DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

DIRECTOR’S OFFICE

PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS – GENERAL RULES

(By authority conferred on the board by section 308 of the occupational code, 1980

PA 299, MCL 339.308; and on the director of the department of licensing and regulatory

affairs by sections 205 and 2009 of the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.205

and 339.2009; and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-1, and

2011-4, MCL 338.3501, 445.2001, 445.2011, and 445.2030)

PART 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

R 339.17101 Definitions.

Rule 101. (1) As used in these rules:

(a) “ANSAC/ABET” means the Applied and Natural Science Accreditation

Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

(b) “Code” means the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2677.

(c) “Continuing education” means an instructional course or activity designed to

bring licensees up to date on a particular area of knowledge or skills relevant to the

licensee’s area of professional practice.

(d) “Department” means the department of licensing and regulatory affairs.

(e) “EAC/ABET” means the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

(f) “ETAC/ABET” means the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission

of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.

(g) “NCEES” means the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and

Surveying.

(2) A term defined in the code has the same meaning when used in these rules.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2013 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR

9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17102 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS.

R 339.17103 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 2014 AACS.

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R 339.17104 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 2001 AACS.

R 339.17105 Rescission.

Rule 105. (1) R 338.551 to R 338.563 and R 338.581 to R 338.588 of the Michigan

Administrative Code, appearing on pages 2446 to 2453 of the 1979 Michigan

Administrative Code, are rescinded insofar as these rules pertain to land surveyors.

(2) R 338.2401 to R 338.2461 of the Michigan Administrative Code, appearing

on pages 2554 to 2565 of the 1979 Michigan Administrative Code, are rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS.

PART 2. EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND EXAMINATIONS

R 339.17201 Educational requirements.

Rule 201. An applicant for licensure shall provide proof, as directed by the

department, verifying 1 of the following to satisfy the educational requirements under the

code:

(a) Transcripts verifying that the applicant received a baccalaureate degree or higher

in a surveying program accredited by any of the following:

(i) The EAC/ABET.

(ii) The ETAC/ABET.

(iii) The ANSAC/ABET.

(b) A NCEES credentials evaluation that verifies the applicant received a

baccalaureate degree or higher and satisfies the NCEES surveying core program

requirements found in the NCEES Surveying Education Standard.

(c) A credentials evaluation that verifies the applicant received a baccalaureate

degree or higher in surveying from an educational program that is substantially

equivalent to a baccalaureate degree or higher program that is accredited by EAC/ABET,

ETAC/ABET, or ANSAC/ABET. The credentials evaluation must be generated by a

company that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation

Services (NACES).

History: 1985 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17202 Professional surveying experience; verification; educational credit

for experience.

Rule 202. (1) Under section 2004(3)(a) of the code, MCL 339.2004, an applicant

shall document not less than 8 years of professional experience in professional surveying,

including not more than 5 years of education. An applicant shall satisfy the requirements

of this rule to receive credit for professional experience.

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(2) Professional surveying work that is performed while under the supervision of a

professional surveyor licensed in this state or licensed or registered in another state or a

province of Canada and involves work in 1 or more of the following areas qualifies as

professional experience:

(a) Providing professional services such as consultation, investigation, testimony,

evaluation, planning, mapping, assembling, and interpreting reliable scientific

measurements and information relative to the location, size, shape, or physical features of

the earth, improvements on the earth, the space above the earth, or any part of the earth,

and the utilization and development of these facts and interpretations into an orderly

survey map, plan, report, description, or project.

(b) Land surveying, which is the surveying of an area for its correct determination

or description for its conveyance or for the establishment or reestablishment of a land

boundary and the designing or design coordination of the plotting of land and the

subdivision of land.

(c) Geodetic surveying, including surveying for a determination of the size and

shape of the earth, both horizontally and vertically, and the precise positioning of points

on the earth utilizing angular and linear measurements through spatially oriented

spherical geometry.

(d) Utilizing and managing land information systems through the establishment of

datums and local coordinate systems and points of reference.

(e) Engineering and architectural surveying for design and construction layout of

infrastructure.

(f) Cartographic surveying for the making of maps, including topographic and

hydrographic mapping.

(3) An applicant for licensure shall provide proof, as directed by the department,

verifying 1 of the following to receive credit for professional experience in surveying

work:

(a) Except as otherwise provided under subrules (1) and (4) of this rule, the

applicant has obtained not less than 4 years of experience practicing as a licensed or

registered professional surveyor in another state or a province of Canada.

(b) All of the following:

(i) The dates of performing surveying work that satisfies the requirements under

subrule (2) of this rule.

(ii) The supervising individual’s name and license or registration number and the

state or province of Canada in which the supervising individual is licensed or registered

as a professional surveyor.

(iii) Documentation from the supervising individual attesting to the work

experience, dates of work, and supervision.

(4) The department shall grant not more than 5 years of professional experience

credit to an applicant holding a degree that satisfies the requirements under R 339.17201.

Credit is limited to the following amounts:

(a) Not more than 4 years of professional experience for a baccalaureate degree.

Experience is granted for only 1 baccalaureate degree.

(b) Not more than 1 year of professional experience for a post-baccalaureate degree.

Experience is granted for only 1 post-baccalaureate degree.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

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R 339.17203 Examination requirements.

Rule 203. An applicant for a professional surveyor license shall satisfy all the

following examination requirements under the code:

(a) Achieve a passing score on the Fundamentals of Surveying Examination

administered by NCEES. A passing score on the exam must be determined by NCEES.

(b) Achieve a passing score on the Principles and Practice of Surveying

Examination administered by NCEES. A passing score on the exam must be determined

by NCEES.

(c) Achieve a passing score on the Michigan Professional Surveying Examination.

A passing score on the exam must be determined by the department’s chosen

administrator of the exam.

History: 1985 AACS; 1993 AACS; 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS.

PART 3. PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR SEAL AND RELICENSURE

R 339.17301 Professional surveyor seal.

Rule 301. (1) The seal of a professional surveyor must include the licensee’s name

and full license number, as shown on the licensee’s state-issued professional surveyor

license and indicate “State of Michigan” and “Licensed Professional Surveyor” in the

legend surrounding the seal. The seal must have a design substantially equivalent to

Figure 301 below.

(2) A licensee's seal must be used by the licensee whose name appears on the seal

for as long as the license is in effect. A licensee is responsible for the security of the

licensee’s seal.

FIGURE 301

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2,

2023.

R 339.17302 Rescinded.

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History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2013 AACS; 2014 AACS.

R 339.17303 Relicensure.

Rule 303. (1) An applicant whose license has lapsed for less than 3 years after the

expiration date of the license may be relicensed under section 411(3) of the code, MCL

339.411, by satisfying all the following requirements.

(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Providing proof, as directed by the department, verifying that the applicant

completed 15 hours of continuing education, 1 hour of which must be in professional

ethics related to surveying, in activities approved under R 339.17506, during the 1-year

period immediately before the date of filing the relicensure application. If the department

determines that the amount of the continuing education hours provided with the

application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year after the date of filing the application to

provide proof of completing the deficient hours.

(2) An applicant whose license has lapsed for 3 years or more after the expiration

date of the license may be relicensed under section 411(4) of the code, MCL 339.411, by

satisfying all the following requirements:

(a) Providing a completed application on a form provided by the department.

(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Establishing that the applicant has met all the requirements for initial licensure

under the code and these rules.

(d) Providing proof, as directed by the department, verifying that the applicant

completed 30 hours of continuing education, 2 of which must be in professional ethics

related to surveying, in activities approved under R 339.17506, during the 2-year period

immediately before the date of filing the relicensure application. If the department

determines that the amount of the continuing education hours provided with the

application are deficient, the applicant has 1 year after the date of filing the application to

provide proof of completing the deficient hours.

History: 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

PART 4. STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

R 339.17401 Solicitation of employment; restrictions; exception.

Rule 401. (1) In the solicitation of employment, a licensee shall not falsify, or allow

the misrepresentation of, the academic or professional qualifications of the licensee or the

licensee's associates.

(2) A licensee shall not pay, give, or offer to pay or give, directly or indirectly, to a

client or potential client or to the agent of a client or potential client, a commission,

contribution, gift, or other substantial valuable consideration to secure or retain

professional surveying work. This restriction does not include payments to an

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employment agency for the purpose of securing employment or employees for salaried

positions.

(3) A licensee shall seek professional employment based on the licensee's

qualifications, competence, and ability to properly accomplish the employment sought.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17402 Conflict of interest.

Rule 402. (1) To avoid a conflict of interest, a licensee shall promptly inform, in

writing, an employer or client of the licensee or a public body that the licensee serves of

any employment, business association, interest, duty, or circumstance if that relationship

is with another and involves the current or prospective work assignment of the licensee

with that employer, client, or public body.

(2) A licensee shall not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than

1 individual for services performed on the same project or assignment, unless the

circumstances are fully disclosed to all individuals that pay, or are required to approve

payment, for the work performed by the licensee.

(3) A licensee shall not ask for or accept gratuities, directly or indirectly, from

contractors, their agents, or other individuals dealing with the client or employer of the

licensee in connection with work for which the licensee is responsible, or ask for or

accept financial or other valuable consideration from another for specifying products or

services.

History: 1985 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17403 Participation in project; responsibilities; survey identification.

Rule 403. (1) A licensee shall undertake to take part only in those phases of a

project in which the licensee is competent. In the areas of a project involving architecture

or professional engineering in which the licensee lacks competence, the licensee shall

retain licensed professional associates for those phases of that project.

(2) A licensee is responsible for clear, accurate, and complete development of plats,

plans, drawings, specifications, survey reports, and other instruments of service as is

customary in the practice of the licensee's profession, and the material must properly

satisfy the need for which it is intended.

(3) Surveys and drawings not intended to delineate, monument, or define property

boundaries and limits must be clearly identified as not being boundary surveys.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17404 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS.

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PART 5. CONTINUING EDUCATION

R 339.17505 Continuing education; license renewal; requirements.

Rule 505. (1) An applicant for license renewal who has been licensed during the 2-

year period immediately before the expiration date of the license shall obtain not less than

30 hours of continuing education during the 2-year period immediately before the

expiration date of the license and satisfy both of the following requirements:

(a) Obtain 2 of the 30 hours of continuing education in an activity that focuses on

the area of professional ethics related to surveying. The professional ethics related to

surveying is not required to focus on areas specific to the rules or statutes.

(b) Obtain all 30 hours of continuing education in activities that satisfy the

requirements under R 339.17506.

(2) Submission of an application for renewal constitutes the applicant’s certification

of compliance with this rule and R 339.17506.

(3) A licensee shall maintain documentation of satisfying the requirements of this

rule and R 339.17506 for a period of 4 years after the date of filing the application for

license renewal.

(4) A licensee is subject to an audit under this part and may have to provide

documentation as described by R 339.17506 on request of the department.

(5) The department shall receive a request for a waiver of continuing education

requirements for the board’s consideration not less than 30 days before the last regularly

scheduled board meeting before the expiration date of the license.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17506 Acceptable continuing education; limitations.

Rule 506. (1) The department shall grant credit for continuing education hours that

satisfy the requirements in the following chart:

Activity

Code

Activity and Proof Required

Number of Continuing

Education Credits for the

Activity

(a)

Completing a continuing education program

or activity related to professional surveying that continuing

The

number

education

is approved or offered for continuing education credits approved by the

credit by another state board of professional approving entity are

surveyors. granted for this activity.

of

If audited,

a

licensee shall provide

documentation or a certificate of completion

showing the licensee’s name, total continuing

education credits earned, sponsor name and

contact information, program title, and the date

the program was held or completed.

(b)

Passing an academic course related to

Fifteen

continuing

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professional surveying from a baccalaureate education

credits

are

degree or higher in a surveying program that is granted for each semester

accredited by EAC/ABET, ETAC/ABET, or credit, or 10 continuing

ANSAC/ABET.

education credits must be

granted for each quarter

If audited, a licensee shall provide a copy of credit.

the transcript showing credit hours of the

academic courses related to surveying.

(c)

Attending a seminar, in-house course,

One

continuing

workshop, or professional or technical education credit is granted

presentation related to surveying.

for every 50 minutes of

continuous instruction.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy

of the presentation notice or advertisement

showing the date of the presentation, the

licensee’s name listed as a presenter or attendee,

and the name of the organization that approved

or offered the presentation.

(d)

Presenting a seminar, in-house course,

workshop, or professional or technical education

Two

continuing

credits are

presentation related to surveying. A licensee granted for every 50

shall not receive credit for a presentation offered minutes of continuous

as part of their regular job description or duties. instruction.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy

of the presentation notice or advertisement

showing the date of the presentation, the

licensee’s name listed as a presenter or attendee,

and the name of the organization that approved

or offered the presentation.

(e)

Teaching, instructing, or presenting on a

subject related to professional surveying that is education

part of an academic course related to surveying granted for every 50

Two

continuing

credits are

that is offered at a college or university.

minutes of continuous

instruction.

If audited, licensee shall provide

a

documentation by the college or university

confirming the licensee as the teacher,

instructor, or presenter of the academic course,

the dates of the course or presentation, number

of classroom hours spent teaching, instructing,

or presenting, and the course title.

(f)

Initial publication of a peer-reviewed paper,

article, or book related to surveying.

Six

education

continuing

credits are

granted for this activity.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy

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of the publication that identifies the licensee as

the author or a publication acceptance letter.

Serving as a voting member on a state or

(g)

Three

continuing

credits are

national surveying committee, board, council, or education

association. To receive credit, a licensee shall granted for the year in

take part in not less than 50% of the regularly which the licensee serves

scheduled meetings of the committee, board, as a member.

council, or association.

If audited,

a

licensee shall provide

documentation satisfactory to the department

verifying the licensee’s participation in not less

than 50% of the regularly scheduled meetings of

the committee, board, council, or association.

Attending a Michigan board of professional

(h)

One

continuing

surveyors meeting.

To receive credit, the education credit is granted

licensee shall obtain a form provided by the for each meeting attended.

department from a department employee present

at the meeting and have that employee complete,

sign, and date the form. The licensee shall

present

a

valid government-issued photo

identification to the department employee for

verification.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy

of the form completed, signed, and dated by the

department employee who was present at the

meeting.

(i)

Serving as a school-sponsored mentor to a

Four

continuing

credits are

surveying student in

a

school-sponsored education

program. To receive credit, this activity must granted for this activity.

not be part of the licensee’s regular job

description.

If audited, the licensee shall provide a letter

from an authorized official from the school

verifying the licensee’s role and the number of

mentoring hours the licensee provided.

(j)

Obtaining patents related to surveying.

Ten

continuing

education hours are granted

for each approved patent.

(2) Continuing education credits must not be granted for a program or activity that

has substantially the same content of a program or activity for which the applicant has

already earned continuing education credits during the renewal period.

(3) Not more than 12 continuing education credits may be earned during a 24-hour

period.

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(4) As used in this rule, “continuous instruction" means the time spent completing

an activity not including breakfast, lunch, or dinner periods, coffee breaks, or any other

breaks in the program.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS; 2022 AACS; 2023 MR 9, Eff. May 2, 2023.

R 339.17507 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS.

R 339.17508 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS.

R 339.17509 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 AACS.

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