Washington State Land Surveyor Law &
Ethics Exam Exam Questions and
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1. Which Washington entity has authority over the registration of professional land
surveyors?
A. Washington State Department of Transportation
B. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
C. County Assessor's Office
D. Secretary of State
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors
Explanation: Washington's professional land surveying licensing system is administered under
the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The Board establishes
examination, licensing, professional conduct, and related regulatory requirements. A county
assessor or WSDOT may have responsibilities involving property or surveying information, but
neither replaces the Board as the professional licensing authority.
2. Which Washington statute is the primary statutory chapter governing professional
engineers and professional land surveyors?
A. RCW 18.43
B. RCW 18.20
C. RCW 64.04
D. RCW 36.70
CORRECT ANSWER: A. RCW 18.43
Explanation: RCW 18.43 establishes Washington's statutory framework for professional
engineers and land surveyors. It addresses registration, examinations, professional practice,
discipline, and related matters. A surveyor preparing for the Washington law examination should
be familiar with both RCW 18.43 and the implementing WAC provisions.
, 3. What is the primary purpose of Washington's professional conduct rules for land
surveyors?
A. To increase private surveying fees
B. To protect survey firms from lawsuits
C. To safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare
D. To eliminate competition among surveyors
CORRECT ANSWER: C. To safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules are fundamentally directed toward
protection of the public. The rules expressly state that registrants are to safeguard life, health, and
property and promote public welfare. This principle should guide ethical decisions even when a
particular situation is not expressly described in a rule.
4. Which examination is specifically identified as the Washington State Land Surveying
Examination?
A. The Fundamentals of Engineering examination
B. The Washington State Land Surveying Examination
C. The Washington Real Estate Examination
D. The Property Appraiser Examination
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Washington State Land Surveying Examination
Explanation: Washington's rules identify the Washington State Land Surveying Examination as
one of the examinations associated with professional land surveyor licensure. The examination
addresses land surveying issues important in Washington. It is distinct from the national FS and
PS examinations and from the Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination.
5. Which examination specifically focuses on Washington land surveyor law?
A. Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination
B. Washington Construction Law Examination
C. Washington Real Estate Law Examination
D. Washington Boundary Mapping Examination
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination
Explanation: Washington expressly lists a Washington Land Surveyor Law Review
Examination among the examinations for PLS licensure. This examination is particularly
relevant to understanding the statutes, rules, professional responsibilities, and regulatory
requirements applicable to land surveyors in Washington.
6. Which national examination is identified in Washington's PLS examination
requirements?
,A. NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination
B. NCEES Real Estate examination
C. OSHA Surveying examination
D. FEMA Surveying examination
CORRECT ANSWER: A. NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination
Explanation: WAC 196-16-020 identifies the NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying, or FS,
examination as one of the examinations required for professional land surveyor licensure. The
Washington-specific examinations address state-specific law and surveying issues.
7. A Washington registrant knowingly falsifies a material fact in a professional report.
Which principle is most directly violated?
A. Advertising preference
B. Professional honesty and objectivity
C. Continuing education scheduling
D. Office management
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Professional honesty and objectivity
Explanation: Washington rules require registrants to be objective and truthful in professional
documents and prohibit knowingly falsifying, misrepresenting, or concealing material facts. This
requirement protects clients, other professionals, governmental agencies, and the public from
decisions based on inaccurate professional information.
8. What should a surveyor do when professional judgment is overruled and the decision
may harm public safety?
A. Ignore the issue
B. Immediately resign in every case
C. Inform the client or employer of the potential harm
D. Alter the survey results
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Inform the client or employer of the potential harm
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules require registrants to inform clients or
employers when professional judgment is overruled or disregarded and harm may result to life,
health, property, or public welfare. If the harm rises to the level of an imminent threat, the rules
also require notifying the appropriate regulatory agency.
9. If an overruled professional judgment presents an imminent threat to public safety, what
additional action is required?
A. Notify only the client
B. Notify the appropriate regulatory agency
, C. Notify only another survey technician
D. Take no action if the project owner accepts the risk
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Notify the appropriate regulatory agency
Explanation: The Washington rules distinguish ordinary professional disagreement from an
imminent threat. When the harm rises to an imminent threat, the registrant has an additional
obligation to inform the appropriate regulatory agency. The rule reflects the profession's
responsibility to protect the public even when doing so may conflict with a client's wishes.
10. Which statement best describes a surveyor's professional competency obligation?
A. Competency is necessary only when the survey is expensive
B. A surveyor should maintain competency throughout the professional career
C. Competency is required only during the licensing examination
D. Competency may be delegated entirely to technicians
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A surveyor should maintain competency throughout the
professional career
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules require registrants to maintain
competency through continuing professional development. Competency includes knowledge of
applicable technology, codes, regulations, and the technical field relevant to the services being
performed.
11. A surveyor advertises expertise in a surveying discipline in which the surveyor has no
education or experience. What is the primary ethical concern?
A. The advertisement is misleading
B. The surveyor charged too little
C. The surveyor used modern equipment
D. The surveyor employed technicians
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The advertisement is misleading
Explanation: Washington requires professional services to be offered in a truthful and
professional manner. Registrants must accurately represent their academic credentials,
professional qualifications, and experience, and advertising must be representative of their actual
qualifications and capabilities.
12. Which activity is inconsistent with Washington professional conduct rules?
A. Accurately describing experience
B. Maintaining technical competency
C. Knowingly concealing a material fact
D. Providing objective professional testimony
Ethics Exam Exam Questions and
Answers Best rated A+ Guaranteed
Success Latest Update
1. Which Washington entity has authority over the registration of professional land
surveyors?
A. Washington State Department of Transportation
B. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
C. County Assessor's Office
D. Secretary of State
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors
Explanation: Washington's professional land surveying licensing system is administered under
the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The Board establishes
examination, licensing, professional conduct, and related regulatory requirements. A county
assessor or WSDOT may have responsibilities involving property or surveying information, but
neither replaces the Board as the professional licensing authority.
2. Which Washington statute is the primary statutory chapter governing professional
engineers and professional land surveyors?
A. RCW 18.43
B. RCW 18.20
C. RCW 64.04
D. RCW 36.70
CORRECT ANSWER: A. RCW 18.43
Explanation: RCW 18.43 establishes Washington's statutory framework for professional
engineers and land surveyors. It addresses registration, examinations, professional practice,
discipline, and related matters. A surveyor preparing for the Washington law examination should
be familiar with both RCW 18.43 and the implementing WAC provisions.
, 3. What is the primary purpose of Washington's professional conduct rules for land
surveyors?
A. To increase private surveying fees
B. To protect survey firms from lawsuits
C. To safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare
D. To eliminate competition among surveyors
CORRECT ANSWER: C. To safeguard life, health, property, and public welfare
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules are fundamentally directed toward
protection of the public. The rules expressly state that registrants are to safeguard life, health, and
property and promote public welfare. This principle should guide ethical decisions even when a
particular situation is not expressly described in a rule.
4. Which examination is specifically identified as the Washington State Land Surveying
Examination?
A. The Fundamentals of Engineering examination
B. The Washington State Land Surveying Examination
C. The Washington Real Estate Examination
D. The Property Appraiser Examination
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Washington State Land Surveying Examination
Explanation: Washington's rules identify the Washington State Land Surveying Examination as
one of the examinations associated with professional land surveyor licensure. The examination
addresses land surveying issues important in Washington. It is distinct from the national FS and
PS examinations and from the Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination.
5. Which examination specifically focuses on Washington land surveyor law?
A. Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination
B. Washington Construction Law Examination
C. Washington Real Estate Law Examination
D. Washington Boundary Mapping Examination
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Washington Land Surveyor Law Review Examination
Explanation: Washington expressly lists a Washington Land Surveyor Law Review
Examination among the examinations for PLS licensure. This examination is particularly
relevant to understanding the statutes, rules, professional responsibilities, and regulatory
requirements applicable to land surveyors in Washington.
6. Which national examination is identified in Washington's PLS examination
requirements?
,A. NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination
B. NCEES Real Estate examination
C. OSHA Surveying examination
D. FEMA Surveying examination
CORRECT ANSWER: A. NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying examination
Explanation: WAC 196-16-020 identifies the NCEES Fundamentals of Land Surveying, or FS,
examination as one of the examinations required for professional land surveyor licensure. The
Washington-specific examinations address state-specific law and surveying issues.
7. A Washington registrant knowingly falsifies a material fact in a professional report.
Which principle is most directly violated?
A. Advertising preference
B. Professional honesty and objectivity
C. Continuing education scheduling
D. Office management
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Professional honesty and objectivity
Explanation: Washington rules require registrants to be objective and truthful in professional
documents and prohibit knowingly falsifying, misrepresenting, or concealing material facts. This
requirement protects clients, other professionals, governmental agencies, and the public from
decisions based on inaccurate professional information.
8. What should a surveyor do when professional judgment is overruled and the decision
may harm public safety?
A. Ignore the issue
B. Immediately resign in every case
C. Inform the client or employer of the potential harm
D. Alter the survey results
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Inform the client or employer of the potential harm
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules require registrants to inform clients or
employers when professional judgment is overruled or disregarded and harm may result to life,
health, property, or public welfare. If the harm rises to the level of an imminent threat, the rules
also require notifying the appropriate regulatory agency.
9. If an overruled professional judgment presents an imminent threat to public safety, what
additional action is required?
A. Notify only the client
B. Notify the appropriate regulatory agency
, C. Notify only another survey technician
D. Take no action if the project owner accepts the risk
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Notify the appropriate regulatory agency
Explanation: The Washington rules distinguish ordinary professional disagreement from an
imminent threat. When the harm rises to an imminent threat, the registrant has an additional
obligation to inform the appropriate regulatory agency. The rule reflects the profession's
responsibility to protect the public even when doing so may conflict with a client's wishes.
10. Which statement best describes a surveyor's professional competency obligation?
A. Competency is necessary only when the survey is expensive
B. A surveyor should maintain competency throughout the professional career
C. Competency is required only during the licensing examination
D. Competency may be delegated entirely to technicians
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A surveyor should maintain competency throughout the
professional career
Explanation: Washington's professional conduct rules require registrants to maintain
competency through continuing professional development. Competency includes knowledge of
applicable technology, codes, regulations, and the technical field relevant to the services being
performed.
11. A surveyor advertises expertise in a surveying discipline in which the surveyor has no
education or experience. What is the primary ethical concern?
A. The advertisement is misleading
B. The surveyor charged too little
C. The surveyor used modern equipment
D. The surveyor employed technicians
CORRECT ANSWER: A. The advertisement is misleading
Explanation: Washington requires professional services to be offered in a truthful and
professional manner. Registrants must accurately represent their academic credentials,
professional qualifications, and experience, and advertising must be representative of their actual
qualifications and capabilities.
12. Which activity is inconsistent with Washington professional conduct rules?
A. Accurately describing experience
B. Maintaining technical competency
C. Knowingly concealing a material fact
D. Providing objective professional testimony
