Professional Land Surveyor Renewal Guide
Nevada Surveyor PDH Requirements
A source-based summary of continuing education requirements for Nevada-licensed professional land surveyors.
Nevada Renewal Requirements
The following items are expressly stated in Nevada statutes, Board rules, or current Board guidance unless marked as an interpretation.
Renewal cycle and total hours
- Renewal cycle Biennial. Renewal dates are based on the first letter of the licensee’s last name, and PDHs are reported for the preceding 24 months of the current license period.
- Required hours At least 30 professional development hours (PDHs) within the biennial renewal period, including any hours carried forward from the previous period.
- Carryover Excess PDHs may be carried forward from the previous biennial period and count toward the 30, subject to the Board’s rules.
- Home-state rule A Nevada licensee residing in another state may satisfy Nevada by meeting that state’s substantially equivalent continuing education requirement.
Mandatory subjects
- Ethics 2 of the 30 hours must be in professional ethics.
- Nevada laws and rules 1 of the 30 hours must be in the provisions of NAC Chapter 625 and NRS Chapter 625, the Nevada laws and rules governing the profession.
- State-specific element Because the laws-and-rules hour addresses Nevada statutes and regulations, it generally cannot be met with a generic national course.
- Remaining hours The balance of the 30 may be earned in activities relevant to the licensee’s discipline of land surveying.
Online Study and Approval Rules
Online and distance education
Verified status. Nevada assigns professional development hours to activities under a schedule in NAC 625.470 and does not impose a general cap on online coursework for surveyors. All 30 hours, including the ethics and Nevada laws-and-rules hours, may generally be earned through qualifying courses, including online formats.
Practical interpretation. An activity must be designed to maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s discipline. A qualifying online course counts for the PDHs assigned to that activity type under the Board’s schedule.
Because the laws-and-rules hour must address NRS and NAC Chapter 625, a surveyor should confirm the course covers Nevada provisions specifically.
Provider and course approval
Verified process. The Board does not pre-approve providers or specific courses. Each licensee determines whether an activity meets the Board’s requirements, and the Board retains authority over the assignment of PDH value to activities.
Course content must be appropriate for professional land surveyors and must improve or increase the licensee’s skills and competence. The Board’s schedule assigns PDH values to categories such as courses, seminars, teaching, authoring, and self-study.
Reporting. Nevada residents report their PDHs on the renewal application and retain documentation in their files, submitting it only if requested by the Board.
Records, Reporting, and Deficiencies
Record retention
At renewal, a Nevada resident certifies compliance with the 30-PDH requirement and enters the PDHs on the application. Documentation should be retained in the licensee’s files and is not submitted unless the Board requests it.
A licensee who relies on the home-state rule certifies that they reside in another state and have met that state’s substantially equivalent requirement.
Deficiencies and audit
If the Board accepts fewer than 30 PDHs, it notifies the licensee within 60 days after the renewal application was submitted. The licensee must then complete the deficient hours within 6 months of the application date.
Failure to complete the deficient hours results in the licensee being placed on inactive status, meaning the licensee may not practice until the deficiency is cured and the license is returned to active status.
Exemptions, Waivers, and Status
Exemptions. A licensee may apply for an exemption from the requirement for a biennial period if the initial license was issued during, or less than two years before, that period; if the licensee served more than 120 consecutive days on active military duty; if the licensee was employed outside the United States for more than 120 consecutive days; or if the licensee experienced a serious illness or injury during the last year of the biennium.
Home-state waiver. The Board may waive the Nevada requirements for a licensee who satisfied a substantially equivalent continuing education requirement in another state during the biennial renewal period.
Inactive status. A licensee who does not meet the 30-PDH requirement may be placed on or elect inactive status. An inactive licensee may not practice land surveying in Nevada and must satisfy the requirements to return to active status.
Board authority. The Board may require a written or oral examination as a condition of reinstating or renewing a license in defined circumstances.
Primary Nevada Sources
Board rules control if a summary conflicts with an official requirement. Licensees should verify their own renewal date and current instructions through the Board.
NAC 625.430
The Board’s rule on requirements for license renewal, including the 30-PDH requirement, the 2 ethics hours, the 1 Nevada laws-and-rules hour, and carryover.
NVBPELS Continuing Education
The Board’s official continuing education page, explaining the 30-PDH biennial requirement, the home-state rule, and reporting.
NRS Chapter 625
The statute governing professional engineers and land surveyors, including the authority for continuing education regulations.
NVBPELS Online Renewal
The Board’s online system where Nevada land surveyors renew and report continuing education.
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 Nevada State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors is the controlling authority.