lsaw.org

The Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) offers a structured pathway for people entering the surveying profession, from college and career programs through scholarships, mentorship, job shadowing, a young surveyors network, a job board, and continuing education such as the Certified Survey Technician (CST) program, workshops, and recorded events. These resources are aimed at students, career changers, and early-career surveyors in Washington State. Most are accessed through the LSAW website's Education & Careers and Events sections, and some—such as member login areas and the LSAW Store—may require an account.

College and Career Programs

LSAW maintains dedicated college and career programming for people exploring surveying as a profession. This is the natural starting point if you are a student deciding on a major or a working adult considering a career change. The association frames these programs as part of its broader mission to "protect and advance the profession," and it reports a membership of more than 1,000 people working in Washington surveying.

Scholarships

LSAW lists scholarships among its education resources. For an aspiring surveyor, this is one of the most concrete forms of support: it offsets the cost of surveying coursework or a degree program. The site does not publish award amounts or eligibility rules in the material available here, so treat the scholarship page as the entry point and confirm current criteria directly with LSAW before applying.

Mentorships and Job Shadowing

Mentorship and job shadowing are listed as distinct programs. Job shadowing is the lower-commitment option: you spend time observing a licensed surveyor at work to see whether field and office tasks match your expectations. Mentorship is a longer relationship, useful if you want guidance on coursework, licensing steps, or career direction. For someone who has never set foot on a survey crew, shadowing first and then seeking a mentor is a sensible sequence.

WA Young Surveyors Network

The Washington Young Surveyors Network is LSAW's community for early-career professionals and students. It functions as both a peer group and a learning channel. The site's events calendar shows the network holding virtual meetings—for example, a Young Surveyors Network Virtual Meeting scheduled for October 28, 2026—which makes participation possible without travel. Joining this network is a practical way to hear about internships, exam preparation, and entry-level openings from people at a similar career stage.

Job Board

LSAW operates a job board where surveying employers post openings. For an aspiring surveyor, this is where education translates into a first position: you can look for entry-level field or office roles, and you can compare what employers ask for against the skills you are building through courses or shadowing. Check the board alongside the mentorship programs, since a mentor can often help you interpret which postings suit your current level.

Certified Survey Technician (CST) and Northwest Surveyor

Two resources support skill development and professional standing:

• Certified Survey Technician (CST): a certification track that gives technicians a recognized credential. It is relevant once you are working in the field and want a verifiable marker of competence short of full licensure.
• Northwest Surveyor: LSAW's publication, described on the site as the way to "stay up to date on LSAW and industry news." Reading it builds familiarity with regional practice issues, technology changes, and association news—useful context for interviews and coursework.

The site also lists a PLS Refresher Course Video Library under LSAW Resources, which is aimed at people preparing for the Professional Land Surveyor exam rather than at beginners, but it illustrates the association's continuing-education offerings.

Events, Workshops, and Recorded Events

LSAW's events calendar combines chapter meetings, workshops, a conference, and recorded events. The pattern of upcoming listings shows how the calendar works in practice:

Chapter meetings are typically low-barrier: they are held at local venues and give you a chance to meet working surveyors before committing to a membership. Recorded events are the most flexible option if your schedule conflicts with live sessions.

How to Start

A practical sequence for an aspiring surveyor using these resources:

1. Read the Education & Careers section to identify the college and career programs and the scholarship page.
2. Attend a chapter meeting or the Young Surveyors Network virtual meeting to meet practitioners; check the events calendar for dates and locations.
3. Apply for a scholarship if you are enrolled in or planning surveying coursework—confirm current eligibility with LSAW first.
4. Arrange job shadowing, then look for a mentor as your interest solidifies.
5. Use the job board when you are ready to apply for entry-level work, and consider the CST credential once employed.
6. Join LSAW when you want full access to member benefits; membership information and the member login are separate from the public resource pages.

Common Questions

Do I need to be a member to use these resources? The site presents education, career, and event information publicly, but member login areas and the LSAW Store exist separately, so some content or purchases may require an account. Confirm access before relying on a specific resource.

Is there anything for people outside Washington? The programs are oriented to Washington State—chapter meetings are regional and the job board reflects local employers—but virtual meetings and recorded events are accessible from anywhere.

Where do I find a surveyor to shadow or mentor me? LSAW's Find a Surveyor directory lists licensed Washington land surveyors by area, which is also a reasonable way to identify local firms to contact about shadowing.

The Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) publishes both on its website at lsaw.org. Upcoming events appear in the "Save the Date" section of the home page, recent announcements appear under "Recent News," and the Evergreen State Surveyor publication covers association and industry news in more depth. For a full schedule rather than home-page highlights, use the Events Calendar in the main navigation, which lists the annual conference, workshops, and recorded events alongside chapter meetings.

Events: What's Listed and Where

The home page's "Save the Date" block shows the next few events with date, time, and location. At the time of the site snapshot, these included:

These are only the nearest entries. The Events Calendar section of the site is organized around four categories:

• Calendar — the general schedule of upcoming events
• Conference — the association's annual conference
• Workshops — training sessions
• Recorded Events — past sessions available to view

Chapter meetings are a recurring way to stay current locally; LSAW organizes members into chapters, and the Snohomish and Cascade Columbia meetings above are examples of that structure. The Young Surveyors Network runs its own virtual meetings, which is useful if you can't attend a chapter gathering in person.

News: Recent Announcements

The "Recent News" section carries short, dated announcements. The snapshot shows three:

• Prevailing Wage Map Update (10/19/2026)
• Low Distortion Projections (LDP) News (10/19/2026)
• NGS Webinar (October 1) (09/24/2026)

These illustrate the kind of updates LSAW posts: changes to wage mapping references, developments in Low Distortion Projections, and notices of National Geodetic Survey webinars. If your work depends on current projection or wage-map information, checking this section periodically is the quickest way to catch changes.

The Evergreen State Surveyor

For fuller coverage than short announcements, LSAW points members to the Evergreen State Surveyor, described on the site as the place to "stay up to date on LSAW and industry news." The home page links to it under "View Publication." Treat this as the association's publication for longer-form news, while "Recent News" handles time-sensitive notices.

A Practical Routine

To keep up without checking repeatedly:

1. Open lsaw.org and scan "Save the Date" for the next chapter or network meeting near you.
2. Check "Recent News" for dated announcements that affect your work.
3. Use the Events Calendar when you need the full conference and workshop schedule, or want recorded sessions.
4. Read the Evergreen State Surveyor for context and industry coverage.

One caveat: the home page shows only a handful of upcoming items, so don't assume it's the complete schedule. The calendar is the authoritative list. Also note that some site functions, such as member login, sit behind an account; the public event listings and news items described above are visible on the home page itself.

Joining the Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) gives you access to a professional community of more than 1,000 members, a member directory listing, industry news through the Evergreen State Surveyor publication, chapter meetings and events, education and career resources, and a job board. Membership is aimed at land surveyors and related professionals in Washington who want to protect and advance the profession. The site presents membership as an investment in your profession and your future, but it does not publish dues or a fee schedule, so check the Membership Info & Benefits page or contact LSAW directly for current pricing and eligibility.

What membership includes

Based on the LSAW site, members can expect the following:

• A professional community: LSAW describes itself as "1,000+ members working to protect and advance the profession."
• Chapter participation: Local chapters such as Snohomish and Cascade Columbia hold regular meetings, giving members regional networking opportunities.
• Events and workshops: The events calendar covers the annual conference, workshops, and recorded events.
• Industry news: The Evergreen State Surveyor publication keeps members current on LSAW and industry developments, and E-News delivers updates.
• Education and career support: College and career programs, scholarships, mentorships and job shadowing, the WA Young Surveyors Network, and a job board.
• Professional development: Resources include a PLS Refresher Course video library and information on the Certified Survey Technician (CST) credential and the Northwest Surveyor program.
• Member tools: A member login, the LSAW Store, and a "Find a Surveyor" directory where licensed members are listed as ready to help.

How to join

1. Go to the LSAW website (lsaw.org) and open the Membership section.
2. Review Membership Info & Benefits to confirm which membership category fits you and what it covers.
3. Select Join LSAW and complete the application.
4. Once approved, use Member Login to access member-only areas, and subscribe to E-News so you don't miss announcements.

The site does not spell out the application steps, required documents, or approval timeline, so treat the sequence above as a general path and confirm details with LSAW if anything is unclear.

How to tell whether it's worth it for you

Membership makes the most sense if you are a Washington surveyor who values local chapter networking, continuing education, and staying visible in the Find a Surveyor directory. If your main need is simply locating a licensed surveyor for a one-time project, you don't need to join—use the public Find a Surveyor directory instead. If you are early in your career, the scholarship, mentorship, and Young Surveyors Network offerings may be the strongest draw.

Common questions

Is there a member directory? Yes. Licensed members appear in the Find a Surveyor directory, which the public can search by need, such as boundary surveys, construction staking, or topographic surveys.

What does it cost? The site does not publish dues. Check the Membership Info & Benefits page or contact LSAW for current rates.

Can non-members attend events? The calendar lists chapter meetings and workshops, but the site doesn't state whether each event is open to non-members, so confirm with the chapter or LSAW before attending.

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.

To find a licensed land surveyor in Washington, use the Find a Surveyor directory on lsaw.org. The Land Surveyors Association of Washington (LSAW) maintains a searchable directory of licensed members serving communities throughout Washington State. The directory is the right starting point if you need a boundary survey, construction staking, a topographic survey, or other professional surveying services, and you want to work with a licensed surveyor rather than search general listings.

What the LSAW directory covers

The site's "Find a Licensed Land Surveyor Near You" section describes the directory as a way to reach "Licensed Members Ready to Help." According to LSAW, the directory lets you search for licensed land surveyors across Washington communities. The services LSAW names as typical reasons to search include:

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

Because the directory is built around LSAW's licensed membership, it is a focused list rather than a general business directory. That matters when you need a surveyor whose credentials you can check.

Step-by-step: using the directory

1. Go to lsaw.org. The homepage is headed "Serving The Surveying Community in Washington."
2. Open the Find a Surveyor page. The homepage has a "FIND A SURVEYOR" call-to-action button, and the navigation menu includes a "Find a Surveyor" link. Both lead to the same directory.
3. Search the directory. The page's "Find a Licensed Land Surveyor Near You" section says you can "Search the LSAW directory to find licensed land surveyors serving communities throughout Washington State." Use the search to narrow results to your area.
4. Use the "Find a Professional Surveyor" link. This is the action link on the directory section; it starts your search.
5. Contact the surveyors you find. The directory lists licensed members; you still need to confirm availability, scope, and pricing directly with each firm.

Expected result: a list of licensed Washington land surveyors you can contact about your project.

Before you search: define your project

The directory works best when you know what kind of survey you need, because different projects call for different services. LSAW's own examples give you a starting vocabulary:

For example, if you are planning a fence or an addition near a property line, a boundary survey is the relevant service. If you are preparing a site for construction, ask about construction staking. Stating your need up front helps you compare firms on the same basis.

Verifying a surveyor's license

The directory is described as a list of licensed Washington land surveyors, which is the main reason to start there. Even so, confirm the license before you hire. Washington regulates land surveying at the state level, and license status can be checked through the state's licensing records. Ask each firm for its license number and confirm it independently. This is a general verification step, not something the LSAW page itself documents.

Common sticking points

• The directory is not a quote tool. It helps you find licensed surveyors; it does not publish rates. Expect to request quotes directly.
• Membership is not the same as a complete list of every surveyor in the state. The directory covers LSAW's licensed members. If your area has few results, widen your search radius or ask local firms for referrals.
• Scope varies by firm. LSAW lists service categories, but each firm decides what it offers. Confirm your specific service when you call.
• Login is separate from search. The site has a member login, but the Find a Surveyor directory is presented as a public search tool. If a page asks you to log in, return to the Find a Surveyor link from the main navigation.

Related LSAW resources

If you are exploring the profession rather than hiring, the site also links to education and career pages, a job board, the Evergreen State Surveyor publication, events, and a PLS Refresher Course video library. For most people looking to hire, though, the Find a Surveyor directory is the direct route.