CURRENT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SURVEY LICENSE IN KENYA
1. A farm survey of at least ten (10) hectares with a section having a curvilinear boundary of not less than 100m in length. The curvilinear boundary section may also be accepted if it comes from another a different survey.
2. Cadastral survey of at least 30 plots either in one scheme or several schemes.
3. Topographical survey of o a minimum 5 hectares of a medium density area and done in accordance to the Boards guidelines to topographical surveys.
4. Control survey with at least 4 new control points. This may be achieved within the farm survey mentioned in 1 above.
5. Duly completed declaration forms, A & B of the Third Schedule of the Survey Act
6. A pass in the Boards Land Law Examination
7. Full membership of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, with a Certificate of participation and up to date payment.
8. A duly completed application form of the Land Surveyors Board.
9. Application letter to the Board.
As of January 2024, the Land Surveyors Board is reviewing proposed new requirements, currently under consideration by the board’s Education and Examination Committee. Communication regarding these requirements will be conducted upon their ratification.
- PERIMETER SURVEY
Presentation of either production or non-production jobs is allowed.
- For production jobs, a surveyor shall generate new perimeter survey beacons of a new parcel of land. The minimum size is 2 ha for high potential settlements and 4 ha for range lands.
- For non-production jobs all surveys must be georeferenced to the existing datum and may include:
i) Re-establishment of old farm beacons but that involves mandatory new control survey and records of measurements or
(ii) Non production jobs of physical features including water bodies, dams, quarry sites etc. The surveys must be demonstrated in relation to existing cadastral data and shall be approved for “data only” with indications that “the survey is for examination purpose only.”
2. CADASTRAL SURVEY
Presentation of:
a) a minimum of at least 10 plots either in one scheme or at most in 3 schemes and
b) Beacon re-establishment in an existing scheme of not less than 5 plots using newly established control.
3. TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY
- Topographical surveys of a minimum of 1 ha for high density areas with over 60% coverage. OR
- Topographical surveys of a minimum of 4 ha for medium density areas with between 40% and 60%. OR
- Topographical surveys of a minimum of 10 ha for low density areas with not less than 20% coverage.
Note: Refer to the “Practicing guidelines for non- title surveys” from ISK (PG_ISK) for
guidelines.
4. CONTROL SURVEY
Control survey with the following guidelines:
- If GNSS is used, at least 3 points within an area of about 20km 2 by static mode must be established.
- For ordinary triangulation/ traverses by theodolite or total stations, at least 4 points must be established. However, all the control stations must meet the standard survey requirements for a given survey job.
5. EMERGING SURVEY TECHNIQUES IN SUPPORT OF TITLING
Candidates shall also present either production or non- production jobs in the
following categories:
- Earth Observation (Satellite Remote Sensing, Aerial Photography, UAV, LiDAR and GIS) projects provided an area of minimum area of 20 ha is covered. OR
- 3-D cadaster (Sectional Properties) project may also be considered involving at least 10 units. OR
- Setting out works of (not less than 1km in case of roads or 0.1 ha in case of buildings). Other structures can also be considered. Refer to (PG_ISK) for guidelines.
6. Other standard and mandatory requirements are
- Duly completed declaration forms, A & B of the Third Schedule of the Survey Act
- A pass in the Boards Land Law Examination
- Full membership of the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya, with a Certificate of participation and up to date payment.
- A duly completed application form of the Land Surveyors Board.
- Application letter to the Board.
