Professional Surveyor Renewal Guide
Indiana Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for Indiana-registered professional surveyors.
Indiana Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Indiana statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. The professional surveyor license renews on a two-year cycle, and the renewal fee for active status is $100.
- Required hours 24 hours of continuing education for renewal of a license in active status.
- Structure The 24 hours must include a minimum of 6 hours in mandatory topics and a minimum of 18 hours in elective topics.
- Limited carryover Up to 4 elective hours earned but not used in one renewal period may be applied to the next period.
Mandatory topics and limits
- Mandatory topics At least 6 of the 24 hours must be in the mandatory topics defined by Board rule, which center on Indiana law, rules, and standards governing the practice of surveying.
- State-specific by design Because mandatory content addresses Indiana-specific law and standards, it generally cannot be satisfied by a generic national course.
- Single-course cap No single elective course may count for more than 12 hours of continuing education.
- Inactive status A surveyor renewing to inactive status is not required to complete continuing education but may not practice surveying while inactive.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified limit. Because no single elective course may count for more than 12 hours, and online offerings are commonly delivered as elective courses, a surveyor should plan a mix of courses rather than relying on one large online course to cover the elective requirement.
Practical interpretation. Structured online courses qualify when they meet the Board’s content and documentation standards. Courses must generally be completed within a set enrollment window, so licensees should confirm completion deadlines with the provider.
College courses taken after licensure count as elective credit at 15 hours per semester credit hour, or 10 hours per quarter credit hour.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. Indiana operates a course-approval framework under 865 IAC 1-15. Providers may submit courses and instructors for Board approval, and an individual surveyor may also request approval of a completed course by submitting the course outline, instructor information, and completion certificate.
The Board has discretion to approve or deny courses. A course should contribute to the surveyor’s professional knowledge and be presented by a qualified instructor.
Documentation of content. Each course must be identified as mandatory or elective subject matter, which is relevant when demonstrating that the 6-hour mandatory component has been met.
Records, Reporting, and Audit
Record retention
At renewal the surveyor provides a sworn statement that the continuing education requirement has been fulfilled. Certificates of completion must be retained for three years from the end of the licensing period to which the continuing education applied.
Documentation is produced to the Board or the agency upon request for a compliance review, rather than submitted routinely with the renewal.
Late renewal and audit
A license not renewed by the expiration date becomes invalid. It may be renewed within three years of expiration by paying the renewal fee plus a $50 late fee and completing the continuing education requirement. After three years, a new application process applies.
The Board conducts compliance reviews, and a surveyor selected for review must provide certificates of completion verifying the claimed hours.
Exemptions and Status Options
New registrants. A new registrant is not required to comply with the continuing education requirement at the first renewal of the license, but is subject to the full requirement at every renewal thereafter.
Inactive status. A surveyor may renew to inactive status without completing continuing education. To return to active status, the surveyor emails the Board with the license number and continuing education certificates verifying the requirement has been met, ideally before completing the renewal.
Carryover of elective hours. Up to 4 elective hours earned but not used in one renewal period may be carried into the next, with proper documentation submitted as the Board requires. Mandatory hours are not eligible for carryover.
Reinstatement. A license expired more than three years cannot be renewed through the standard late process; the individual should contact the Board regarding reinstatement or reapplication.
Primary Indiana Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the PLA.
865 IAC 1-15 Continuing Education
The Board’s continuing education rule, covering the 24-hour requirement, mandatory and elective topics, single-course cap, carryover, and records.
PLA Surveyors Licensing Information
The Professional Licensing Agency’s official surveyor page with renewal instructions, inactive-status guidance, and continuing education details.
State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors
The Indiana board that licenses and regulates professional surveyors, within the Professional Licensing Agency.
MyLicense Online Renewal
The state portal where Indiana surveyors renew their license and manage their profile.
SurveyorCE offers a growing library of surveyor-focused PDH courses through a simple one-time $135 membership. Visit the homepage to see how the program works and decide whether it fits your renewal needs.
Important Notice
This page is an educational summary, not legal advice or a determination that any particular course will be accepted. Requirements, Board interpretations, and renewal procedures can change. The Indiana State Board of Registration for Professional Surveyors, within the Professional Licensing Agency, is the controlling authority.