Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors


INTERNATIONAL
APPLICANTS

(applicants not currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction)    
(or Foreign Trained Candidates)

 

Under the authority of Council of the Association, the Board of Examiners (Board) established under Section 16 of the Act, is responsible for the registration of applicants not currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction under Section 9 of the Regulations.

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners has delegated to the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors(CBEPS), the assessment of foreign trained candidates in respect to the academic requirements for a CBEPS Certificate of Completion.

Therefore, the first step is for an applicant to apply as a CBEPS candidate.  The following document provides detailed information regarding the process to obtain a CBEPS Certificate of Completion.
Foreign Trained Candidates – CBEPS Requirements

 

Additional information (including an application form) can be found on the CBEPS website at:

https://cbeps-cceag.ca/ftls-foreign-trained-land-surveyors/   or   https://cbeps-cceag.ca/ftls-forms/

 

Once a CBEPS Certificate of Completion has been issued to the candidate and CBEPS (or the candidate), has informed the ANSLS Executive Director with a copy of such the applicant can complete and send in an application form to the Association, via email to admin@ansls.ca, it will be officially recorded.   

The application form can be downloaded from the ANSLS website here. 

 

As part of the application process, an applicant is required to provide the following information:

Ø  Payment of candidate registration-membership dues (as of 2025 this is $200.00 and is subject to change yearly pending approval of the next years budget).  Payment can be made via eTransfer or by cheque.  The applicant will be invoiced accordingly and the respective payment information will be included as part of the invoice.

 

Ø  A completed articling agreement.

 

Ø  Two letters of reference (using the Character Reference Form).

 

Ø  A Resume.

 

Once the Association has received all of the above information, the Board will register and record the name of the applicant in the candidate roster.  This is posted on the ANSLS website here.  

 

The candidate can then undertake all of the following requirements (in no particular order) for full-active membership and licensure as a Nova Scotia Land Surveyor:

Ø  Serve a stipulated period of articling time with a land surveyor practicing in Nova Scotia to the satisfaction of the Board; (section 41 (1 & 2) and Schedule “C” of the ANSLS bylaws. Detailed information concerning this requirement is included in the following documents:

Articles – Requirements                     Articling Guidelines  

 

Ø  Fulfill the jurisdictional examination requirements.

Detailed information concerning this requirement is included in the following documents:

       Jurisdictional Exam Requirements                    Statutes Excerpts for Jurisdictional Exam  (Updated APRIL 2020)

 

Ø  Proof of being legally entitled to work in Canada.

The following documents provide useful information for candidates (including available supports):
Immigration Programs                   Nova Scotia Immigration  

 

                        Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (a micro-loan available for newcomers in Atlantic Canada that allows them to overcome financial barriers to upgrade their skills and obtain their license or certification); and

                     Foreign Credential Recognition (a new Government of Canada online resource to facilitate foreign credential recognition)

 

 

Ø  Certificate of standing showing not subject to any disciplinary findings.

For an applicant who was previously registered in another Canadian jurisdiction or is or was registered in a jurisdiction outside of Canada, a certificate of standing from all jurisdictions where the applicant was previously licensed or registered establishing that the applicant is not subject to any disciplinary findings that would prohibit or limit the applicant’s ability to practise professional land surveying.

 

Ø  Once the above requirements have been completed and the Board of Examiners has approved them, the Executive Director contacts the candidate via email.  An example of this correspondence is included here.

Where registration is not granted, and if an appeal was unsuccessful, the Registration Appeal Committee will provide its decision with reasons in writing within 30 days.  The unsuccessfurl applicant is encouraged to contact the Assocation so information respecting measures or programs that might be available to assist them in obtaining registration at a later date can be discussed.

 

 

Ø  Once the Board of Examiners has notified the Executive Director concerning the candidate’s licensure the Executive Director contacts the candidate via email. An example of this correspondence is included here.

This is done within a reasonable time (within ten days).
        

 

Ø  In order for the candidate to be licensed as a Nova Scotia Land Surveyor they have to:

 

o   Take an Oath

 

o   Pay full-active membership dues (pro-rated)

 

o   Provide proof of Liability Insurance

 

Once all of the above have been completed the new member is entered into the official registry.

This adheres to the ANSLS Policy on Communicating Registration Decisions.

 

A summary of all of the above requirements is included in the following documents:

ANSLS Membership Requirements – FTP                Foreign Trained from Regs

 

Forms to be completed are accessible on the ANSLS website at: https://ansls.ca/forms.html