| Formal Name: | Nebraska State Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors. (NBELS) |
| Contact Person: | Casey C. Sherlock, State Surveyor, Ex Officio Secretary of Examining Board, 555 North Cotner Blvd., LL, Lincoln, NE 68505. |
| Purpose: | The mission of the Nebraska State Board of Examiners for the Land Surveyors (Board) is to enforce and administer the laws relating to the regulation of land surveying through licensing in Nebraska and to ensure the quality of land surveying in Nebraska for the protection of the public.The Board is independent of all other examining boards and is established for the purpose of determining the ability of persons coming before it to practice of land surveying.The Boards activities are funded by license and examination fees collected from surveyors.The Board administers applications for examinations of new applicants. The Board examines and provides for the registration and licensure of qualified land surveyors and improves the quality of practicing surveyors by enforcing state law relating to land surveyors.The Board, as a member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES), further protects the public by requiring all land surveyor applicants to pass the NCEES Examination. The NCEES Examination, the national standard examination for land surveyors, is offered year-round. The primary focus of regulation and education are ethical practice, professional competency, and technical proficiency. The Board continues to assure compliance with the 30-hour biennial professional development requirement for registration renewal.The Board monitors and addresses evolving issues including the impact of higher educational standards for registration, the application of advanced land surveying technologies, and the adoption of geographic information systems by the public and private sectors.The Board seeks to protect the citizens through examination for registration, regulation, and continuing education of all professional land surveyors registered in Nebraska. The Board conducts investigations of the actions of professional land surveyors and determines if any person or organization has violated the Land Surveyors Regulation Act. Formal complaints against registered land surveyors shall be heard by the Board. In the event the Board finds any person or organization guilty of charges the Board may issue a censure or reprimand, suspend judgement, enforce probation, limit the scope of practice, impose civil penalty, revoke, suspend, or cancel the license, issue a cease and desist order, or dismiss action. The Board recognizes the importance of timely action regarding complaints. Complaints may be presented at any of the regularly scheduled meetings to determine further action. |
| How Many Affectable: | NA |
| How Many Served: | NA |
| Year Created: | 1957 |
| Year Active: | 1958 |
| Sunset Date: | NA |
| Authorization Citation: | Land Surveyors Regulation Act (Nebraska Revised Statutes Section 81-8,108 through 81-8,127). |
| Parent Agency: | NA |
| Number Of Members: | 5 |
| Who Appoints: | Governor |
| Legislative Approval: | No |
| Qualifications Of Members: | The Board shall consist of four members appointed by the Governor who are duly licensed under the Land Surveyors Regulation Act to practice land surveying and one lay member appointed by the Governor who is of the age of legal majority and has been a resident of Nebraska for at least one year immediately prior to appointment to the Board. Such lay member shall be a representative of consumer viewpoints.Each member of the Board who is a professional land surveyor shall be a resident of the State of Nebraska for at least one year immediately preceding his or her appointment to the Board, shall have been engaged in the active practice of the discipline for at least ten years, and shall have been in responsible charge of work for at least five years prior to his or her appointment to the Board. |
| Per Diem: | No |
| Expense Reimbursement: | Yes |
| Term Length: | The members of the Board shall be appointed to five-year terms. Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. Each member appointed to the Board shall receive a certificate of appointment from the Governor. |
| Terms Rotate or Expire At Once: | Terms Rotate |
| Required FY 21-22: | 1 |
| Held FY 21-22: | 6 |
| Required FY 22-23: | 1 |
| Held FY 22-23: | 7 |
| Required FY 23-24: | 1 |
| Held FY 23-24: | 6 |
| Support Staff: | Yes |
| Shared or Separate: | Shared |
| FY 21-22 Budget: | $30,198.12 Cash fund appropriation. |
| FY 22-23 Budget: | $39,811.64 Cash fund appropriation. (biennial renewal) |
| FY 23-24 Budget: | $30,476.64 Cash fund appropriation. |
| Other Funding Sources: | None |
| Spending Authority: | The Board has one program, Enforcement Standards. |
| Since July 1, 2020: | July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024, the Board:Maintained an average annual roster of 318 active and 27 inactive licensees.Administered 54 Nebraska State-Specific land surveyor examinations.Issued 43 new licenses and 4 reinstatements.Issued 21 new surveyor-in-training certificates.Removed 58 registrants from the active roster.One reciprocity land surveyor license surrendered.Reviewed and investigated 7 formal complaints.Reviewed and investigated 24 land surveyors for their land surveying practices, Minimum Standards for Land Surveys in Nebraska, and land surveyor performance reviews.LB 102, signed by the Governor, became operative on 9-1-2024:oChanged provisions relating to the Land Surveyors Regulation Act,oRevised state laws that govern the land surveying profession in Nebraska,oRevised the Nebraska Plane Coordinate System Act, The Nebraska Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors offers the ability to pay application and biennial renewal fees online.The Board approved the use of digital land surveyor seals and authorized the Ex Official Secretary of the Examining Board to create a digital seal of the approved design by the Board. This helps protect the public and preserve the official seal of a licensed professional land surveyor in Nebraska.The Board remains an active member of the National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCEES). Board members and staff attend NCEES Central Zone Annual Member Board Administrator and Board President meetings to advance licensure for land surveyors. In addition to business sessions, agendas included technical workshops and forums to discuss the importance of professions, along with opportunities to network with members and staff of other licensing boards. |