Engineering / PS Exam
- NCEES
- Surveying licensure exam
- Computer-based
- Updated Oct 2026
PS Exam: Cost, Format, Passing Score and How to Register
The Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam is the NCEES exam that tests whether you can practice surveying competently. It is designed for surveyors with at least four years of professional experience.
Last updated October 28, 2026 from NCEES requirements
Exam fee
$375
Paid directly to NCEES for each attempt
Exam length
7 hr
The 7 hours include the nondisclosure agreement and tutorial. Exam time itself is 6 hr 50 min
Questions
100
One exam, no discipline choice
Passing score
Not stated
NCEES reports pass or fail only and doesn’t publish the passing score
Overview
What is the PS exam?
The PS exam is a computer-based exam from NCEES (the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying). NCEES says it tests your ability to practice within the surveying profession competently. It is given year-round at approved Pearson test centers. It is closed book with an electronic reference, and it uses U.S. Customary units.
Who takes it
- Surveyors with at least four years of professional experience, which is who NCEES designed the exam for
- Candidates a state or territory licensing board has approved to sit for the exam on the path to professional surveyor licensure
- Candidates in states where the board requires the PS exam, and in some cases the separate NCEES PLSS exam, for a land surveying license
Who doesn’t need it
- Anyone whose licensing board doesn’t require it. Requirements are set by each board, so check yours first
- People earlier in their surveying career. NCEES describes the FS exam, not the PS, as generally the first step toward licensure
Passing the PS doesn’t by itself make you a licensed surveyor
NCEES scores the exam and reports pass or fail to your licensing board. Your board decides who may sit for the exam and what else you need for a license, such as experience, other exams or a state-specific exam. Confirm its rules before you register.
Before you sit
The PS exam, one page
- Confirm your licensing board’s approval steps
- Register in MyNCEES with your name exactly as on your ID
- Pay the $375 fee and wait for your authorization notice
- Schedule at a Pearson center within 12 months
- Bring a current physical photo ID and one approved calculator
- Arrive 30 minutes early
Eligibility
Who can take the PS exam?
NCEES designs the PS for surveyors with at least four years of professional experience. Who may actually sit for the exam is decided by each licensing board, so read your board’s notes on the NCEES PS page before you register.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Experience | NCEES says the exam is designed for surveyors who have gained at least four years of professional experience. Your board sets its own rule |
| Board application | Varies by board. The District of Columbia, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands require an application and/or fee to the board before NCEES registration. Many other boards don’t |
| Prerequisite exam | Set by your board. Some board notes on the NCEES page refer to passing the FS exam first, so check what yours requires |
| MyNCEES account | You need a MyNCEES account to register |
| ID name match | The first and last names you register with must be in English and match your government-issued ID |
| Time limit to test | Once approved, you have 12 months to take the exam or you forfeit your registration fee |
| Location | You may test at an NCEES-approved test center in the United States or U.S. territories. If you are approved through an international entity other than Canada, you must test in that country |
Format
What’s on the PS exam?
The PS is a closed-book, computer-based exam with an electronic reference. It has 100 questions in 7 hours, and the 7 hours include a tutorial. NCEES exams mostly use multiple-choice questions, plus alternative item types such as multiple correct options, point and click, drag and drop, and fill in the blank. The exam follows the specifications effective beginning January 1, 2019 (2024 update). Updated specifications take effect with the July 2027 exams.
Format
Computer-based, closed book with electronic reference
Questions
100
Passing score
Not stated (pass or fail only)
Exam owner
NCEES, delivered at Pearson test centers
| Content area | Questions or weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Principles | 18–27 questions | Principles of evidence, common law boundary principles, sequential and simultaneous conveyances, legal descriptions, and evidence for perpetuating the U.S. PLSS. |
| Professional Survey Practices | 22–33 questions | Public and private records (8–12 questions), field procedures, GPS/GNSS, surveying computations, monumentation, land development, survey maps and reports, and GIS. |
| Standards and Specifications | 8–12 questions | BLM Manual of Surveying Instructions, ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey standards, and FEMA requirements. |
| Business Practices | 13–19 questions | General business practices, risk management, professional conduct, and communication with clients, staff and the public. |
| Areas of Practice | 24–36 questions | ALTA/NSPS surveys, control and geodetic networks, construction, boundary and route surveys, topographic surveys, new parcels, as-built surveys and consultation services. |
| Changes from July 2027 | Updated specification | The new specification lists six areas: Professional Survey Practices 20–30, Standards and Specifications 11–17, Business Practices 6–9, Areas of Practice/Types of Surveys 10–15, Legal Principles 23–35, and Areas of Practice (Boundary Division) 15–23. It still states 100 questions in 7 hours. |
Scoring & content
- Your result is based on the number of correct answers. There are no deductions for wrong answers.
- The raw score is converted to a scaled score and compared with the ability level needed to pass.
- Every question, including alternative item types, is scored right or wrong with no partial credit.
- Each exam includes a limited number of unscored pretest items, and you can’t tell which they are.
- Answers that rely on a standard are scored against the standards NCEES lists (for example ALTA/NSPS 2021 and the FEMA Elevation Certificate 2023). Solutions based on other standards get no credit.
Retake policy
- You may attempt the exam once per testing window.
- NCEES allows no more than three attempts in any 12-month period.
- The testing windows are January–March, April–June, July–September and October–December.
- Some licensing boards have a stricter policy, so check yours.
- You pay the full exam fee each time you register.
Steps
How to register and sit for the exam, step by step
- Check your licensing board’s rulesBefore you apply
Find your board in the state list on the NCEES PS page. Some boards need their own application or fee first. Others let you register with NCEES directly. - Create a MyNCEES accountBefore you register
Use your first and last name in English exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID. - Register and pay$375 fee
Log in to MyNCEES, choose the PS exam and your licensing board, and pay the fee. Ask for reasonable accommodations during registration if you need them. - Get your authorization noticeAfter board approval
NCEES emails an “Exam Ready to Schedule” notice once you finish registration and your board approves you. You then have 12 months to test. - Schedule your appointmentWithin 12 months
Choose a Pearson test center and date in MyNCEES. The PS is offered year-round. You’ll get a confirmation email from Pearson. If you don’t, you aren’t scheduled. - Arrive early and check inExam day
Arrive 30 minutes before your appointment with your ID. Check-in includes a digital photo, a palm vein scan and a pocket check. - Get your resultsTypically 7–10 days
NCEES emails you when your result is in MyNCEES. Results are pass or fail, and a failing result comes with a diagnostic report.
Scoring
PS exam passing score and pass rates
NCEES scores the PS by counting correct answers, with no penalty for wrong ones. That total is converted to a scaled score, which adjusts for small differences in difficulty between exam forms, then compared with the ability level needed to pass. Results are typically available 7–10 days after the exam.
| Group or period | Pass rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First-time PS examinees (614 examinees) | 63% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
| Repeat PS examinees (411 examinees) | 40% | NCEES, July 2026 update |
NCEES doesn’t publish the passing score, and it scores each exam with no set percentage of examinees who should pass. First-time and repeat takers are graded to the same standard. NCEES shows PS pass rates for the January–June or July–December population and updates them in July and January. Source: NCEES PS exam page.
Exam day
What to expect on exam day
The PS is given at Pearson test centers. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early. You sign the NCEES Exam Rules and Agreement digitally, a proctor checks your pockets, and you give a digital photo and palm vein scan before you test. The handbook and the listed standards are on screen the whole exam.
What to bring
- One current, physical, government-issued photo ID with an expiration date, your name, date of birth, a recognizable photo and your signature. Digital IDs and student IDs aren’t accepted. A valid U.S. military ID without a signature is accepted
- A passport in roman characters from your country of citizenship also works
- A printed copy of your appointment confirmation letter, which NCEES says speeds up check-in
- One NCEES-approved calculator, without its cover: Casio fx-115 or fx-991 models, HP 33s or 35s, or TI-30X or TI-36X models (2026 exams). A TI-30XS is also available on screen
- Eyeglasses without the case and a light sweater or light non-outerwear jacket
Testing rules
- The first and last name on your confirmation letter and ID must match, or you won’t be allowed to test and must re-register
- Phones, computers, watches, wearables, wallets, bags, hats, notes, pens, food and drinks are not allowed in the testing room
- Pearson supplies 2 reusable booklets and 3 markers for scratch work
- Unscheduled breaks use up your testing time and you can’t leave the building
- Reasonable accommodations are available if you request them during registration and document your need
Costs
How much does the exam cost?
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| PS exam fee (paid to NCEES) | Fixed | $375 |
| Licensing board application fee | Variable | Not stated; some boards charge one |
| Pearson fee to reschedule an appointment (at least 48 hours ahead) | Fixed | $50 |
| Pearson fee to cancel an appointment (at least 48 hours ahead) | Fixed | $50 |
| NCEES administrative fee when you cancel a registration | Fixed | $50, deducted from your refund |
| International scheduling fee (foreign entity approvals only) | Fixed | $25, nonrefundable |
| Approved calculator | Variable | Not stated |
| Minimum NCEES cost | Exam fee only. Board fees and optional costs are extra | $375 |
Fees come from the NCEES Examinee Guide (May 2026) and the NCEES PS exam page, checked October 2026.
Prep
Best exam prep, compared
We haven’t compared prep courses for this exam yet. When we do, we’ll test each course with real exam candidates and report what they found.
After you pass
What happens after you pass?
NCEES reports your result to your licensing board, and your results email includes information specific to that board on how to proceed.
Follow your board’s instructions
Your result includes board-specific information about what to do next.
Check for other required exams
Some boards also require the NCEES PLSS exam or a state-specific exam. For example, the Wyoming board notes on the NCEES page require a pass on both PS and PLSS, then a state-specific exam.
Finish the other licensure requirements
Your board sets the experience, education and application rules for a professional surveyor license. NCEES doesn’t issue the license.
Maintain
Keeping your result or credential current
The NCEES pages we read don’t say how long a PS result stays valid. Your licensing board sets any rules that follow a pass, including license renewal.
Renewal cycle
Not stated
CE or credits
Not stated
Renewal fee
Not stated
Lapse rule
Not stated
Governance
Who runs the PS exam?
Exam owner
NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying)
200 Verdae Boulevard, Greenville, SC 29607
Phone: 800-250-3196
Website: ncees.org/exams/ps-exam
What they handle
- Writes and maintains the PS exam specifications and questions
- Handles registration, fees and results through MyNCEES
- Delivers the exam at approved Pearson test centers
- Reports pass or fail results to licensing boards
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are on the PS exam?
The PS exam has 100 questions.
How long is the PS exam?
The appointment is 7 hours. NCEES lists that as a 2-minute nondisclosure agreement, an 8-minute tutorial and 6 hours 50 minutes of exam time.
How much does the PS exam cost?
The fee is $375, paid to NCEES each time you register. Some licensing boards charge a separate application fee.
What is the passing score on the PS exam?
NCEES doesn’t publish it. Results are pass or fail, and the passing standard varies slightly with exam difficulty.
Is there a penalty for guessing on the PS exam?
No. Your score is based on correct answers, with no deductions for wrong ones.
What is the PS exam pass rate?
In NCEES’s July 2026 update, 63% of the 614 first-time examinees passed, and 40% of the 411 repeat examinees passed.
How many times can I take the PS exam?
Once per testing window and no more than three times in any 12-month period. Your board may be stricter.
When do I get PS exam results?
NCEES says results are typically available 7–10 days after you test. You’ll get an email to view them in MyNCEES.
Is the PS exam changing?
Yes. NCEES has published updated PS specifications effective beginning July 2027. They reorganize the content areas and question ranges and still state 100 questions in 7 hours.
Which calculators are allowed on the PS exam?
For 2026: Casio fx-115 and fx-991 models, HP 33s and 35s, and TI-30X and TI-36X models. You may bring one.
Sources
Official sources
- NCEES: PS Exam
- NCEES Examinee Guide (May 2026)
- NCEES: PS CBT specifications (effective before July 2027)
- NCEES: PS specifications (effective beginning July 2027)
- NCEES: Exam scoring
- NCEES: Calculator policy
Last updated October 28, 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Exam Insiders is an independent guide and is not affiliated with NCEES.