HowToGetLicensed

Land Surveyor License: California vs New York

Thinking about getting your land surveyor license? Here's how California and New York compare on education requirements, exam fees, total costs, and renewal obligations.

Requirement California New York
Education Hours 3000 hours 0 hours
Exam FS and PS Exams (NCEES) FS Exam, PS Exam, and NY State-Specific Land Surveying Exam
Application Fee $100 $377
Exam Fee $475 $625
Total Estimated Cost $49,500 - $50,500 $41,072 - $81,072
Renewal Period Every 2 years Every 3 years
CE Hours 0 hours 24 hours
Renewal Fee $150 $520

Which State Is Easier or Cheaper?

Lower cost: California is the more affordable option, with an average total cost of $49,500-$50,500 compared to $41,072-$81,072.

Fewer education hours: New York requires 0 hours of pre-license education, compared to 3000 hours in California.

Full State Guides

Compare land surveyor requirements across all 50 states →