Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors



NEW
APPLICANTS

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 candidate members under Section 9 of the Regulations.  Therefore the first step is for an applicant to apply as a candidate.

Once an applicant has completed and sent in an application form to the ANSLS via email to admin@ansls.ca, it will be officially recorded.  The application form can be downloaded from the Association 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  A copy/scan of a recent government photo ID such as a drivers license.


Ø  Originals (or copies of) academic transcripts, certificates, diplomas or degrees


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


Ø  A CBEPS Certificate of Completion – or current status


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 Association website in the Candidates tab.

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  Obtain a university degree from an accredited university that would qualify for a “certificate of completion” from the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS); or,

 

Ø  Graduation from a technology-level program in surveying (e.g., Geomatics Engineering Technology, NSCC Centre of Geographic Sciences, Annapolis Valley Campus, Lawrencetown, Annapolis County, NS) and completion of CBEPS examinations through home study.

The Nova Scotia Board of Examiners has delegated to CBEPS, the assessment of candidates in respect to the academic requirements for a certificate of completion.

In order to be eligible to become a professional surveyor in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, or a Canada Lands Surveyor, a candidate must have a Certificate of Completion, issued by CBEPS.

A Certificate of Completion of Academic Requirements for Professional Surveyors will be issued upon:

·         proof of sufficient academic qualifications

·         by successful completion of examinations set by the CBEPS

·         or by a combination of academic qualifications and completion of CBEPS examinations.


Detailed information regarding the above requirements can be found in the following documents:

CBEPS Assessment of Candidate Academic Requirements (2020)           CBEPS Assessment of Candidate Academic Requirements (2024)

 

Please note that CBEPS is phasing out the in-person, paper-based examinations at the end of October 2026.  Meanwhile, both that and the new system will run concurrently.

For those who became candidates prior to 2023, they may continue with the old syllabus, as long as they complete all subjects (through exams, exemptions, or a combination) by the end of the October 2026 exam session.  After this, all candidates will be moved to a new National Syllabus.  Replacing the previous exams, there will be two ways to obtain the CBEPS Certificate of Completion:

          1)     Completing an online surveying/geomatics engineering degree through a CBEPS accredited educational institution; OR
      2)   Completing all the requirements of the new CBEPS National Syllabus through online or in-person courses that meet the CBEPS requirements.

Additional information of the 2023 syllabus can be found at: https://cbeps-cceag.ca/2023-syllabus/, and a number of useful resources can be found at: https://cbeps-cceag.ca/resources/

The scheduling of examinations required by CBEPS normally takes place in March and October of each year.  Details can be found on their website: www.cbeps-cceag.ca.  

The CBEPS Appeals Process is included as “Canadian Board of Examiners of Professional Surveyors – Appeals Process

 

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  Complete a “survey project” as assigned and approved by the Board.

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

Survey Project - Requirements    

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 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 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 must:

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 document:

ANSLS Membership Requirements 2025  


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