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For the FS and PS exams, there is a published syllabus at to do next.” As a licensed land surveyor, you’ll be doing this
NCEES.org. It is referred to as the “specifications” and there are same kind of research and making a plan, except that it will be
separate ones for the two exams. They list topics and sub-topics, for a survey. You’ll have to write out the plan for yourself or for
and sometimes, sub-sub-topics. Print them out and put them in a client. If you don’t want to do this for your licensing process,
your binder. Read these carefully. Think about your experience you are probably not ready to be licensed.
and make a check mark (yes, I’ve had a lot of experience and When it comes to preparing for the exams, preparation for
education in this area) next to the ones you are confident about. studying is the first step. Do you have the books? What books?
Put a question mark next to the ones that you’ve been exposed to, Well, in New York, the board actually publishes a list on their
but you are not sure if you have enough experience or education website. If you haven’t seen it, then go find it, review it and add it
on these. Then take stock. to your binder. Some of the items in the list are more important
than others. This is one of the reasons we conduct the exam prep
Find all the topics that have no mark. This is where you need to course for the New York State-Specific Exam. But realistically,
concentrate. Figure out a plan to learn something about these. you should have figured this out long before you get to the last
There are many ways to do this; but whatever you figure out, one of these exams.
make it a list of sources. One is to find courses (they could be
continuing education at a conference, or a college course, or a Truth be told, many “fail” the application test. What do I mean?
book, or an article or set of articles, or maybe you have some The way you express things about your experience is at least as
trusted mentors or peers who can coach you). These notations important as what those things are. How do you write those things?
on sources for filling-in the gaps are now the outlines of your Are you specific enough, or do you say, “we did 45 boundary
surveys over the year,” as part of your experience? What does
plan. This plan must be another document in your binder. the paper on which the application is printed and written look
Before you decide you are done with the plan, follow the same like? Board members have reported receiving applications with
process but perhaps with a lesser degree of “cleaning up” with the coffee stains, ripped or dog-eared sheets, etc. Trying to convince a
question-marked items as well as the items marked “yes.” licensing board that you are ready to become a professional with

At some point in your process you will decide it is time to an application in sorry condition will be unsuccessful. You may
submit the initial application to the Board. Which document, want to check out "NYS Exam Application Preparation" and
“How to Prepare to Pass the LS Licensing Exam” seminars that are
what to say on it and how much money to send are all things offered at every annual convention of NYSAPLS. Do this early in
that should be clear to you. I am constantly troubled by the your process. It constantly surprises me how little applicants know
people ready to apply but who have no idea of what they need about the process one or two months before they apply or before
to do. To me, it indicates that the desire to be licensed has not they take an exam. In my view, you must know this one or two
yet triggered the research phase to determine “what do I need years in advance at a minimum.
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EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 57 • NO 5/ 2021 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 9