Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Leon Biegalski
1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0754
850 487-1395
850 521-0521 FAX

At least six (6) credits must be obtained by completing an approved provider’s course or seminar on Florida’s minimum technical standards, an approved provider’s course or seminar on Florida’s laws affecting the practice of surveying and mapping, or an approved provider’s course combining the aforementioned subject matters.

Furthermore, the Board suggests taking courses involving civil engineering, forestry, mathematics, photogrammetry, land law, physical sciences, basic surveying and mapping, route surveying, mapping, control surveying, legal principles of boundaries, geodetic astronomy, subdivisions, and cartography.

(Note: Unlike some other professions, at this time, Licensed Florida Land Surveyors are NOT required to take a course on the FL Advanced Building Code.)

There is NO time requirement for licensed Florida Land Surveyors. So while our course system DOES track the time you spend in a course as it does for all users, this does not affect your completion status. Completion is based on the passing of the course test.

Renewal Dates
Renewal occurs February 28 of odd years.

Renewal notices will be mailed three months prior to the renewal deadline.

Statutes
Florida Statutes and Rule 61G17-5.0031, Florida Administrative Code

Special Designations or Stipulations
The continuing education requirements for reactivating a license may not exceed 12 CEC for each year the license was inactive.

The department may not renew a license until the licensee submits proof satisfactory to the board that during the 2 years prior to her or his application for renewal the licensee has completed at least 24 hours of continuing education. Criteria and course content shall be approved by the board by rule.

Audit Potential
random

Allowable Carryover Hours
none

Applicable Course of Study
Every land surveyor licensed pursuant to Chapter 472, Florida Statutes, must obtain at least twenty-four (24) continuing education credits per biennium.

At least six (6) credits must be obtained by completing an approved provider’s course or seminar on Florida’s minimum technical standards, an approved provider’s course or seminar on Florida’s laws affecting the practice of surveying and mapping, or an approved provider’s course combining the aforementioned subject matters.
Up to six (6) continuing education credits may be obtained for:
(1) The initial publication of a surveying and mapping book, paper, or article that is published under the name of the licensee who researched and wrote the book, paper, or article, except that only six (6) credits will be allowed for the biennium during which the book, paper, or article is initially published;
(2) A licensee's membership in either a state or national professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of surveying and mapping, except that only one (1) credit will be allowed for each year of the biennium during which the licensee has been enrolled in any association for twelve (12) consecutive months;
(3) A licensee's holding of an office or chairmanship on either a state or national board of a professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of surveying and mapping, except that only two (2) credits will be allowed for each year of the biennium during which the licensee held the office or chaired the committee for the immediately preceding twelve (12)consecutive months;
4) A licensee's membership on the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, except that only two (2) credits will be allowed for each year of the biennium during which the licensee was a member of the Board for the immediately preceding twelve (12) consecutive months. This credit may be earned by Board members in addition to credit earned under (5) of this section and (4) (attendance of a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers) of the next section;
(5) A licensee's chairmanship of the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, except that only two (2) credits will be allowed for each year of the biennium during which the licensee chaired the Board for twelve (12) consecutive months. This credit may be earned by the Board chairman in addition to credit earned under (4) of this section and (4) (attendance of a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers) of the next section;
(6) A licensee's attendance at a chapter meeting of a state or national professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of surveying and mapping. Only one-half (1/2) credit will be allowed for each such attendance during the biennium;
(7) A licensee's attendance at a state or national meeting of a professional association whose primary purpose is to promote the profession of surveying and mapping, except that only two (2) credits will be allowed for each such attendance during the biennium.

At least twelve (12) continuing education credits must be obtained for:
(1) The completion of previously untaken courses in surveying and mapping subjects at universities and colleges which are regionally accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the United States Office or Department of Education, including junior and community colleges programs approved by the Board. No more than six (6) continuing education credits may be obtained for each semester hour or quarter hour equivalent thereof. A "course in a surveying and mapping subject" is a course such as: civil engineering, forestry, mathematics, photogrammetry, land law, physical sciences, basic surveying and mapping, route surveying, mapping, control surveying, legal principles of boundaries, geodetic astronomy, subdivisions, and cartography;
(2) The completion of courses or seminars offered by continuing education providers approved by the Board for the provision of continuing education credit hours. A list of such providers is available from the Board office upon written request. Florida Continuing Education Providers may evaluate offerings by other organizations for equivalency to Florida's requirements. Upon finding equivalency, the provider may issue a Certificate of Completion for Transfer Credit that may be used by the licensee as evidence of completing continuing education as required by this rule. Equivalency can be found only if the provider can document that the other offering has met the requirements of 61G17-5.0043(1), (3), (4), and (7) through (13). The number of hours of credit shall be consistent with 61G17-5.0041;
(3) A licensee's first presentation of a continuing education course or seminar offered by a provider approved by the Board, except that no more than six (6) hours plus the credit hours allowed for that course or seminar may be obtained by the licensee;
(4) A licensee's attendance at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, except that only two (2) continuing education credits will be allowed for each day of such attendance during the biennium. This credit may also be earned by Board members in addition to credit allowed under paragraphs (2)(d) and (e) of this rule.

A licensee may earn credit toward biennial renewal as late as the last day of the renewal period. No licensee, however, may claim credit until after the credit has been earned by that licensee. Likewise, no credit earned after a biennium renewal date may be used to satisfy an earlier biennial requirement.

A first time Florida licensee shall receive twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education credit for the biennium during which the licensee receives notice that the licensee has passed the Florida laws and rules examination.

Proof of Compliance
The following documentation shall constitute proof of continuing education credit:
(1) An official transcript from the registrar of a university, college, junior college or community college documenting that the licensee has completed a previously untaken course in a surveying and mapping subject. A "course in a surveying and mapping subject" is a course such as: civil engineering, forestry, mathematics, photogrammetry, land law, physical sciences, basic surveying and mapping, route surveying, mapping, control surveying, legal principles of boundaries, geodetic astronomy, subdivisions, and cartography;
(2) A certificate of completion or the transcript of a course or seminar offered by a continuing education provider approved by the Board;
(3) A program from the licensee's first presentation of a continuing education course or seminar offered by a provider approved by the Board;
(4) A written statement from the Board office documenting the licensee's attendance at a meeting of the Board. Minutes of meetings may be used by Board members to document their attendance;
(5) A copy of the initial publication of a surveying and mapping book, paper, or article that is published under the name of the licensee;
(6) A dated certificate or letter acknowledging membership on official stationery from a national or state
professional association to the licensee specifying the dates of the licensee's membership;
(7) A dated certificate or letter of recognition on official stationery from a state or national professional association to the licensee confirming the licensee's office or chairmanship and the dates thereof; a dated letter on official stationery from a chapter of a state or national association confirming the dates of the licensee's attendance at a chapter meeting;
(8) A dated letter on official stationery from a state or national association to the licensee confirming the licensee's registration for attendance at a state or national meeting and the dates thereof, or a paid
registration receipt from the state or national association.

Non-Compliance Penalties
Licensees shall respond to any audit of their continuing education credit that is conducted by the Board or by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. A licensee who fails to respond to an audit within the timeframe specified in the audit letter shall automatically be referred by staff to the complaint section of the Department for the licensee's failure to respond to the audit, for possible failure to have obtained required continuing education credit, and/or for possibly having obtained licensure renewal by fraud. If a final order is entered against the licensee for the licensee's violation of this subsection, the penalty for late response shall be suspension of the license for the number of days that the response was late. If no response has been received by the date of the hearing at which the administrative complaint is considered by the Board, the penalty shall be suspension for at least one (1) year and indefinitely thereafter if the licensee has not responded by the end of that year. The penalty shall also include a fine of up to $100 a day for each day of non-responsiveness up to a maximum of $1,000.

A licensee who responds to the audit within the timeframe specified in the audit letter but fails to simultaneously submit proof of all claimed continuing education credit shall automatically be referred by staff to the complaint section of the Department for possible failure to have obtained required continuing education credit and/or for possibly having obtained licensure renewal by fraud. If a final order is entered against the licensee for the licensee's violation of this subsection, the penalty for failing to simultaneously submit proof of all claimed continuing education credit shall be suspension of license for the number of days that proof of all claimed continuing education credit was late. If any proof is still required by the date of the hearing at which the administrative complaint is considered by the Board, the penalty shall be suspension for at least one (1) year and indefinitely thereafter if the licensee has not submitted proof by the end of that year. The penalty shall also include a fine of up to $50 a day for each day of failure to submit proof, up to a maximum of $1,000.

Disallowed Credits
N/A

Exceptions and Exemptions
N/A

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