FS Surveying Exam Pass Rate, Format & Study Guide

NCEES describes the FS as a computer-based test with 110 questions; the appointment lasts about six hours, made up of a nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), a tutorial (8 minutes), the exam (5 hours 20 minutes) and a scheduled break (25 minutes). The exam is closed book with an electronic reference, and it uses both the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System (USCS). The NCEES specifications list seven knowledge areas with approximate question ranges: Surveying Processes and Methods 16 to 24, Mapping Processes and Methods 14 to 21, Boundary Law and Real Property Principles 19 to 29, Surveying Principles 13 to 20, Survey Computations and Computer Applications 17 to 26, Business Concepts 11 to 17 and Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10 to 15.

The FS is the first of the two NCEES exams used by many state boards in the path to professional land surveyor licensure; the second is the Principles and Practice of Surveying (PS) exam, which this portal does not cover.

Surveying students and recent graduates preparing for the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying exam as a step toward surveyor licensure.

The certifying body does not publicly publish an official pass rate for this exam. Be wary of third-party sites citing a specific number here — treat any pass-rate claim you see elsewhere for this exam as unverified.

NCEES allows one attempt per testing window and no more than three attempts in a 12-month period.

NCEES reports the FS as pass or fail only and does not publish a passing percentage. Examinees who fail receive a diagnostic report by major topic; examinees who pass do not. The portal mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check. Format: 110 questions in a computer-based test with about six hours of appointment time; the portal mock has 110 questions in 320 minutes, the same exam time. No official pass rate is available for this exam, so none is quoted here.

NCEES describes the FS as a computer-based test with 110 questions; the appointment lasts about six hours, made up of a nondisclosure agreement (2 minutes), a tutorial (8 minutes), the exam (5 hours 20 minutes) and a scheduled break (25 minutes). The exam is closed book with an electronic reference, and it uses both the International System of Units (SI) and the U.S. Customary System (USCS). The NCEES specifications list seven knowledge areas with approximate question ranges: Surveying Processes and Methods 16 to 24, Mapping Processes and Methods 14 to 21, Boundary Law and Real Property Principles 19 to 29, Surveying Principles 13 to 20, Survey Computations and Computer Applications 17 to 26, Business Concepts 11 to 17 and Applied Mathematics and Statistics 10 to 15. 110 questions · computer-based at Pearson test centers · about six hours of appointment time · closed book with an electronic reference · reported pass or fail only. NCEES reports the FS as pass or fail only and does not publish a passing percentage. Examinees who fail receive a diagnostic report by major topic; examinees who pass do not. The portal mock shows a percent score only as a rough self-check.

NCEES lists a range of questions for each of the seven knowledge areas, so the portal does not show fixed percentages. Boundary Law and Real Property Principles and Survey Computations and Computer Applications have the widest ranges.

NCEES says the FS is designed for recent graduates and students close to finishing an undergraduate surveying degree from an ABET-accredited program. Registration steps, approval requirements and deadlines vary by state and territory, so check with your licensing board.

The NCEES fee is $225 per attempt, payable to NCEES; results usually arrive in 7 to 10 business days, and results sent to licensing boards can take longer.

The FS is an entry examination; NCEES results go to your state board, and licensing, experience requirements and renewal are set by that board, so check your board for next steps.

Work through the exam topics one area at a time, finish with timed full-length practice runs of 110 questions in one sitting.

This guide follows the NCEES FS CBT exam specifications effective beginning with the July 2020 examinations (file dated 2024). NCEES can publish a newer specification, so check ncees.org before you book.