DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS  
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE  
PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS – GENERAL RULES  
Filed with the secretary of state on May 2, 2023  
These rules become effective immediately after filing with the secretary of state unless  
adopted under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969,  
1969 PA 306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections  
become effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.  
(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)  
R 339.17101, R 339.17201, R 339.17202, R 339.17301, R 339.17303, R 339.17401, R  
339.17402, R 339.17403, R 339.17505, and R 339.17506 of the Michigan Administrative  
Code are amended, as follows:  
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.  
October 25, 2022  
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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).  
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.  
(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.  
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(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.  
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  
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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.  
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.  
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(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  
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.  
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.  
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.  
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:  
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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 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.  
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  
credit by another state board of professional  
surveyors.  
by the approving entity are  
granted for this activity.  
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  
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  
ANSAC/ABET.  
credit, or 10 continuing  
education credits must be  
granted for each quarter  
credit.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide a copy of  
the transcript showing credit hours of the  
academic courses related to surveying.  
Attending a seminar, in-house course,  
workshop, or professional or technical  
presentation related to surveying.  
(c)  
One continuing education  
credit is granted for every  
7
50 minutes of continuous  
If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy of instruction.  
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  
presentation related to surveying. A licensee  
shall not receive credit for a presentation  
offered as part of their regular job description  
or duties.  
Two continuing education  
credits are granted 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.  
(e)  
Teaching, instructing, or presenting on a  
Two continuing education  
subject related to professional surveying that is credits are granted for  
part of an academic course related to surveying every 50 minutes of  
that is offered at a college or university.  
continuous instruction.  
If audited, a licensee shall provide  
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 continuing education  
credits are granted for this  
activity.  
If audited, the licensee shall provide a copy of  
the publication that identifies the licensee as  
the author or a publication acceptance letter.  
Serving as a voting member on a state or  
national surveying committee, board, council,  
or association. To receive credit, a licensee  
shall take part in not less than 50% of the  
(g)  
Three continuing  
education credits are  
granted for the year in  
which the licensee serves  
regularly scheduled meetings of the committee, as a member.  
board, council, or association.  
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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.  
(h)  
Attending a Michigan board of professional  
surveyors meeting. To receive credit, the  
licensee shall obtain a form provided by the  
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.  
One continuing education  
credit is granted for each  
meeting attended.  
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  
surveying student in a school-sponsored  
program. To receive credit, this activity must  
not be part of the licensee’s regular job  
description.  
Four continuing education  
credits are granted for this  
activity.  
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.  
Obtaining patents related to surveying.  
(j)  
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.  
(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.  
;