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) "Act" means the occupational code, 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.101 to 339.2677.

(b) “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 a

licensee’s area of professional practice.

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

(2) Terms defined in the act have the same meanings when used in these rules.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2013 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17102 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS.

R 339.17103 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 2014 AACS.

R 339.17104 Rescinded.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Administrative Code, are rescinded insofar as these rules pertain to land surveyors.

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(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on pages 2554 to 2565 of the 1979 Michigan Administrative Code, are rescinded.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 a professional surveyor license shall submit 1 of the

following to satisfy the educational requirements under the act:

(a) Transcripts verifying that he or she received a baccalaureate degree or higher

degree in a surveying program accredited by any of the following:

(i) The Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for

Engineering and Technology, Inc. (EAC/ABET).

(ii)

(ETAC/ABET).

(iii) The Applied and Natural Science Accreditation Commission of ABET

(ANSAC/ABET).

(b) A National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

The Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET

credentials evaluation that verifies he or she received a baccalaureate degree or higher

degree and meets the NCEES surveying core program requirements found in the NCEES

Surveying Education Standard.

(c) A credentials evaluation that verifies he or she received a baccalaureate degree

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

equivalent to a baccalaureate degree or higher degree 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 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17202 Professional surveying experience; verification; educational credit

for experience.

Rule 202. (1) Pursuant to section 2004(3)(a) of the act, MCL 339.2004(3)(a), an

applicant for a professional surveyor license shall document at least 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.

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

professional surveyor who is licensed or registered in Michigan or another state 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

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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, which includes 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 a professional surveyor license shall submit to the department 1

of the following to receive credit for professional experience:

(a) Proof acceptable to the department verifying that he or she has obtained not

less than 4 years of experience practicing as a licensed or registered professional surveyor

in another state.

(b) All of the following:

(i) The dates of performing work that satisfies the requirements under subrule (2)

of this rule.

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

in which the supervising individual is licensed or registered as a professional surveyor.

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

experience, supervision, and the dates of work and supervision.

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

professional surveying to an applicant holding a degree that satisfies the requirements

under R 339.17201. Credit must be granted in the following amounts:

(a) Not more than 4 years of professional experience must be granted for a

baccalaureate degree. Experience must be granted for only 1 baccalaureate degree.

(b) Not more than 1 year of professional experience must be granted for a post-

baccalaureate degree. Experience must be granted for only 1 post-baccalaureate degree.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17203 Examination requirements.

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

following to meet the examination requirements under the act:

(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.

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(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 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

PART 3. PROFESSIONAL SURVEYOR SEAL AND RELICENSURE

R 339.17301 Professional Surveyor Seal.

Rule 301. (1) Effective 60 days after the promulgation of this rule, the seal of a

professional surveyor must include the licensee’s full name and license number, as shown

on his or her 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 similar to Figure 301 below.

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

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

his or her seal.

FIGURE 301

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17302 Rescinded.

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 last license may be relicensed under section 411(3) of the act, MCL

339.411(3), by satisfying all of the following requirements.

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

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(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Submitting proof to the department that he or she completed 15 hours of

continuing education, 1 of which must be in the area of professional ethics related to

surveying, in activities approved under R 339.17506 during the 1-year period

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

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

application is deficient, the applicant has 1 year from 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 last license may be relicensed under section 411(4) of the act, MCL

339.411(4), by satisfying all of the following requirements:

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

(b) Paying the required fee to the department.

(c) Establishing that he or she has met all of the requirements for initial licensure

under the act and these rules.

(d) Submitting proof to the department verifying that he or she completed 30 hours

of continuing education, 2 of which must be in the area of professional ethics related to

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

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

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

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

provide proof of completing the deficient hours.

History: 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

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

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

licensee or the licensee's associates.

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

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

positions.

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

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

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS.

R 339.17402 Conflict of interest.

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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 on which 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 party for services performed on the same project or assignment, unless the

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

payment, for the work performed by the licensee.

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

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

licensee in connection with work for which

the licensee is responsible, nor shall the licensee solicit or accept financial or other

valuable consideration from another for specifying products or services.

History: 1985 AACS.

R

339.17403

Participation

in

project;

responsibilities;

survey

identification.

Rule 403. (1) A licensee shall undertake to participate 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 shall properly

satisfy the need for which it is intended.

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

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

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS.

R 339.17404 Rescinded.

History: 1985 AACS; 1995 AACS; 2014 AACS.

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 preceding the expiration date of the license shall obtain not less

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

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

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(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 Michigan administrative rules or

statutes.

(b) Obtain all of the 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 retain documentation of satisfying the requirements of this rule

and R 339.17506 for a period of 4 years from the date of filing the application for license

renewal.

(4) A licensee is subject to audit under this part and may be required to submit

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

(5) A request for a continuing education waiver pursuant to section 204(2) of the

act, MCL 339.204(2), must be received by the department before the expiration date of

the license.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

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 The number of continuing

activity related to professional surveying that is education credits approved

approved or offered for continuing education by the approving entity

credit by another state board of professional must be granted for this

surveyors.

activity.

If audited, a licensee shall submit documentation

or 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

professional surveying from a baccalaureate education credits must be

degree or higher degree surveying program that granted for each semester

is 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 submit a copy of the credit.

transcript showing credit hours of the academic

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courses related to surveying.

(c)

Attending a seminar, in-house course, workshop, One continuing education

or professional or technical presentation related credit must be granted for

to surveying.

every 50 minutes of

continuous instruction.

If audited, the licensee shall submit 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, Two continuing education

workshop, or professional or technical credits must be granted for

presentation related to surveying. A licensee every 50 minutes of

shall not receive credit for a presentation offered continuous instruction.

as part of their regular job description or duties.

If audited, the licensee shall submit 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 a subject Two continuing education

related to professional surveying that is part of credits must be granted for

an academic course related to surveying that is every 50 minutes of

offered at a college or university.

continuous instruction.

If audited, a licensee shall submit 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, Six continuing education

article, or book related to surveying.

credits must be granted for

this activity.

If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of the

publication that identifies the licensee as the

author or a publication acceptance letter.

(g)

Serving as a voting member on a state or Three continuing education

national surveying committee, board, council, or credits must be granted for

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

participate in at least 50% of the regularly licensee serves as

scheduled meetings of the committee, board, member.

a

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council, or association.

If audited, a licensee shall submit documentation

satisfactory to the department verifying the

licensee’s participation in at least 50% of the

regularly scheduled meetings of the committee,

board, council, or association.

(h)

Attending a Michigan board of professional One continuing education

surveyors meeting. To receive credit, the credit must be granted for

licensee shall obtain a form provided by the 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 submit 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 education

surveying student in

a

school-sponsored credits must be granted for

program. To receive credit, this activity shall not this activity.

be part of the licensee’s regular job description.

If audited, the licensee shall submit 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 must be 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 must be earned during a 24-hour

period.

(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 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

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R 339.17507 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17508 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

R 339.17509 Rescinded.

History: 2013 AACS; 2020 MR 14, Eff. July 23, 2020.

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