What is the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW)?

The Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) is a professional association that serves the surveying community in Washington State. Its website, lsaw.org, describes a membership of more than 1,000 people working to protect and advance the profession. It is useful to two broad audiences: licensed surveyors and firms looking for membership, education, events, and industry news, and members of the public trying to find a licensed land surveyor near them.

What LSAW offers

The site organizes its activity around a few core functions:

• Membership — information on benefits, a join page, and a member login area.
• Education and careers — college and career programs, scholarships, mentorships and job shadowing, a Washington Young Surveyors Network, a job board, and a Certified Survey Technician (CST) track.
• Events — a calendar covering a conference, workshops, and recorded events, plus chapter meetings.
• Publications and resources — the Evergreen State Surveyor publication, an "Evergreen State Surveyor Links" resource page, and an LSAW Store.
• A public surveyor directory — a searchable list of licensed Washington land surveyors.

Finding a licensed surveyor

If you need professional surveying services, the site's "Find a Surveyor" directory is the main entry point. According to the page, it lists licensed members who are ready to help and can be searched to find surveyors serving communities throughout Washington State. The page names several common service types you can search for:

• Boundary surveys
• Construction staking
• Topographic surveys
• Other professional surveying services

The directory is the practical starting point for a property owner, developer, or contractor who needs a licensed professional rather than general information about the field.

Membership and professional resources

For surveyors, LSAW positions membership as an investment in the profession. The membership section covers benefits and joining, and members get access to a login area and member communications such as E-News. The education side is broader than formal training: it includes scholarships, mentorship and job-shadowing opportunities, and a network aimed at younger surveyors.

The resources section includes a PLS Refresher Course Video Library, which suggests support for those preparing for professional licensure. The site also points to a Certified Survey Technician (CST) program, a job board, and the Evergreen State Surveyor publication for staying current on LSAW and industry news.

Events and chapters

LSAW runs events at both the statewide and chapter level. The site lists a conference, workshops, and recorded events, and its calendar shows recurring chapter meetings. Examples from the calendar include a Young Surveyors Network virtual meeting, a Snohomish Chapter meeting, and a Cascade Columbia Chapter meeting. Chapter meetings are typically the most local way to connect with other surveyors, while the conference and workshops are the larger-format events.

Recent news and updates

The site's news section carries short announcements of interest to the profession. Examples shown include a prevailing wage map update, news about Low Distortion Projections (LDP), and an NGS webinar announcement. These items are worth checking if you follow policy, mapping standards, or federal surveying agency updates.

Who should use the site

The site does not publish pricing for membership or events on the pages reviewed, so check the membership and event pages directly for current terms.