HOW STATES DIFFER

Introduction to 50+ Course Examples for Land Surveyors: Tailoring Education to Your State's Needs

As a land surveyor, the regulations, challenges, and tools you encounter can vary significantly depending on the state where you practice. From coastal management in Florida to wind energy surveys in South Dakota, the professional landscape of land surveying is shaped by local geography, laws, and environmental conditions. That’s why continuing education courses should be tailored not only to the general principles of surveying but also to the unique requirements of each region.

In this post, we’ll dive into 30 examples of continuing education courses that illustrate just how varied the profession can be from state to state. These examples show how the L.E.A.R.N. program empowers land surveyors to craft courses that reflect their specific experiences and local expertise. Each course idea takes into account the unique legal frameworks, natural landscapes, and technical challenges surveyors face across different states, encouraging you to develop courses that directly impact the surveying community where you work.

Whether you’re navigating riparian rights along the Mississippi River or surveying large tracts of forested land in Oregon, these examples will inspire you to contribute to the education of future land surveyors by sharing your specialized knowledge. And with the L.E.A.R.N. program, you can even build a course from scratch or adapt these outlines to your state’s regulations and industry needs.

Beyond providing value to your peers, the L.E.A.R.N. program offers a way for land surveyors to stay active in the profession even post-retirement, sharing decades of experience while earning a steady income through continuing education. Through initiatives like the 30-Day Challenge, you can begin assembling your own course content, collecting and submitting evidence that will eventually lead to a SCORM-compliant courseβ€”one that meets the standards of governing bodies like the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and state-specific boards.

Let’s explore these 30 course examples, each designed to highlight the diverse and critical role of land surveyors across the country. We encourage you to view these outlines as starting points for writing your own course, addressing the specific demands of your state, and continuing to shape the future of the surveying profession.

Introduction to 30 Course Examples for Land Surveyors: Tailoring Education to Your State's Needs

Curated for the L.E.A.R.N Surveying Program with NSPS and Land Surveyors United

As a land surveyor, the regulations, challenges, and tools you encounter can vary significantly depending on the state where you practice. From coastal management in Florida to wind energy surveys in South Dakota, the professional landscape of land surveying is shaped by local geography, laws, and environmental conditions. That’s why continuing education courses should be tailored not only to the general principles of surveying but also to the unique requirements of each region.

In this post, we’ll dive into 30 examples of continuing education courses that illustrate just how varied the profession can be from state to state. These examples show how the L.E.A.R.N. program empowers land surveyors to craft courses that reflect their specific experiences and local expertise. Each course idea takes into account the unique legal frameworks, natural landscapes, and technical challenges surveyors face across different states, encouraging you to develop courses that directly impact the surveying community where you work.

Whether you’re navigating riparian rights along the Mississippi River or surveying large tracts of forested land in Oregon, these examples will inspire you to contribute to the education of future land surveyors by sharing your specialized knowledge. And with the L.E.A.R.N. program, you can even build a course from scratch or adapt these outlines to your state’s regulations and industry needs.

Beyond providing value to your peers, the L.E.A.R.N. program offers a way for land surveyors to stay active in the profession even post-retirement, sharing decades of experience while earning a steady income through continuing education. Through initiatives like the 30-Day Challenge, you can begin assembling your own course content, collecting and submitting evidence that will eventually lead to a SCORM-compliant courseβ€”one that meets the standards of governing bodies like the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) and state-specific boards.

Let’s explore these 30 course examples, each designed to highlight the diverse and critical role of land surveyors across the country. We encourage you to view these outlines as starting points for writing your own course, addressing the specific demands of your state, and continuing to shape the future of the surveying profession.


20 Course Examples:























10 More Examples You Might Not Expect:











North Dakota: In North Dakota, courses would focus on surveying for oil pipelines, with an emphasis on navigating Native American land claims, mineral rights, and environmental regulations for drilling sites.

Alaska: In Alaska, surveyors would deal with extreme environmental conditions, with courses covering oil and gas pipelines across frozen tundra, dealing with permafrost, and ensuring infrastructure is built to withstand harsh weather and seismic activity.


Let’s Make Sure We Cover All of them:

1. Archaeological Site Preservation

New Mexico: Surveyors in New Mexico may encounter ancient ruins and artifacts, making it crucial to understand archaeological preservation laws. A course here would emphasize how surveyors must balance development with preserving historical sites.

Vermont: In Vermont, the focus shifts to colonial-era ruins and historical preservation, requiring surveyors to understand the nuances of state-specific laws related to historical land ownership and conservation efforts.


2. Permafrost and Surveying in Cold Climates

Alaska: Surveyors in Alaska face challenges due to permafrost, requiring specialized knowledge of soil behavior and its impact on construction projects. A course here would focus on foundation design and land stability.

Maine: While Maine doesn’t have permafrost like Alaska, its cold climate and rocky terrain pose unique challenges. A course for surveyors here might focus on techniques for working in frozen ground conditions and forested regions.


3. Navigating Water Boundaries

Delaware: With Delaware’s proximity to tidal waters, surveyors must have a deep understanding of riparian rights and the changing boundaries of land due to shifting shorelines. A course here would cover how to handle disputes and changes in property lines caused by erosion.

Nebraska: In Nebraska, water boundary courses focus more on rivers and streams, especially with the Missouri River forming the state boundary. The course would cover topics like accretion, reliction, and how boundaries shift with water movements.


4. Coastal Erosion and Zoning

Hawaii: Hawaii presents challenges of volcanic activity and coastal erosion, requiring surveyors to understand how these natural forces alter land boundaries. A course here would cover how to measure and mitigate the effects of both coastal erosion and lava flows.

Mississippi: In Mississippi, the issue of coastal erosion is more connected to hurricanes and tropical storms. Surveyors must understand the implications of storm surges and how FEMA’s flood mapping affects rebuilding efforts post-storm.


5. Land Subsidence and Sinkholes

Kentucky: Kentucky has one of the highest rates of sinkhole formation due to its karst topography. A specialized course would teach surveyors to detect early signs of sinkholes and how to conduct land stability assessments.

West Virginia: Similarly, West Virginia’s mountainous terrain is prone to landslides and subsidence. Surveyors here would need a course that focuses on recognizing land movement risks and ensuring safe land development.


6. Wildlife Conservation and Protected Lands

Michigan: Michigan surveyors need to be aware of its extensive forest preserves and protected wildlife areas. Courses here could cover how surveying interacts with conservation efforts and the importance of adhering to state and federal conservation laws.

Montana: In Montana, vast stretches of protected wilderness mean that surveyors must account for wildlife migration patterns and environmental impact assessments. A course here would address how to balance infrastructure development with wildlife preservation.


7. Mining Land Surveys

Nevada: With Nevada being a hub for mining operations, a course would need to cover land rights and mineral claims. Surveyors must understand the differences between surface land ownership and subsurface mineral rights, ensuring accurate documentation of mining claims.

New Hampshire: In New Hampshire, mining survey courses would focus more on granite quarries and how these operations impact nearby landowners and water tables.


8. Drought Management and Irrigation Surveys

Idaho: With much of Idaho’s land used for agriculture, surveyors must be knowledgeable in irrigation systems. A course here would focus on the design and maintenance of irrigation channels and compliance with state water rights.

Utah: Similarly, Utah surveyors need to account for drought conditions when planning large-scale irrigation projects. Courses here would explore how to plan for water conservation while meeting the needs of growing agricultural regions.


9. Topographic Challenges in Mountainous States

Wyoming: Wyoming surveyors face topographic challenges due to the mountainous terrain. A course here would cover techniques for accurately surveying steep land and managing land boundaries in rugged areas.

Colorado: In Colorado, topographic surveys also play a significant role in land development, but with added complexities from snowfall and rockslides. A course would address how these environmental factors affect boundary markers and infrastructure projects.


10. Urban Development and Re-Zoning

Rhode Island: Rhode Island’s small but densely populated area requires surveyors to understand complex zoning laws, particularly in urban areas undergoing redevelopment. Courses here would focus on how to navigate urban re-zoning and redevelopment efforts while ensuring public access to coastal areas.

Indiana: Indiana’s urban development focus might lean towards revitalizing former industrial sites, so a course would cover how to manage land reuse in areas undergoing environmental remediation and new zoning regulations for residential or commercial developments.


11. Wind Energy Development Surveys

South Dakota: With South Dakota’s growing wind energy sector, surveyors need to understand how to manage land surveys for large-scale wind farms. A course here would focus on legal land use agreements, environmental impact assessments, and public access concerns.

Kansas: In Kansas, a similar course would cover the specific techniques for mapping large tracts of flat land, ensuring accurate data collection for the positioning of wind turbines, and understanding how land use laws differ from agricultural land.


12. Oil and Gas Pipeline Surveys

Oklahoma: With a high concentration of oil and gas infrastructure, surveyors in Oklahoma must be well-versed in pipeline easements, environmental regulations, and landowner rights. A course would focus on managing rights-of-way and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

Louisiana: In Louisiana, oil and gas surveys often deal with swampy terrain and coastal areas. A specialized course would cover how to conduct surveys in waterlogged areas while ensuring accurate measurements for pipeline construction and maintenance.


13. Geothermal Energy Land Use

Nevada: Nevada’s geothermal activity makes it a prime location for renewable energy projects. A course would focus on geothermal land leases and the necessary surveying techniques to assess land for geothermal power stations.

Hawaii: In Hawaii, geothermal energy development is equally important, but surveys would also need to account for volcanic activity. Courses would cover how to assess land stability and ensure safe distances from active lava zones.


14. Farmland Conservation and Land Use

Iowa: As one of the largest agricultural states, Iowa’s courses would focus heavily on land conservation programs, understanding the intricacies of farmland surveys, and managing federal and state conservation easements.

North Dakota: In North Dakota, farmland conservation would similarly require expertise in managing land leases for large agricultural plots and understanding federal conservation incentives like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).


15. Surveying in Earthquake-Prone Zones

Missouri: Missouri sits near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, meaning surveyors here must understand how earthquakes impact land stability and boundary markers. Courses would cover seismic risks and how to manage survey data in regions prone to earthquakes.

Tennessee: Likewise, Tennessee surveyors also need to account for seismic risks, particularly in urban development. A course might focus on ensuring building codes align with seismic survey data to minimize risks in future construction projects.


16. Tourism and Coastal Management Surveys

South Carolina: With a booming tourism industry, surveyors in South Carolina need to manage both private and public access to beaches. Courses would focus on balancing beachfront development with state laws ensuring public access.

Alabama: In Alabama, the focus might be more on managing coastal erosion and flood zones. Surveyors would need to understand how to position new developments safely while adhering to FEMA guidelines for flood-prone areas.


17. Wetland Preservation and Land Surveys

New Jersey: Wetland preservation in New Jersey requires surveyors to know both state and federal laws about land development. A course here would teach how to navigate the dense regulations governing wetland protection and land use.

Minnesota: Minnesota’s wetlands require a similar focus, but with an emphasis on balancing agricultural land use with wetland conservation, particularly in rural areas. A course would explore techniques to mitigate environmental impact while expanding land use for farming.


18. Surveying for Renewable Energy Projects

New York: New York surveyors are increasingly involved in renewable energy projects, such as solar farms. A course here would focus on land use regulations, understanding local energy policies, and how to manage large-scale solar developments.

Connecticut: Similarly, surveyors in Connecticut are seeing growth in solar and wind projects. Courses here would emphasize compliance with local zoning laws, environmental impact reports, and balancing renewable energy development with land conservation efforts.


19. Navigating Indian Reservation Surveys

Oklahoma: Surveying in areas with Indian reservations presents unique legal challenges, especially around land ownership and jurisdiction. A course here would cover how to navigate these complex legal frameworks while respecting tribal sovereignty.

Montana: In Montana, Indian reservation surveys would focus more on land management for agricultural purposes, ensuring that surveyors understand both tribal and federal land use laws.


20. Forest Fire Damage and Re-Surveying

California: California’s ongoing forest fire risks make it critical for surveyors to understand how to re-establish boundaries after fire damage. A course would cover how to assess property lines and public land boundaries after fire devastation.

Oregon: Similarly, in Oregon, post-fire recovery courses would teach surveyors to work with forestry agencies and landowners to assess damage, re-survey land, and mitigate future


1. Wetland Delineation and Mapping

2. Mining and Mineral Rights Surveys

3. Shoreline and Coastal Erosion Surveys

4. Water Rights and Riparian Boundaries

5. Forest Management and Timber Surveys

6. Solar Energy and Land Use Planning

7. Urban Redevelopment and Historical Surveys

8. Subdivision Design and Lot Layout

9. Flood Mitigation and River Engineering

10. Hazardous Waste Site Surveys


Each of these courses reflects the unique geographical, environmental, and regulatory demands placed on land surveyors based on where they practice. Through the L.E.A.R.N. program, these localized courses give surveyors a chance to share their expertise and continue contributing to the profession even after retirement.