Licensing process in Manitoba

This profession is regulated in Manitoba by the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors.

The association conducts the licensing process in English only. Thus, all requested documents must be translated into English.

To practise land surveying in Manitoba you must:

• obtain a certificate of completion from the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors
• complete a period of articles, for a minimum of four years, under a registered Manitoba land surveyor
• have a licence from the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors

You must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Contact the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors and tell them you are an internationally educated land surveyor and would like information on how to become licensed to work in Manitoba.

Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors
202 - 83 Garry Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4J9
Phone: 204-943-6972
Fax: 204-957-7602
E-mail: amls@mts.net
Website: amls.ca

STEP 2: Contact the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors and tell them you are an internationally educated surveyor in the process of becoming licensed in Manitoba and you would like to have your academic training assessed.

Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors
Jean-Claude Tétreault, registrar
100E - 900 Dynes Road
Ottawa, Ontario K2C 3L6
Phone: 613-274-7115
Fax: 613-723-5558
E-mail: info@cbeps-cceag.ca
Website: cbeps-cceag.ca

STEP 3: Complete the Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors application form to have your academic training assessed.

You must submit the following:

• letter confirming your entrance if you are enrolled in a geomatics program at a recognized technical institute or an accredited university OR summary of all academic education and training together with an official transcript if you have graduated from a geomatics program at a technical institute or university
• certified copy of any diploma, degree, certificate, commission or other similar evidence of academic standing by a college, university, certifying body or professional association
• application fee: C$100

STEP 4: Complete necessary examinations as prescribed to obtain a certificate of completion.

STEP 5: Complete the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors Board of Examiners application form.

You must submit the following:

• summary of all academic education and training, together with an official transcript of any post-secondary school education
• certified copy of any diploma, degree, certificate, commission or other similar evidence of academic standing by a college, university, certifying body or professional association
• resumé of past work experience in surveying
• Fee of $60 plus GST to cover assessment costs

STEP 6: File article papers with the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors after you have been notified that you have been accepted as a student member of the Association.

A fee of $20 plus GST must accompany the articles. Complete the Association of Manitoba Land Surveyors two year article period under the direct supervison of a Registered Manitoba Land Surveyor who has two or more years of experience.

The article period will require the candidate to work 18 months in the field in the capacity of a crew chief and six months of office related duties that a typical land surveyor would undertake. During this article time three projects have to be completed and submitted to the Board of Examiners. The projects must deal with work which would normally be untertaken by a Land Surveyor and must be approved by the Board of Examiners of the Association prior to being undertaken.

STEP 7: After the required article period and projects have been completed to the satisfaction of the board of examiners the candidate has to apply to write the seven professional practise exams set by the association.

These exams are set in early April of each year and the candidate has to apply to write the exams at least one month in advance of the scheduled sitting. The application for the exams must be accompanied by the required exam fee which is $700 plus GST as well as a separate cheque to cover annual dues and registration costs. The annual dues and registration cheque is only cashed if the candidate is successful, otherwise this cheque is refunded/returned to the applicant.

A pass mark of 65 per cent or more is required for all examinations.

The candidate can appeal any exam mark by submiitting a request to the board accompanied by an appeal fee of $100 plus GST per exam. The resultant exam(s) will be remarked by an independent examiner and the candidate will be informed of the results. These results will be final. Any appeal must be made at least 30 days from the date the candidate was informed of the results of the exams and must be made to the registrar of the association.

STEP 8: When all examination and article requirements have been met you will be licensed to practise as a Manitoba land surveyor upon providing an oath of office and proof of liability insurance. The secretary treasurer of the association will provide the necessary forms to successful candidates.

Successful candidates will have their name published in the Manitoba Gazette. The date of this publication will be the date that their commission as a Manitoba land surveyor comes into effect.

Additional information

Registration as a Manitoba land surveyor is C$250.

Membership fees are C$2,140 plus GST.

You may undertake examination for a certificate of completion before, during or after entering into an agreement of articles.

The two years of your period of articles must be done in Manitoba.

The professional practice examinations can be written once the article process and all other requirements have been completed. Prior to writing you may be asked to complete a series of projects. Examinations are offered in April of each year. Each examination costs C$100. There are seven examinations. The examinations cover the following subjects:

• Manitoba acts and regulations (two exams)
• manuals, systems of survey and practical surveying
• legal descriptions and title interpretation
• survey law
• surveying profession
• oral examination

Language: As part of your work, you are required to have intermediate or advanced English language skills in the four basic language areas - listening, speaking and reading and writing comprehension. Therefore, you should be able to:

• participate in discussions of a complex nature
• share your thoughts clearly
• understand technical documents
• write reports in English with confidence

Revised October 2011

Assistance for newcomers in Manitoba

• Communication and bridging programs for professionals
• Financial help to pursue professional licence