Land Surveyor / South Dakota
2026 data South Dakota board official source

South Dakota Land Surveyor License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

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Determines property boundaries. Licensed in all 50 states.

What the South Dakota data shows for Land Surveyors

South Dakota sets the entry bar for land surveyors at board-approved training and a passing score on a state-approved exam. The credential is administered under South Dakota's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Experience/Apprenticeship".

Budget $150 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in South Dakota, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

South Dakota handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

C+
Licensing Ease Score
62/100
Land Surveyor · South Dakota

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training A+
None required
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$150
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in South Dakota

Education / Training Hours
Experience/Apprenticeship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$150
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Not Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Land Surveyor All South Dakota licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with South Dakota licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Land Surveyor in South Dakota? ▼
South Dakota requires, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $150.
How do I get certified as a Land Surveyor in South Dakota? ▼
To become a licensed land surveyor in South Dakota, you must meet the state's requirements. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the South Dakota licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Land Surveyor license to South Dakota from another state? ▼
South Dakota evaluates out-of-state land surveyor licenses on a case-by-case basis. Many professions are covered by interstate licensing compacts that facilitate portability. Contact the South Dakota licensing board for specific reciprocity details.
Does South Dakota require a background check for Land Surveyor licensing? ▼
No statewide background-check mandate applies to land surveyor licensing in South Dakota at this time - individual employers may still run their own screening.

Related Guides

What to do with this land surveyor license

Land Surveyor in South Dakota is one requirement row in a land surveyor-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the South Dakota licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.