Passing the Texas RPLS Exam on the First Try

by NLC Support | Feb 13, 2021

A letter in the mail from the Texas Board that starts with “congratulations” is a feeling that few other things can exceed. All of the hard work, study time, board phone calls, and frustration paid off as you pass the Texas RPLS Exam. You are now a Texas Registered Professional Land Surveyor! You earned it. But getting to that point is no easy feat. Instead of “rolling your own” method of passing the exam, I hope that a few pieces of advice from someone who has been in your shoes will help you save time, money, and frustration.

Be a TEXAS Surveyor

No Yankees allowed! That has been the southern battle cry for over a century and it hasn’t changed in 2020. The Texas Board does not expect you to be a good surveyor; they expect you to be a good TEXAS surveyor. That means understanding all of the nuances of Texas surveying including land tenure, land ownership, Texas historical events (which are numerous and deep), and an appreciation for the Texas way. No wonder why several categories have “Texas” in their titles. Texas land ownership, Texas history, etc., etc. There are many great resources for understanding the Texas-specific content including “Land!” published by the Texas General Land Office and the two Texas modules in the NLC Prep review course.

Build Your War Chest

The second step in passing the RPLS exam is gathering a collection of textbooks, articles, websites, YouTube videos, and college lectures into what I call a WAR CHEST. This RPLS Study War Chest is what you will pull from when studying for the RPLS exam. Even before I was accepted to take the exam, I spent months and thousands of dollars assembling my war chest. I begged, pleaded, paid, and paid to get awesome content. The best of which I assembled into the Texas RPLS Exam Workshop. I even found content that had not seen the light of day for years or decades. If you see me during the TSPS annual conference, just ask, I’ve got some amazing stories to tell. It was so much fun finding all this material! I hope you find some gems as well.

Manage Your Time

Time management can be challenging. Besides your exam prep workshop, you likely have other commitments such as a spouse, kids’ extracurricular activities, working long hours, and maybe a few social engagements. Creating a study plan allows you to see how you spend your time and ensures that you are setting aside enough time to complete the workshop before exam day. My suggestion is to set 1-2 hours per night, a few days a week, and you’ll be ready after 8 – 12 weeks of studying. Do not forget to set aside time to review the information you are learning. Besides, there are always study materials to help you through it like NLC Prep’s Texas RPLS Courses.

Get Excited

You have spent the money, dedicated the time, and learned the materials. Good for you! At this point, the exam date is coming very close and the student is nervous, stressed, and worried. Why? You sacrificed so much! Why don’t you feel like you’re ready? Some anxiety can heighten your awareness, and a little adrenaline is good for you. But I want you to feel confident! Feel excited. Get your game face on. You have the knowledge to pass this exam. Go and do it!