WASHINGTON STATE LAND SURVEYOR LAW & ETHICS EXAM 2026 | PRACTICE QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES | PLS LAW REVIEW

WASHINGTON STATE LAND SURVEYOR LAW
& ETHICS EXAM 2026 | PRACTICE
QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS &
RATIONALES | PLS LAW REVIEW
WASHINGTON STATE LAND SURVEYOR LAW & ETHICS EXAM 2026

PRACTICE QUESTIONS, VERIFIED ANSWERS & RATIONALES | PLS LAW REVIEW



DOCUMENT OVERVIEW

• This comprehensive 200-question study guide is designed to prepare licensed
professional surveyors for Washington State licensing exams and continuing
education requirements, covering all critical areas of state surveying law,
professional ethics, and regulatory compliance.

• Use this material by reviewing 10-15 questions daily, studying the rationales
thoroughly to understand the "why" behind each answer, and retesting weak areas
to ensure mastery before your examination date.



PRACTICE QUESTIONS



Question 1: According to Washington State law, what is the primary purpose
of the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors?

A) To set property tax rates for surveyed land

B) To regulate professional conduct and protect the public through licensing and
oversight

C) To purchase surveying equipment for public use

D) To manage all state-owned property boundaries

E) To provide surveying services free to low-income residents

,CORRECT ANSWER: B) To regulate professional conduct and protect the public
through licensing and oversight

RATIONALE: The Washington State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers
and Land Surveyors is established to protect the public welfare through licensure,
examination, and enforcement of professional standards. The board's primary
function is regulatory oversight to ensure that only qualified professionals practice
land surveying in the state, not to provide services or manage property taxes.



Question 2: What is the minimum education requirement to qualify for the
Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) examination in Washington State?

A) High school diploma or GED equivalent

B) Associate degree in surveying or related field

C) Four-year degree in surveying or related discipline

D) Four years of surveying experience without formal education

E) Either a four-year degree or equivalent practical experience with documented
hours

CORRECT ANSWER: E) Either a four-year degree or equivalent practical
experience with documented hours

RATIONALE: Washington State allows multiple pathways to PLS licensure.
Candidates may qualify with a four-year degree in surveying or a related field, OR
they may substitute documented practical surveying experience. The board accepts
combinations of education and experience that total equivalent professional
preparation, following the principle of reciprocal qualification standards.



Question 3: Under Washington RCW 18.43, a Professional Land Surveyor must
renew their license every how many years?

A) 1 year

B) 2 years

,C) 3 years

D) 5 years

E) 7 years

CORRECT ANSWER: C) 3 years

RATIONALE: Washington State RCW 18.43 establishes a three-year renewal cycle for
Professional Land Surveyor licenses. This renewal period requires compliance with
continuing education requirements and allows the state board to verify ongoing
competency and ethical standing of licensed surveyors.



Question 4: What is the ethical obligation of a surveyor when a client requests
a survey that the surveyor believes will be used for fraudulent purposes?

A) Complete the survey and let the client decide how to use it

B) Refuse to perform the survey and report the client to authorities

C) Charge triple the normal fee and complete the survey

D) Complete the survey but keep detailed records for potential legal proceedings

E) Decline the work and document the reason in the surveyor's files

CORRECT ANSWER: E) Decline the work and document the reason in the
surveyor's files

RATIONALE: Professional ethics require that a surveyor decline engagement when
there is reasonable belief the work will facilitate fraud or illegal activity. The
surveyor should not complete work that violates professional standards, but also
should handle the refusal professionally and document the decision. Reporting to
authorities is appropriate only in specific circumstances involving direct knowledge
of criminal conduct.



Question 5: According to Washington surveying standards, what must be
clearly shown on every survey plat?

, A) The surveyor's personal cell phone number

B) The date of survey, surveyor's seal, signature, and license number

C) The property owner's annual income

D) The soil composition analysis

E) The names of all neighboring property owners

CORRECT ANSWER: B) The date of survey, surveyor's seal, signature, and
license number

RATIONALE: Washington State law and professional standards require that every
survey plat include the surveyor's official seal, signature, the date of the survey, and
the surveyor's license number. These elements authenticate the document and
establish professional responsibility. This protects the public and creates a clear
record of who performed the survey and when.



Question 6: What is the primary legal standard for determining property
boundaries in Washington State when original monuments are missing?

A) Use GPS coordinates alone

B) Follow the intent of the original survey using evidence and accepted practices

C) Establish new boundaries based on current ownership claims

D) Request the county assessor to create new boundaries

E) Measure from the nearest visible landmark

CORRECT ANSWER: B) Follow the intent of the original survey using accepted
practices and evidence

RATIONALE: When original monuments are missing, surveyors must use accepted
surveying practices to recover the intent of the original survey through historical
records, deeds, and evidence. This approach respects the original surveying intent
and maintains legal continuity of property boundaries. GPS alone cannot replace
the legal intent of the original boundary establishment.