Tennessee does not register by reciprocity; applicants must meet the minimum requirements listed below to be considered for registration by comity:
COMITY LAND SURVEYOR APPLICATION - PATHWAY REQUIREMENTS:
The applicant must attest that they meet one of the approved licensure methods. The following five paths are excerpted from Tennessee Code Annotated § 62-18-109. Always refer directly to the TCA for a full and current listing of requirements.
- Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying or surveying technology curriculum of four or more years, approved by the board. Accrue 2 years of progressive practical experience while under the direct supervision of an RLS.
- Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a surveying-related field (science, engineering, or technology) of four or more years approved by the board, with a minimum of 24 semester hours of survey-specific coursework approved by the board. Accrue 2 years of progressive practical experience while under the direct supervision of an RLS.
- Obtain a baccalaureate degree from a curriculum unrelated to the surveying of four or more years, approved by the board, plus 36 semester hours of survey-specific coursework approved by the board. Accrue 2 years of progressive practical experience while under the direct supervision of an RLS.
- Obtain an associate degree in surveying technology or a related science, engineering, or a similar technical field, approved by the board, with a minimum of 30 semester hours of survey-specific coursework approved by the board. Accrue 6 years of total progressive practical experience while under the direct supervision of an RLS.
- Obtain a high school education diploma or a general equivalency diploma (GED) with a record satisfactory to the board of 10 years of total progressive practical experience while under direct supervision of an RLS. Plus 18 semester hours of survey-specific coursework approved by the Board.
I. "Land Surveyor Comity Application" (CORE)
II. Requirements
- Verification of experience for the pathway in which you are seeking licensure. The experience verification form can be in the attachment below. This form may also serve as one of your required references. This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the verifier via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov. The available pathways can be reviewed at the top of this page.
- Applicants applying via education methods 2-5 must provide the course reporting form, which can be uploaded and submitted with your application.
- 5 references, three (3) being from Professional Land Surveyors (PLS). This form must be completed and sent to the Board directly by the reference via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
- Two (2) plats with legal descriptions. You can review plat requirements, a plat example, and other frequently asked questions regarding plats supplied with an application from our website under our rules and laws:
https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/rules/0820/0820.htm
- Two (2) plats with legal descriptions. You can review plat requirements, a plat example, and other frequently asked questions regarding plats supplied with an application from our website under our rules and laws:
- Passage of both the Fundamentals of Surveying (FS) exam and Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) examinations. Verification of these examinations can be provided by the applicant, can be downloaded by board staff from the applicant's NCEES profile, or by verification by another state board. Applicants are also required to provide proof of passage of the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS) exam. Applicants who wish to sit for the Tennessee Specific Surveying exam (TS) may register and pay directly with PSI.
- Official transcripts are to be sent to the board directly by the university (or the transcript service utilized by the university) via email at Land.Surveyors@TN.Gov.
- Firm disclosure form, when applicable
- Proof of an active license in at least one other state or jurisdiction. This can be uploaded and submitted with your application.
III. Fee, $300
Once all documents are received, applications are transmitted to the board for their review. Once transmitted, the review process takes approximately 4 weeks to complete. Once a certificate is issued, a decorative wall certificate will be mailed to the address we have on file for you. Please allow adequate time for this certificate to arrive (approximately 16 weeks).