NSPS is the Recognized National Face of the Surveying Profession!
NSPS provides the platform by which members can share their thoughts and opinions about our common interests through business meetings /committees, regional groups, and student chapters. It also provides a forum for input from other groups such as the National Association of County Surveyors, members of state boards of registration, and the Forum for State Surveying Society Executives.
NSPS sponsored awards include:
- NSPS Surveying Excellence Award
- NSPS Student Projectof the Year
- Excellence in Professional Journalism
- State Affiliate of the year Map/Plat Competition
- University Student Competition
Through the ACSM staff and the online e-Store:
NSPS provides a wide array of books, publications, and accessories at reasonable prices.
NSPS administers a number of certification programs including:
- Certified Survey Technician - CST (Tests and certifies survey technicians for skills and knowledge in four levels),
- Hydographic Surveyor Certification, and Certified
- Flood Plain Surveyor (currently a pilot program in conjunction with FEMA, expected to go nationwide soon).
A variety of insurance programs are offered to NSPS members. They include:
- Life Insurance,
- Health Insurance,
- Accident Insurance, and
Professional Liability/Errors and Omissions
NSPS maintains affiliations and/or memorandums of understanding with many related national and international organizations. Some of these include:
- FIG (International Federation of Surveyors),
- ABET (Accreditation Organization for Surveying Degree Programs),
- NCEES (examination organization comprised of licensing boards members),
- IRWA (International Right of Way Assoc.),
- CCLS (Canada's surveying organization),
- BLM (Bureau of Land Management), and
- The Russian Association of Private Land Surveyors.
NSPS and ACSM hold seats on the NCEES Participating Organizations Liaison Council, and have been active participants in the proceedings associated with the revised Model Law definition for surveying. NSPS is also the US organization tasked with the development of a Mutual Recognition Document with Canada and Mexico as a result of NAFTA.
The NSPS FOUNDATION is a multipurpose, non-profit corporation which provides an avenue to preserve the past and invest in the future of surveying and mapping through the administration of a variety of scholarship programs. The criteria for granting scholarships is set by the donor. Currently, more than a dozen organization-sponsored and privately sponsored scholarships are administered by the Foundation.
NSPS has adopted Model Standards for surveys which can be accessed on the NSPS/ACSM website, along with the standards for ALTA/ACSM surveys. NSPS is the ACSM member organization responsible for these standards. NSPS promotes the surveying profession through its programs including:
NSPS also provides the following to help keep members informed:
- ACSM Bulletin - a bi-monthly magazine
- Surveying and Land Information Science - a quarterly professional journal
As a member organization of ACSM, NSPS provides legislative representation and agency contact through the Government Affairs Committee, the executive director and a lobbying consultant in Washington DC, a bi-monthly update of issues and activities, situational legislative alerts, and a political action committee (PAC).
The NSPS governance structure includes a Board of Governors (one delegate from each state surveying society), and a Board of Directors (officers plus 10 delegates representing geographic areas).
