Certified Federal Surveyor Program Admission Standards Revision

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov

July 31, 2012

In Reply Refer To:

9687 (350) P

EMS TRANSMISSION 08/02/2012

Instruction Memorandum No. 2012-162

Expires:  09/30/2013

To:                   All State Directors

                        Attn:  Chief Cadastral Surveyors

From:               Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty Management

Subject:           Certified Federal Surveyor Program Admission Standards Revision

Program Area:  Cadastral Survey.

Purpose:  This Instruction Memorandum (IM) establishes new qualification standards for applicants in the Certified Federal Surveyor (CFedS) Program.

Policy/Action:  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has modified qualifications for acceptance into the CFedS Program to include pre-registered/pre-licensed applicants that have passed the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Fundamentals of Surveying examination.  Pre-registered/pre-licensed applicants who pass the CFedS examination will earn certification when they become registered/licensed in at least one state, territory, or the District of Columbia.  In the interim, between passing the CFedS examination and becoming registered, the surveyors-in-training will have the same continuing education and renewal requirements as CFedS.

Timeframe:  Effective immediately.

Budget Impact:  Minimal.  The CFedS Certification Panel projects a 10-percent increase in net program revenue per year with this revision.  The long-term savings due to an increased percentage of local surveys of Federal-interest boundaries to Federal standards is difficult to quantify.

Background:  The BLM limits admission to the CFedS Program to Registered Professional Land Surveyors.  There are now two paths to Certification:  one for registered/licensed applicants and one for pre-registered/pre-licensed applicants that have passed the NCEES Fundamentals of Surveying examination.

Providing CFedS Program training to pre-registered/pre-licensed surveyors benefits the BLM, trust beneficiaries, other Federal land management agencies, and the public by providing future local surveyors with specialized training developed by Cadastral Survey.  This is unique training, to Federal standards, that is not available elsewhere.  The CFedS Program training enhances the quality of surveying services offered in Indian Country as well as the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) in general.

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  The Division of Lands, Realty and Cadastral Survey (WO-350) will incorporate this interim policy into BLM Manual 9687, Certified Federal Surveyor Program, and Handbook H-9687-1 during the next revision.

Coordination:  WO-350 coordinated preparation with the CFedS Certification Panel.

Contact:  If you have questions or need additional information, please contact me at 202-208-4201, or your staff may contact Don Buhler, Branch Chief, Cadastral Survey (WO-350) at 202-912-7353.

Signed by:                                                                   Authenticated by:

Michael Nedd                                                             Robert M. Williams

Assistant Director                                                       Division of IRM Governance,WO-560

Minerals and Realty Management