Credit Classification Guide
Ethics, Laws, Rules, HSW, and Technical Credit
Continuing-education requirements may distinguish among professional
ethics, laws and rules, health, safety and welfare, technical subjects,
and general professional-development credit.
Classification Overview
Course Credit Depends on Subject and Jurisdiction
Licensing authorities may require a total number of professional-
development hours while also requiring that part of that total
address a particular subject.
Common classifications include technical education, professional
ethics, surveying laws and administrative rules, standards of
practice, and subjects affecting public health, safety, and welfare.
The same course may be classified differently by different
licensing authorities. The controlling definitions are those
established by the board responsible for the license.
Technical Education
Technical Surveying Credit
Technical coursework generally develops knowledge or skills used in
professional surveying practice.
Measurement and Positioning
GNSS, geodesy, control networks, field measurement, adjustment,
accuracy, uncertainty, and positioning methods.
Boundary and Legal Practice
Boundary evidence, land records, title matters, cadastral systems,
legal descriptions, and professional boundary analysis.
Geospatial Technology
GIS, photogrammetry, remote sensing, UAS, LiDAR, laser scanning,
utility mapping, and spatial-data applications.
Applied Surveying
Construction, transportation, hydrographic, floodplain, elevation,
engineering, deformation, and forensic surveying.
Standards and Procedures
Technical standards, specifications, quality control, documentation,
field procedures, and professional deliverables.
Emerging Practice
Digital twins, GeoAI, automation, advanced data collection, and
other evolving surveying technologies.
Professional Ethics
Ethics Credit
Ethics education generally addresses the professional duties and
standards of conduct governing licensed practice. Appropriate
subjects may include honesty, competence, conflicts of interest,
responsible charge, confidentiality, public protection, and
professional judgment.
A course that mentions ethical considerations is not necessarily
an ethics course. Some boards require the principal purpose and
educational content to address professional ethics.
Regulatory Education
Laws and Rules Credit
Laws-and-rules courses generally address statutes, regulations,
administrative rules, standards of practice, disciplinary
provisions, or other legal requirements governing licensure.
Some jurisdictions require courses specifically addressing their
own state laws and rules. A general surveying-law course or a
course addressing another jurisdiction may not satisfy that
state-specific requirement.
Public Protection
Health, Safety, and Welfare Credit
Health, Safety, and Welfare classifications generally concern
professional knowledge and services that protect the public, property,
infrastructure, environmental resources, and community welfare.
HSW definitions vary. A technical surveying course may affect public
protection without automatically satisfying a jurisdiction’s formal
HSW definition. Apply the definition published by the licensing board.
Field and Construction Safety
Hazard recognition, traffic exposure, excavation, confined spaces,
equipment, utilities, and safe field operations.
Property and Infrastructure Protection
Accurate boundaries, construction layout, deformation monitoring,
utility location, and reliable project control.
Environmental and Public Welfare
Floodplain mapping, coastal work, land development, water boundaries,
environmental data, and public-resource management.
A course may address more than one professional subject, but that does
not necessarily permit the same hours to be counted more than once.
Do not duplicate the credit total by reporting one course under multiple
classifications unless the licensing authority expressly permits it.
Course Evaluation
Determine the Appropriate Classification
Identify the Required Credit
Determine whether your board requires technical, ethics, laws and
rules, HSW, or another specific type of professional education.
Review the Course Content
Examine the description, objectives, lessons, and assessment rather
than relying only on the course title.
Apply the Board’s Definition
Compare the course content with the definitions and limitations
published by the applicable licensing authority.
Request Clarification
Contact the board when a course’s classification or eligibility
remains uncertain.
Documentation
Record the Credit Accurately
Maintain records identifying the completed course, date, provider,
number of hours, and classification under which the credit was
reported.
When a course is used to satisfy a special requirement, retain
the description, objectives, and other documentation supporting
that classification.
SurveyorCE may describe a course’s principal subject or anticipated
professional application. The licensing authority remains responsible
for determining whether the course satisfies a mandatory ethics,
laws-and-rules, HSW, technical, or other credit requirement.
Select Appropriate Credit
Compare Course Subjects with Your Requirements
Review the current rules for your license before relying on a course
for a mandatory credit classification.