ALABAMA PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYOR EXAM
2026 UPDATE Comprehensive -Question Practice
Test with Answers & Rationales | Premium Study
Guide for Licensure Success
1. Which type of evidence is given the highest priority in Alabama boundary
resolution?
A) Area
B) Bearings
C) Artificial monuments
D) Natural monuments
Answer: D – Natural monuments
Rationale: Under Alabama boundary law (consistent with common law), natural
monuments such as rivers, trees, or ridgelines control over all other evidence
because they are least likely to be disturbed. They are considered the most
permanent and reliable evidence of boundary location.
2. The Alabama Board that regulates professional land surveyors is:
A) Alabama Surveyors Association
B) Alabama State Licensing Board
C) Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
D) Alabama Department of Revenue
Answer: C – Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Rationale: The BELS is established under Title 34, Chapter 11 of the Alabama Code
and regulates engineers and land surveyors in the state. It is responsible for
licensing, discipline, and professional standards.
,3. The primary purpose of a retracement survey is to:
A) Correct errors in the original survey
B) Establish new boundaries
C) Locate and re-establish existing boundaries
D) Equalize land ownership
Answer: C – Locate and re-establish existing boundaries
Rationale: A retracement survey follows the intent of the original surveyor, not
modern measurements or perceived mistakes. Its purpose is to find and re-
establish the original boundaries as they were intended and marked.
4. In Alabama, professional land surveyor licenses must be renewed:
A) Every year
B) Every two years
C) Every three years
D) Every five years
Answer: B – Every two years
Rationale: Alabama operates on a biennial renewal cycle for PLS licenses.
Licensees must complete continuing education requirements and submit renewal
applications to the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors.
5. Most lands in Alabama are surveyed under which system?
A) Metes and bounds only
B) Spanish land grant system
C) Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
D) Torrens system
Answer: C – Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
,Rationale: Alabama is a PLSS state, though metes and bounds descriptions are still
widely used within PLSS parcels. The PLSS was established by the federal
government to survey and divide public lands.
6. A township in the PLSS contains how many sections?
A) 12
B) 24
C) 36
D) 48
Answer: C – 36
Rationale: Each township is 6 miles by 6 miles, divided into 36 one-mile square
sections. This standardized system was established by the Land Ordinance of
1785.
7. One section of land in the PLSS equals approximately:
A) 160 acres
B) 320 acres
C) 640 acres
D) 1,280 acres
Answer: C – 640 acres
Rationale: A section is 1 mile × 1 mile, which equals 640 acres. One section is
further divided into quarter sections of 160 acres each, and quarter-quarter
sections of 40 acres each.
8. A quarter section in the PLSS contains approximately:
A) 40 acres
B) 80 acres
C) 160 acres
D) 320 acres
, Answer: C – 160 acres
Rationale: A quarter section is one-quarter of a 640-acre section, totaling 160
acres. It is typically one-half mile by one-half mile.
9. A quarter-quarter section in the PLSS contains approximately:
A) 10 acres
B) 20 acres
C) 40 acres
D) 80 acres
Answer: C – 40 acres
Rationale: A quarter-quarter section is one-quarter of a quarter section, totaling
40 acres. It is typically one-quarter mile by one-quarter mile.
10. What is the primary purpose of the Public Land Survey System?
A) To establish a uniform method for dividing and describing public lands
B) To collect taxes on land
C) To create national parks
D) To establish state boundaries
Answer: A – To establish a uniform method for dividing and describing public
lands
Rationale: The PLSS was created to provide a standardized system for dividing and
describing land in the United States. It established a grid pattern for identifying
land parcels.
11. The Land Ordinance of 1785 established the:
A) Declaration of Independence
B) Public Land Survey System
C) U.S. Constitution
D) Bill of Rights
2026 UPDATE Comprehensive -Question Practice
Test with Answers & Rationales | Premium Study
Guide for Licensure Success
1. Which type of evidence is given the highest priority in Alabama boundary
resolution?
A) Area
B) Bearings
C) Artificial monuments
D) Natural monuments
Answer: D – Natural monuments
Rationale: Under Alabama boundary law (consistent with common law), natural
monuments such as rivers, trees, or ridgelines control over all other evidence
because they are least likely to be disturbed. They are considered the most
permanent and reliable evidence of boundary location.
2. The Alabama Board that regulates professional land surveyors is:
A) Alabama Surveyors Association
B) Alabama State Licensing Board
C) Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
D) Alabama Department of Revenue
Answer: C – Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Rationale: The BELS is established under Title 34, Chapter 11 of the Alabama Code
and regulates engineers and land surveyors in the state. It is responsible for
licensing, discipline, and professional standards.
,3. The primary purpose of a retracement survey is to:
A) Correct errors in the original survey
B) Establish new boundaries
C) Locate and re-establish existing boundaries
D) Equalize land ownership
Answer: C – Locate and re-establish existing boundaries
Rationale: A retracement survey follows the intent of the original surveyor, not
modern measurements or perceived mistakes. Its purpose is to find and re-
establish the original boundaries as they were intended and marked.
4. In Alabama, professional land surveyor licenses must be renewed:
A) Every year
B) Every two years
C) Every three years
D) Every five years
Answer: B – Every two years
Rationale: Alabama operates on a biennial renewal cycle for PLS licenses.
Licensees must complete continuing education requirements and submit renewal
applications to the Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land
Surveyors.
5. Most lands in Alabama are surveyed under which system?
A) Metes and bounds only
B) Spanish land grant system
C) Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
D) Torrens system
Answer: C – Public Land Survey System (PLSS)
,Rationale: Alabama is a PLSS state, though metes and bounds descriptions are still
widely used within PLSS parcels. The PLSS was established by the federal
government to survey and divide public lands.
6. A township in the PLSS contains how many sections?
A) 12
B) 24
C) 36
D) 48
Answer: C – 36
Rationale: Each township is 6 miles by 6 miles, divided into 36 one-mile square
sections. This standardized system was established by the Land Ordinance of
1785.
7. One section of land in the PLSS equals approximately:
A) 160 acres
B) 320 acres
C) 640 acres
D) 1,280 acres
Answer: C – 640 acres
Rationale: A section is 1 mile × 1 mile, which equals 640 acres. One section is
further divided into quarter sections of 160 acres each, and quarter-quarter
sections of 40 acres each.
8. A quarter section in the PLSS contains approximately:
A) 40 acres
B) 80 acres
C) 160 acres
D) 320 acres
, Answer: C – 160 acres
Rationale: A quarter section is one-quarter of a 640-acre section, totaling 160
acres. It is typically one-half mile by one-half mile.
9. A quarter-quarter section in the PLSS contains approximately:
A) 10 acres
B) 20 acres
C) 40 acres
D) 80 acres
Answer: C – 40 acres
Rationale: A quarter-quarter section is one-quarter of a quarter section, totaling
40 acres. It is typically one-quarter mile by one-quarter mile.
10. What is the primary purpose of the Public Land Survey System?
A) To establish a uniform method for dividing and describing public lands
B) To collect taxes on land
C) To create national parks
D) To establish state boundaries
Answer: A – To establish a uniform method for dividing and describing public
lands
Rationale: The PLSS was created to provide a standardized system for dividing and
describing land in the United States. It established a grid pattern for identifying
land parcels.
11. The Land Ordinance of 1785 established the:
A) Declaration of Independence
B) Public Land Survey System
C) U.S. Constitution
D) Bill of Rights
