Illinois Jurisdictional Land Surveyor
2026/2027 | Illinois Professional Land
Surveyor (PLS) Jurisdictional Exam Study
Guide & Practice Questions | Illinois IJ
Exam Prep, Land Surveying Law, Legal
Descriptions, Plats, Public Land Survey
System, Conveyances, Records &
Professional Standards
Question 1: Which Illinois statute governs the practice of
professional land surveying and establishes the licensure
requirements for surveyors in the state?
A. Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205)
B. Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989 (225 ILCS 330)
C. Illinois Land Survey Monuments Act (765 ILCS 220)
D. Illinois State Plane Coordinate System Act (765 ILCS 225)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of
1989 (225 ILCS 330)
Rationale: The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989 (225 ILCS
330) is the primary statute that defines the practice of land surveying,
establishes licensure requirements, and grants authority to the Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to regulate
the profession. The Plat Act addresses subdivision requirements, the Land
Survey Monuments Act addresses monument standards, and the State
Plane Coordinate System Act addresses coordinate system use, but none of
these establish the overall licensure framework.
Question 2: In Illinois boundary retracement jurisprudence, which
type of evidence carries the highest priority when reestablishing
original boundaries?
A. Distances recorded in the original plat
B. Bearing calls as originally measured by magnetic compass
C. Original monuments found undisturbed
D. GPS coordinates from the current Illinois State Plane Coordinate System
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Original monuments found undisturbed
,Rationale: Illinois follows the "monument over measurement" rule, which
places original monuments (if found undisturbed) at the highest priority in
the hierarchy of boundary evidence. This principle recognizes that original
surveyors set monuments to mark boundaries, and those physical marks
reflect their professional judgment regarding the true corner location.
Distances, bearings, and coordinates are subordinate to original
monuments because they are subject to measurement error and
transcription mistakes.
Question 3: Under the Illinois Plat Act, what is the maximum
acreage for a subdivision to qualify as a "minor subdivision"
without requiring full planning commission review?
A. 5 acres
B. 10 acres
C. 20 acres
D. 35 acres
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 10 acres
Rationale: The Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205) specifies that when an owner
subdivides land into two or more parts, any of which is less than 10 acres, a
subdivision plat must be prepared by an Illinois Registered Land Surveyor
and recorded. The 10-acre threshold is a key jurisdictional limit that
surveyors must understand when determining whether platting
requirements apply to a particular land division.
Question 4: A property description calls for a stone monument at a
corner, but the surveyor finds the stone is missing. What is the
proper procedure for reestablishing the corner?
A. Replace the stone with a new monument at the computed position based
solely on deed distances
B. Accept adjacent property fences as controlling evidence
C. Locate the stone by its original witness ties and apply proportionate
measurement using adjoining original monuments
D. Ignore the stone call and rely only on recorded distances
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Locate the stone by its original witness ties
and apply proportionate measurement using adjoining original
monuments
Rationale: When an original monument is lost, Illinois courts require the
surveyor to reconstruct its position using the best available evidence,
including witness ties, adjoining original monuments, and occupation
evidence. Proportionate measurement is then applied to distribute any
excess or deficiency between controlling original monuments. Replacing a
monument based solely on deed distances without investigating other
evidence violates professional standards, and accepting fences without
evidence of original survey intent is improper.
Question 5: Under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act,
which of the following activities is NOT within the statutory
definition of land surveying?
A. Establishing or reestablishing land boundaries
B. Preparing descriptions for the determination of title to real property
C. Designing structural foundations for buildings
D. Setting monuments that mark land boundaries
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Designing structural foundations for
buildings
Rationale: The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act (225 ILCS 330/5)
defines land surveying to include establishing and reestablishing
boundaries, preparing property descriptions, and setting boundary
monuments. Designing structural foundations is an engineering function
that falls outside the statutory definition of land surveying and typically
requires professional engineering licensure.
Question 6: Which Illinois state agency is responsible for
administering the Professional Land Surveyor licensing
examination and issuing licenses?
A. Illinois Department of Natural Resources
B. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
, C. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
D. Illinois State Board of Education
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Rationale: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating
professional land surveyors in Illinois. IDFPR enforces the Illinois
Professional Land Surveyor Act, oversees the examination process through
designated testing services, and handles disciplinary actions against
licensees.
Question 7: How many examinations must an applicant pass to
obtain licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois?
A. One examination (Illinois Jurisdictional Examination only)
B. Two examinations (FS and PS only)
C. Three examinations (FS, PS, and Illinois Jurisdictional Examination)
D. Four examinations (FS, PS, Illinois Jurisdictional, and State Plane
Coordinate Examination)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Three examinations (FS, PS, and Illinois
Jurisdictional Examination)
Rationale: Illinois requires three examinations for licensure as a
Professional Land Surveyor: the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS)
examination, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (PS)
examination, and the Illinois Jurisdictional Examination. The Illinois
Jurisdictional Examination specifically tests knowledge of Illinois surveying
laws, practices, and procedures that are unique to the state.
Question 8: The Illinois Jurisdictional Examination is administered
in what format?
A. Computer-based testing only
B. Paper and pencil format
C. Oral examination before the Board
D. Take-home examination
2026/2027 | Illinois Professional Land
Surveyor (PLS) Jurisdictional Exam Study
Guide & Practice Questions | Illinois IJ
Exam Prep, Land Surveying Law, Legal
Descriptions, Plats, Public Land Survey
System, Conveyances, Records &
Professional Standards
Question 1: Which Illinois statute governs the practice of
professional land surveying and establishes the licensure
requirements for surveyors in the state?
A. Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205)
B. Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989 (225 ILCS 330)
C. Illinois Land Survey Monuments Act (765 ILCS 220)
D. Illinois State Plane Coordinate System Act (765 ILCS 225)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of
1989 (225 ILCS 330)
Rationale: The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989 (225 ILCS
330) is the primary statute that defines the practice of land surveying,
establishes licensure requirements, and grants authority to the Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to regulate
the profession. The Plat Act addresses subdivision requirements, the Land
Survey Monuments Act addresses monument standards, and the State
Plane Coordinate System Act addresses coordinate system use, but none of
these establish the overall licensure framework.
Question 2: In Illinois boundary retracement jurisprudence, which
type of evidence carries the highest priority when reestablishing
original boundaries?
A. Distances recorded in the original plat
B. Bearing calls as originally measured by magnetic compass
C. Original monuments found undisturbed
D. GPS coordinates from the current Illinois State Plane Coordinate System
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Original monuments found undisturbed
,Rationale: Illinois follows the "monument over measurement" rule, which
places original monuments (if found undisturbed) at the highest priority in
the hierarchy of boundary evidence. This principle recognizes that original
surveyors set monuments to mark boundaries, and those physical marks
reflect their professional judgment regarding the true corner location.
Distances, bearings, and coordinates are subordinate to original
monuments because they are subject to measurement error and
transcription mistakes.
Question 3: Under the Illinois Plat Act, what is the maximum
acreage for a subdivision to qualify as a "minor subdivision"
without requiring full planning commission review?
A. 5 acres
B. 10 acres
C. 20 acres
D. 35 acres
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 10 acres
Rationale: The Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205) specifies that when an owner
subdivides land into two or more parts, any of which is less than 10 acres, a
subdivision plat must be prepared by an Illinois Registered Land Surveyor
and recorded. The 10-acre threshold is a key jurisdictional limit that
surveyors must understand when determining whether platting
requirements apply to a particular land division.
Question 4: A property description calls for a stone monument at a
corner, but the surveyor finds the stone is missing. What is the
proper procedure for reestablishing the corner?
A. Replace the stone with a new monument at the computed position based
solely on deed distances
B. Accept adjacent property fences as controlling evidence
C. Locate the stone by its original witness ties and apply proportionate
measurement using adjoining original monuments
D. Ignore the stone call and rely only on recorded distances
,CORRECT ANSWER: C. Locate the stone by its original witness ties
and apply proportionate measurement using adjoining original
monuments
Rationale: When an original monument is lost, Illinois courts require the
surveyor to reconstruct its position using the best available evidence,
including witness ties, adjoining original monuments, and occupation
evidence. Proportionate measurement is then applied to distribute any
excess or deficiency between controlling original monuments. Replacing a
monument based solely on deed distances without investigating other
evidence violates professional standards, and accepting fences without
evidence of original survey intent is improper.
Question 5: Under the Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act,
which of the following activities is NOT within the statutory
definition of land surveying?
A. Establishing or reestablishing land boundaries
B. Preparing descriptions for the determination of title to real property
C. Designing structural foundations for buildings
D. Setting monuments that mark land boundaries
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Designing structural foundations for
buildings
Rationale: The Illinois Professional Land Surveyor Act (225 ILCS 330/5)
defines land surveying to include establishing and reestablishing
boundaries, preparing property descriptions, and setting boundary
monuments. Designing structural foundations is an engineering function
that falls outside the statutory definition of land surveying and typically
requires professional engineering licensure.
Question 6: Which Illinois state agency is responsible for
administering the Professional Land Surveyor licensing
examination and issuing licenses?
A. Illinois Department of Natural Resources
B. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
, C. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
D. Illinois State Board of Education
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Rationale: The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
(IDFPR) is the state agency responsible for licensing and regulating
professional land surveyors in Illinois. IDFPR enforces the Illinois
Professional Land Surveyor Act, oversees the examination process through
designated testing services, and handles disciplinary actions against
licensees.
Question 7: How many examinations must an applicant pass to
obtain licensure as a Professional Land Surveyor in Illinois?
A. One examination (Illinois Jurisdictional Examination only)
B. Two examinations (FS and PS only)
C. Three examinations (FS, PS, and Illinois Jurisdictional Examination)
D. Four examinations (FS, PS, Illinois Jurisdictional, and State Plane
Coordinate Examination)
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Three examinations (FS, PS, and Illinois
Jurisdictional Examination)
Rationale: Illinois requires three examinations for licensure as a
Professional Land Surveyor: the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying (FS)
examination, the NCEES Principles and Practice of Land Surveying (PS)
examination, and the Illinois Jurisdictional Examination. The Illinois
Jurisdictional Examination specifically tests knowledge of Illinois surveying
laws, practices, and procedures that are unique to the state.
Question 8: The Illinois Jurisdictional Examination is administered
in what format?
A. Computer-based testing only
B. Paper and pencil format
C. Oral examination before the Board
D. Take-home examination
