Professional Surveyor and Mapper Renewal Guide
Florida Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for Florida-licensed professional surveyors and mappers.
Florida Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Florida statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. Professional Surveyor and Mapper licenses expire February 28.
- Required hours At least 24 continuing education credits per biennium. One credit equals one classroom hour, defined as no less than 50 minutes of instruction.
- Carryover Up to 12 credits earned beyond the required 24 may be carried forward to the following renewal period.
- First renewal exempt Licensees need not comply with the continuing education requirement before their first license renewal.
Mandatory subjects
- No mandated category split Since a 2018 rule change, the 24 credits may be earned in whatever surveying and mapping subject areas the licensee chooses. Fixed area allocations are no longer required.
- No separate ethics minimum Florida does not impose a distinct ethics-hour requirement for surveyors and mappers.
- Relevance standard Credit-bearing activity must relate to the practice of surveying and mapping.
- Board-approved delivery Course credit generally requires a Board-approved continuing education provider, discussed below.
Credit Sources and Approval Rules
How credits are earned
Credit may be obtained through courses or seminars offered by Board-approved providers, and through surveying and mapping coursework at regionally accredited universities and colleges, which yields six credits per semester or quarter hour.
Additional limited credit is available for publishing a book, paper, or scholarly work (up to 10 credits, initial publication only), attending professional association meetings (up to 6 credits, with a half credit per local chapter meeting and two credits per state or national meeting), advanced professional certification (up to 12 credits), and attending a regularly scheduled Board meeting (two credits per day). Teaching a course for the first time earns double the course credit hours.
Provider approval
Verified requirement. Unlike many states, Florida requires courses to be delivered by a continuing education provider approved by the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers to receive credit. Providers must be approved and must renew provider status by May 31 of each odd-numbered year.
Approved providers include equipment or software vendors, accredited educational institutions, commercial educators, government agencies, and professional associations that meet the Board’s criteria. A current list of approved providers is available from the Board.
Practical note. A Florida surveyor should confirm that any course, including online coursework, is offered by a Board-approved provider before relying on it for credit.
Records, Reporting, and Delinquency
Record retention
Licensees must retain certificates of completion complying with the Board’s rules and make them available to the Department or Board on request for four years following course completion.
A licensee without the required credits will not be permitted to renew until the appropriate number of credits is submitted. No credit may be claimed until it has actually been earned.
Delinquent and inactive status
A licensee in delinquent status must make up 24 credits for the missed biennium plus 24 for the current biennium, a total of 48 credits, to return to active status.
A licensee reactivating from inactive status must complete one credit in surveying and mapping courses or seminars for each inactive month, up to a maximum of 48 credits.
Exemptions and Status Options
First renewal. A licensee is not required to complete continuing education before the first renewal of the license.
Military spouses. Florida rule provides an exemption from renewal requirements for spouses of members of the United States Armed Forces who meet the conditions in the Board’s rule, reflecting Florida’s broader military-family licensing accommodations.
Inactive status. A licensee may hold an inactive license and later reactivate by completing the make-up credits described above. An inactive license does not authorize the practice of surveying and mapping in Florida.
Renewal notice. Florida law now treats email notification from the Department as adequate legal notice, so licensees should keep a current email address on file with the Board to receive renewal notices.
Primary Florida Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the FDACS Board.
Rule 5J-17.041, F.A.C.
The Board’s continuing education credit rule, covering the 24-credit requirement, carryover, credit sources, first-renewal exemption, and record retention.
Chapter 472, Florida Statutes
The governing statute for professional surveyors and mappers, including continuing education authority in Section 472.018.
FDACS Surveyor and Mapper Continuing Education
The Board’s official examinations and continuing education page, with provider lists and renewal information.
Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
The FDACS board that licenses and regulates professional surveyors and mappers in Florida.
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. Florida requires courses to be delivered by a Board-approved provider, and requirements, interpretations, and renewal procedures can change. The Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers, within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is the controlling authority.