(a) General Exam Provisions
(1) To meet the examination requirements set forth in §1071.256 of the Surveying Act an applicant must pass both the NCEES Principles and Practice of Surveying examination (PS Exam) and the Texas Specific Surveying Examination (TSSE).
(2) The PS exam and TSSE are open only to applicants who have received board approval to take the exams and Texas registered professional land surveyors who wish to take the exams for record purposes.
(3) An applicant approved to take the PS exam and TSSE:
(4) For the purposes of this section, exam attempt means a unique administration of an examination for which attendance is documented.
(5) An applicant who does not pass the PS exam or the TSSE within the approved examination period described in subsections (b) or (c) of this section is considered not approved and may not re-apply for approval until he or she has obtained at least one (1) year of additional surveying experience as described in Subchapter E of this chapter (relating to Experience) or until the applicant has completed at least six (6) additional semester hours of formal college level classroom courses relevant to land surveying. The time period to obtain additional surveying experience or enroll in additional college courses commences on the date of the last exam attempt. Applicants meeting the additional experience or education requirements must apply in accordance with §134.21 of this chapter (relating to Application for Standard License) and receive approval for additional exam attempts.
(6) If the applicant has attempted neither exam within the approved examination period described in subsections (b) or (c) of this section, the applicant may re-apply to take the exams after the prior approved examination period has expired under §134.21 of this chapter (relating to Application for Standard License) and may receive approval for additional exam attempts.
(7) The PS exam and TSSE shall be constructed according to §1071.256 of the Surveying Act. The examinations shall be written and designed to aid the Board in determining the applicant's knowledge of land surveying, mathematics, land surveying laws, and the applicant's general fitness to practice the profession as outlined in the Surveying Act.
(b) Principles and Practice of Surveying Exam
(1) The board shall utilize the PS Exam developed and administered by NCEES to meet this requirement.
(2) The PS exam shall be offered according to the schedule determined by the NCEES.
(3) An applicant who has passed the PS exam will not be required to re-take the examination.
(4) Applicants who are granted certification as a Surveyor-in-Training in accordance with §134.1 of this chapter (relating to Surveyor-in-Training Designation) are approved to take the PS exam.
(5) Applicants who have been approved for examinations per §134.87 of this chapter (relating to Final Actions on Applications) are approved to take the PS exam.
(6) An applicant approved to take the PS exam shall be allowed not more than three examination attempts and those attempts must be completed within a four-year period starting with the date of the notification for approval to take the exam. No extensions of time shall be granted except as provided for in §134.61(i) of this chapter (relating to Surveying Examinations Required for a License to Practice as a Professional Surveyor).
(c) Texas Specific Surveying Examination (TSSE)
(1) The TSSE shall be developed by the board to supplement the NCEES PS Exam and cover any topic areas specific to the professional practice of land surveying in Texas that are not covered by the NCEES PS exam. The TSSE shall not exceed four hours in duration.
(2) The TSSE shall be offered according to a schedule and at a location determined by the board.
(3) An applicant who has passed the TSSE will not be required to re-take the examination.
(4) Applicants who have been approved for examinations per §134.87 of this chapter (relating to Final Actions on Applications) are approved to take the TSSE.
(5) An applicant approved to take the TSSE shall be allowed not more than three examination attempts and those attempts must be completed within a four-year period starting with the date of the notification for approval to take the exam. No extensions of time shall be granted except as provided for in §134.61(i) of this chapter (relating to Surveying Examinations Required for a License to Practice as a Professional Surveyor).
Source Note: The provisions of this §134.67 adopted to be effective March 30, 2021, 46 TexReg 2016; amended to be effective September 5, 2023, 48 TexReg 4858