Surveyor/Mapper Examinations and Continuing Education

The post-examination review process is designed to allow each candidate who sits for and fails an examination developed by the state of Florida the opportunity to review the examination items (original exam books are not retained), answers, grades and grading keys for the parts of the examination failed or the questions the candidate answered incorrectly only. The candidate will be informed as to exactly which questions were answered incorrectly, and they will be provided with the correct answers for those questions.

The review session will be conducted in Tallahassee. Reviews are usually completed within six to eight weeks after the mailing of the original grade report.

The post-examination review process is for the Florida Jurisdictional  Examination only. Security procedures for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) do not allow for post-examination reviews on either the Fundamentals Examination (FS) or the Principles and Practice Examination (PS).

How to Request a Review

To request a review, you must complete the Post-Examination Review Request Form[ ]. Return the completed form and a fee of $75 to:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers
Attention:  Executive Director
P.O. Box 6700
Tallahassee, FL 32314-6700

Requests for a review must be received within 21 days from the release date of the grade notification. Once a candidate's timely request for review is received, a file is developed.

The file will contain the review request, candidate's grade report, answer sheets and any pertinent material to be used during the review session. The answer sheets are then scored by hand to verify the original grade that was reported. Once the score has been verified, an appointment letter will be mailed to the candidate. This letter will contain specific information concerning the date, time and location of the review. Guidelines governing the review session and a map will accompany the appointment letter.

Candidates who submit challenges can expect a response to those challenges within about four weeks. To maintain the confidentiality of the examination, the only response candidates will see is “credit” or “no credit." No details of subject matter experts or consultants can be revealed.

The Review Session

All post-examination reviews are handled by FDACS, and each review session is considered to be an extension of the examination administration. Only the candidate may attend the review session. Proper identification is required to obtain entry. There will be no talking or note-taking of any kind. Candidates are usually given one-half of the exam administration time. For example, if you took a two hour and 30 minute examination, you will only receive one hour and 15 minutes to review. Candidates will not be able to see their original exam book since it is not retained after the exam.

The Challenge Process

Written challenges are accepted for the Florida Jurisdictional Examination. Candidates have the right during the review session to challenge (in writing) any question that they believe may be ambiguous or any solution that they believe may be incorrect. 

At the conclusion of the review session, candidates are given a date in which they may expect a response to their challenges. On average, the response time to challenges is approximately four weeks. Due to the confidential nature of the examinations, the only response you will receive is “credit” or “no credit” for each challenged question. Credit will apply only to the candidate who reviewed and challenged.

The Administrative Hearing Process

After receiving the response from FDACS to the challenges previously submitted, and since a candidate who fails a licensure examination has been defined as a substantially affected party, the candidate may petition for an administrative hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH), pursuant to Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes.

To prepare the case, the candidate will be provided an opportunity to again review the questions missed and challenged, along with his/her attorney or subject matter expert. The completed file will be made available to the candidate, his/her attorney and the subject matter expert on the day the case is heard before the DOAH administrative law judge.

This hearing is much like a trial and the candidate will have the responsibility of presenting witnesses to any facts that prove the unfairness or invalidity of the examination. The administrative hearing process is at times lengthy. On average, it may take approximately 10 to 12 months before a final order is issued.