Academic & Technical Requirements for Foreign Trained Applicants

Introduction

In order to become eligible to become a professional surveyor in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, or a Canada Lands Surveyor, a candidate must have a Certificate of Completion, issued by the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors.

A Certificate of Completion of Academic Requirements for Professional Surveyors will be issued upon:

• proof of sufficient academic qualifications
• by successful completion of examinations set by the CBEPS
• or by a combination of academic qualifications and completion examinations.

Entrance Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement to become a CBEPS candidate requirement if coming from outside Canada (Foreign Trained) are graduation from a two-year geomatics or surveying program at a technical institute or from a degree program at a university.

Academic and Technical Requirements

The Canadian academic and technical requirements to become a land surveyor are detailed in the National Syllabus and comprise 12 core and 5 elective components. To obtain a Certificate of Completion a candidate has to have received exemptions or successfully passed an examination in all Core Requirements plus one of the Elective Requirements. These are listed below.

Core Requirements

C1 – Mathematics
C2 – Least Squares Estimation & Data Analysis
C3 – Advanced Surveying
C4 – Coordinate Systems & Map Projections
C5 – Geospatial Information Systems
C6 – Geodetic Positioning
C7 – Remote Sensing & Photogrammetry
C8 – Cadastral Studies
C9 – Survey Law
C10 – Land Use Planning & Economics of Land Development
C11 – Business Practices & the Profession
C12 – Hydrography

Elective Requirements

E1 – Spatial Databases & Land Information Systems
• E2 – Advanced Hydrography (not yet available)
E3 – Environmental Management
E4 – Advanced Remote Sensing
E5 – Advanced Photogrammetry

Detailed learning outcomes and study guides are available for each of the requirements listed above at The Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors


The practice of Land Surveying in Canada is generally defined as:

  • the determination, establishment or recording by any means of the positions of points, natural features or features made by persons on, over or under the surface of the earth
  • the determination of the form of the earth
  • to determine, locate, define, describe, establish or re-establish boundaries
  • it includes the preparation of maps, plans, systems and documents and the giving of advice with respect to any of the matters above.