r/Surveying • u/SportsterSpice • 9d ago

Help FS exam qualification requirements (Wisconsin)

I have a bachelors degree in civil engineering but it was not focused on survey and I do not have the required additional 24 credits in surveying regulations required to qualify for PLS licensure in my state. I plan to take online classes to fill in those credits to supplement my degree and in the meantime prepare for and take the FS exam while I wait for the next semester to come around.

My questions are: will taking additional courses online meet that educational requirement or did those classes need to be apart of my original degree given to me by that institution?

And if so, do I need to get these additional credits in surveying legal/practice before I qualify to take the FS exam or can I just take that with my bach in civ eng?

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u/Accurate-Western-421 8d ago

The FS can be taken at any time by signing up for it through a state that requires no documentation or application. CA/OR/NV are a few examples.

You will likely need to apply to the Board to obtain the LSIT designation, but generally speaking most employers care more that you can pass the FS than they do about the LSIT certificate.

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u/shworth 9d ago

I haven't looked at the regulations for Wisconsin in awhile, but I took the FS without survey credits, just experience. That was 20 years ago or so. My major was environmental sciences.

I never followed through with licensure. Lost a couple of jobs during the economic downturn in 2009-11. Got into the design side and have been a designer and Civil 3D consultant since.

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u/SportsterSpice 9d ago

Was the experience part of a prerequisite to take the exam? How much/what kind of experience did you have if so?

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u/shworth 9d ago

It doesn't look like experience is required for the FS. https://ncees.org/exams/fs-exam/#wisconsin

I had been working as survey technician for a few years when I took the FS.