The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors
Public Protection
Become An OLS
Become an Ontario Land Surveyor (OLS)
Statutory Requirements
To be granted a licence or certificate of registration to practise professional surveying in Ontario, an applicant must:
be not less than eighteen years of age;
be a citizen of Canada or have the status of a permanent resident of Canada
be of good character
have completed a baccalaureate-level program in professional surveying (often referred to as geomatics) approved by the Association's Academic and Experience Requirements Committee (AERC), or a course that is in the opinion of the AERC equal in content and level of difficulty, or experience and knowledge that provides equivalent competencies to such an academic program (see Programs)
have complied with the experience requirements specified in the regulations for the issuance of the licence (see Articling), and
have passed a statutes and professional examination
The path to becoming a surveyor involves the following three steps:
Step 1 - Academic Evaluation
Step 2 - Articling
Step 3 - Professional Exams
The first step for all candidates for membership is to apply to the Registrar of the Association for a detailed evaluation of their post-secondary education and experience.
The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors is open to all and values diversity in its membership. Click here for further details.
Survey Law Education
Since survey law education is critical to becoming licensed as an Ontario Land Surveyor and since it is not available at all universities that can lead to licensure as an Ontario Land Surveyor, the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS) has arranged with Four Point Learning to hold two survey law courses that will meet the requirements of the AOLS.
The Survey Law 1 course is being offered by Izaak de Rijcke through the Four Point Learning site starting September 1, 2022. Understanding the workings of the legal system and the legal process is essential for regulated professionals entrusted to make ethical and defensible opinions that have the potential of being reviewed by a court. This university-level course will be taught online with 2 lectures per week: a "live" one scheduled for Wednesday evenings from 6 pm to 7:30 pm EST and a pre-recorded one made available later in the week. For more information, consult the syllabus. The fee for this course is $750.00 plus HST. This fee cannot be treated as tuition under the Income Tax Act. CBEPS has awarded exemptions from both C8 Cadastral Studies and C9 Survey Law to candidates upon successful completion of both courses Survey Law 1 and Survey Law 2. To register for the course, complete this form. Once payment is confirmed, you will receive an enrolment key and instructions to register with Four Point Learning to access class materials and to participate remotely.
The registration form is available under the Related Downloads column on the left and includes instructions.
Academic Evaluation (Step 1)
Articling (Step 2)
Professional Exams (Step 3)
Internationally Trained Applicants
Other Canadian Surveyors
Programs (Education)
Careers in Surveying
Registration Appeals
AIT-AOLS Handbook
AOLS Accessibility Policy
AERC (Academic and Experience Requirements Committee) Policies
Survey Law Course Registration Form
Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS)
was established in 1892. It is a self-governing association,
responsible for the licensing and governance of professional
land surveyors under the authority of the Surveyors Act.
The Association of Ontario Land Surveyors acknowledges that its office at 1043 McNicoll Avenue in Scarborough is situated on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. Ontario Land Surveyors also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
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