3. The plat reflecting the work product shall be drawn to scale and shall show the following, unless requested otherwise by the client and so noted on the plat:
   
   
   1. The bearings and distances for the boundaries and the area of the lot or parcel of land shall be shown in accordance with record data, unless a current, new boundary survey has been performed in conjunction with the physical improvements survey. If needed to produce a closed polygon, the meander lines necessary to verity locations of streams, tidelands, lakes and swamps shall be shown. All bearings shall be shown in a clockwise direction, unless otherwise indicated.
   2. North arrow, in accordance with record data.
   3. Fences in the near proximity to the boundary lines and other fences which may reflect lines of occupancy or possession.
   4. Improvements and other pertinent features on the property as located in the field pursuant to Subsection B above.
   5. Physical encroachments, including fences, across a property line shall be identified and dimensioned with respect to the property line.
   6. On parcels where compliance with restriction is in question, provide the closest dimension (to the nearest 0.1 foot) or metric equivalent from the front property line, side property line, and if pertinent, rear property line to the principal walls of each building. Also, all principal building dimensions (to the nearest 0.1 foot) or metric equivalent.
   7. Building street address numbers, as displayed on the premises, or so noted if no numbers are displayed.
   8. Stoops, decks, porches, chimneys, balconies, floor projections, and other similar type features.
   9. Street name(s), as posted or currently identified, and as per record data, if different from posted name.
   10. Distance to nearest intersection, based upon record data. If not available from record data, distance to nearest intersection may be determined from best available data, and so qualified.
   11. Building restriction line(s) per restrictive covenants, if shown on the record subdivision plat.
   12. The caption or title of the plat shall include: the type of survey performed; lot number, block number, section number, and name of subdivision, as appropriate, or if not in a subdivision, the name(s) of the record owner; town and/or county, or city; date of survey; and scale of drawing.
   13. Adjoining property identification.
   14. Easements and other encumbrances set forth on the record subdivision plat, and those otherwise known to the professional.
   15. A statement as to whether or not a current title report has been furnished to the professional.
   16. Professional's seal, signature and date.
       
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4. Notwithstanding the monumentation provisions of subsection B of this section, or any other provision of these regulations, a professional, in performing a physical improvements survey, shall not be required to set corner monumentation on any property when corner monumentation is otherwise required to be set pursuant to the provisions of a local subdivision ordinance as mandated by §15.1-465 of the Code of Virginia, or by subdivision A 7 of §15.1-466 of the Code of Virginia, or where the placing of such monumentation is covered by a surety bond, cash escrow, set-aside letter, letter of credit, or other performance guaranty. When monumentation is not required, the surveyor shall clearly note on the plat "no corner markers set" and the reason to include name of guarantors.
   
   
5. Moreover, notwithstanding the monumentation provisions of subsection B of this section or any other provisions of this chapter, a professional, in performing a physical improvements survey, shall not be required to set corner monumentation on any property (i) when corner monumentation has been set pursuant to the provisions of a local subdivision ordinance as mandated by §15.1-465 of the Code of Virginia, or by subdivision A 7 of §15.1-466 of the Code of Virginia or (ii) when the owner or contract purchaser, or a legal agent therefore, agrees in writing when the survey is ordered that such corner monumentation shall not be provided in connection with such physical improvements survey. When corner monumentation is not provided, pursuant to such agreement, the land surveyor shall clearly reference on the plat the existing monumentation utilized to perform the physical improvements survey. The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to property located within the counties of Arlington, Fairfax, King George, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, and Stafford; and the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas and Manassas Park.
   
   
6. In no event may this chapter be interpreted or construed to require the professional to perform work of a lesser quality or quantity than that deemed by the professional to be prudent or warranted under the existing field conditions and circumstances.

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18 VAC 10-20-390. Geodetic Surveys.

All geodetic surveys, including the determination and publication of horizontal and vertical values utilizing Global Positioning Systems, which relate to the practice of land surveying as defined in Section 54.1-400 of the Code of Virginia, shall be performed under the direct control and personal supervision of a licensed land surveyor as defined in Part I of these regulations.

In order to obtain the Professional Engineer license, an applicant must satisfy the requirements of at least one subsection of 18 VAC 10-20-210 and pass the PE examination. An applicant will receive his license to practice upon achieving a passing examination score.

18 VAC 10-20-220. References.

A. References for Fundamentals of Engineering examination.

Applicants for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination only shall provide one reference from a professional engineer, or from the dean of the engineering school or a departmental professor in the school attended by the applicant, or an immediate work supervisor. Any reference provided shall be from a person who has known the applicant for at least one year. References may not also verify professional experience.

B. References for Principles and Practice of Engineering examination.

To be eligible for admission to the Principles and Practice of Engineering examination, an applicant must indicate competence and integrity to engage in the engineering profession by submitting three references with the application, all of whom shall be licensed professional engineers in a state or territory of the United States. The professional engineers providing the references shall have personal knowledge of the applicant's engineering experience and shall have known the applicant for at least one year. References shall be no more than one year old at the time the applicant is approved to take the requisite examination. References may not also verify professional experience..

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18 VAC 10-20-230. Education.

Any applicant who has earned a degree from an institution outside the United States shall have the degree evaluated by an educational credential evaluation service or by ABET if credit for such education is sought, unless the applicant earned an equivalent or higher-level engineering degree from a United States institution where the program has been accredited by ABET. The board reserves the right to reject, for good cause, any evaluation submitted by the applicant.

18 VAC 10-20-240. Training and experience.

Professional engineering training and experience shall be progressive in complexity and based on a knowledge of engineering mathematics, physical and applied sciences, properties of materials, and fundamental principles of engineering design, provided:

1. In general, experience in sales, drafting, estimating, field surveying, nonengineering military service, and inspection are considered nonqualifying.
2. Engineering experience gained by graduate engineering study or by engineering teaching as an instructor or higher in an institution approved by the board may be deemed professional experience.
3. Engineering experience gained during a board-approved co-op program may be deemed professional experience to a maximum of one year of credit.
4. The board, in its sole discretion, may permit partial credit, not to exceed 1/4 of that required, for approved professional experience obtained prior to graduation from an engineering curriculum.

18 VAC 10-20-250. Language and comprehension.

Every applicant applying for licensure as a professional engineer shall be able to speak and write English. An applicant from a non-English speaking country or a country wherein the primary language is other than English shall submit to the board a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report with a minimum score of 560, and a TSE (Test of Spoken English) score report with a minimum score of 255. Score reports shall not be over two years old at the time of application. The requirement of submitting a TOEFL and a TSE report shall not apply if the applicant is a graduate of a US college or university.

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18 VAC 10-20-260. Examinations.

1. The Virginia board is a member board of the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and as such is authorized to administer the NCEES examinations.
2. The Fundamentals of Engineering examination consists of a NCEES exam on the fundamentals of engineering, and is given at times designated by the board.
3. The Principles and Practice of Engineering examination consists of a NCEES exam on applied engineering and is given at times designated by the board.
4. Unless otherwise stated, applicants approved to sit for an examination shall register and submit the required examination fee to be received in the board office at a time designated by the board. Applicants not properly registered shall not be allowed into the examination site.
5. A candidate eligible for admission to both parts of the examination must first successfully complete the fundamentals of engineering examination before being admitted to the principles and practice of engineering examination.
6. Examinees will be given specific instructions as to the conduct of each examination at the exam site. Examinees are required to follow these instructions to assure fair and equal treatment to all examinees during the course of the examination. Evidence of misconduct may result in voided examination scores or other appropriate disciplinary action.
7. Grading of the examinations shall be in accordance with national grading procedures established by NCEES. Each part of the written examination will have a value of 100. A passing score shall be 70 and above. Candidates will be notified of passing or failing and their actual scores.
8. Should an applicant not pass an examination within three years after being approved to sit for an examination, the applicant must reapply and meet all current entry requirements.
9. The Fundamentals of Engineering examination may not be reviewed by the candidates. Examination scores are final and are not subject to change.

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Upon written request to the board within 20 days of the mailing of exam results, candidates for the Principles and Practice of Engineering examination will be permitted to review only their own failed examination. Score appeals will only be accepted if the candidate received a score of 65 or above.

18 VAC 10-20-270. License by comity.

A person holding a license to engage in the practice of engineering, issued to the applicant by another state, territory or possession of the United States, Canada or the District of Columbia, based on requirements that do not conflict with and are at least as vigorous as these regulations and supporting statutes of this board that were in effect at the time of original licensure, may be licensed without further examination. No person shall be so licensed, however, who has not passed an examination in another jurisdiction which is substantially equivalent to that approved by the board. If the applicant does not meet the requirements for licensure in Virginia that were in effect at the time of original licensure, the applicant shall be required to meet the entry requirements current at the time the completed application for comity is received in the board's office.

www.state.va.us/dpor

Mark Courtney
Administrator
3600 West Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23230-4917
804-367-8514

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