Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board
of New Zealand

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The New Certificate of Competency Assessment
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Framework

Developed under the Standards for Licensing of Cadastral Surve
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Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board of New Zealand
FOREWORD
A key function of the Cadastral Surveyors Licencing Board is to provide a regime to test the
competence of those seeking a cadastral surveying licence for the first time. The Board seeks to
provide a high quality and effective framework that reflects the competencies in the Standards
together with modern working and learning practices.
The new framework is a culmination of Dr Don Grant’s initial review of the former competency
assessment process, which included a series of workshops with representatives of the profession
and resulted in recommendations for the new framework. Consultation with key stakeholders and
the wider profession was then undertaken, which resulted in a number of submissions that have
helped to shape the final assessment framework.
The Board’s focus is on the current and future surveying, learning and professional environment,
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with the intention that the new framework endures through the medium term with any necessary
refinements. We want to ensure a viable, yet challenging, pathway for survey graduates exists that
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provides the foundation for a strong professional career in cadastral surveying.

N Faulkner
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Neale Faulkner
Chair, Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board

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A. Introduction
The Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board (the Board, or CSLB) has designed this assessment
framework for the issue of a certificate of competency that applicants need before applying for an
initial licence to undertake cadastral surveys in New Zealand. This framework is needed to ensure
that the Board can fulfil its statutory responsibilities for licensing and to the profession going into
the future.
This document outlines the background to the assessment framework, the guiding principles, the
new framework and other supporting features.
B. Background
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B.1  Cadastral Survey Act 2002
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The Cadastral Survey Act 2002 (the Act) created the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board of New
Zealand.  Section 11 of the Act outlines the functions and duties of the Board, which in broad terms,
are to administer the licensing of cadastral surveyors, to establish standards that those wishing to
obtain a licence must adhere to, and to investigate complaints made against licensed cadastral
surveyors and exercise certain disciplinary powers1.
The standards that are set for licensing must relate to the competencies required by cadastral
surveyors to meet the standards set by the Surveyor-General, and to the legislative
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the subdivision of land to the extent that they are relevant to cadastral surveying.
The Board may conduct, or arrange for the conduct of, examinations for the purpose of determining
whether applicants for licences under this Act meet the standards2.
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B.2  Standards for Licensing of Cadastral Surveyors 2021
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B.2.1  Standards
On the 1st August 2021 the Standards for Licensing Cadastral Surveyors 2021 (the Standards) came
into effect. They outline the requirements that need to be met by surveyors seeking a licence to
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undertake cadastral surveys, including first time applicants who are most commonly graduate
surveyors. However, where the new framework has requirements that do not align with the current
Standards, the Standards will be subsequently reviewed and updated.
B.2.2  Competencies
Schedule 1 of the Standards lists the competencies that applicants are to be assessed against,
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broken down into the following eight broad categories:
•  Survey measurement
•  The statutory planning process
•  Land tenure systems
•  Land development engineering principles
•  Boundary definition
•  Professional conduct
•  Land information systems
•  Communication skills

1 S.11(1) Cadastral Survey Act 2002
2 S.11(3) Cadastral Survey Act 2002

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B.2.3  Assessment Panel
The Standards also define the Assessment Panel (the Panel) as a group established by the Board, or
by another entity under an arrangement with the Board, to undertake examinations. Following the
examinations, the Assessment Panel wil  issue a certificate of competency when it is satisfied that
the applicant has met the required level of proficiency in the competencies.
Once an applicant has received a certificate of competency from the Panel, they may apply to the
Board for an initial licence to undertake cadastral surveys.
C.  Guiding Principles
The guiding principles for the certificate of competency assessment framework are as follows:
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a)  Ensure the list of competencies stated in Schedule 1 of the Standards is the primary driver
for the assessment framework.
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b)  Ensure that applicants are assessed against the competencies that are applicable at each
stage of the process, and to a standard that is appropriate for this point in their careers.
c)  Ensure the framework provides a clear pathway for survey graduates seeking a certificate of
competency for an initial cadastral survey licence.
d)  Ensure that the assessment of applicants is consistent from year to year and that the process
clearly identifies those who have met the competencies and those who have not.
e)
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  Provide flexibility around the evidence of experience that is submitted to prove knowledge,
understanding and ability more directly against the applicable competencies.
f)  Utilise modern assessment formats to efficiently measure the competence of applicants, and
to try and reflect a modern working environment.
g)  Ensure the Assessment Panel (whether internal to the Board or a third-party provider)
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clearly understands the requirements of the Board and the levels of competence expected.
h)  Ensure the framework is sustainable for the members of the Assessment Panel, with
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appropriate remuneration benchmarked against comparable professional models and
subject to regular review.
i)  Ensure that the process of engaging with the framework is cost-efficient and that the direct
costs of assessment are recov
under  ered from the applicants.
j)  Ensure that the process of licensing cadastral surveyors in New Zealand aligns with the
Board’s responsibilities as a member of the Council of Reciprocating Surveyors Boards of
Australia and New Zealand (CRSBANZ).

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D. Certificate of Competency Assessment Framework
D.1  Overview
The framework involves four stages of assessment that are undertaken sequentially:
1.  Academic Qualification
2.  Portfolio of Experience
3.  Professional Challenge
4.  Professional Interview
The diagram below shows the four stages, with a summary of the requirements contained in each.
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The Board accepts that not all aspects of the competencies can be easily judged at each stage of the
framework.  Some aspects of the competencies are covered in theory and examined as part of the
tertiary education qualification, while others are gained during the practical work experience. Some
aspects of the competencies can be easily tested in an examination format, while others are best
explored in an interview.  For these reasons the different approaches are required to achieve a
holistic assessment of the applicant's capabilities in the different competencies. The stages of the
framework explained in detail below refer to the applicable competencies being assessed, meaning
those aspects that are appropriate to test during that particular stage.
D.2  Competency Assessment Process
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1.  The different elements of the core framework are discussed in further detail below.  This
begins with a process flow diagram provided in Section D.2.1 below, showing the path,
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timeframes, and sequences of actions for applicants in achieving a Certificate of
Competency.
2.  Once an applicant has completed enough post-graduate experience to potentially be
proficient in the competencies and they have submitted their portfolio, they will then
proceed through the subsequent stages to obtain their certificate of competence.
3.  The deadline for the submission of the Portfolio of Experience will be set to al ow enough
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time for the information to be reviewed and accepted prior to the Professional Challenge
being held. The Professional Interview will in turn follow after the results of the Professional
Challenge are known. Sufficient time will be provided between each stage to al ow the
applicant to prepare.
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D.2.1 Assessment Process Diagram
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D.3  Academic Qualification
1.  Under the Standards an applicant must hold:
a.  A 4-year tertiary educational qualification from New Zealand or Australia in surveying,
recognised by the Board; or
b.  A tertiary qualification in surveying from outside New Zealand or Australia that the
BAOQ has assessed as being at least the equivalent of an approved 4-year surveying
degree from New Zealand or Australia.
2.  The Standards also provide the opportunity for an applicant who has an undergraduate
qualification which does not align with the above requirements, but has undertaken extra
study required by the Board, to seek a licence.
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D.4  Portfolio of Experience
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1.  Applicants must have a minimum of two years post graduate practical training and
experience under the guidance of a licensed cadastral surveyor, of which at least one year
must include cadastral surveys involving the subdivision of land and boundary definition.
2.  The applicants are to present a portfolio of work that demonstrates they have achieved the
appropriate level of proficiency in each of the applicable competencies listed in Schedule 1
of the Standards. The portfolio must directly indicate how the work completed addresses
the competency requirements.
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3.  The setting of minimum expectations and the broad types of work experience required is
outlined in the Professional Experience Guideline (the Guideline). The Guideline is broken
into sections aligned with the relevant competency areas that can be easily demonstrated by
practical experience, and outlines the evidence to b
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applicable competency area. Some projects or stages of projects could be used to
demonstrate proficiency across more
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4.  The Guideline also sets the requirements for formatting the evidence provided in the
Portfolio of Experience, along with the forms for the standard declarations required by the
applicant and any supervising licensed cadastral surveyor (LCS).
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5.  The evidence required to demonstrate that the applicant has become proficient in the
competencies set out in Schedule 1 of the Standards includes:
a.  A summary of work experience to confirm the specified time in post-graduate
experience has been achieved. The summary must include dates, location, company,
broad work types, roles of the applicant etc.
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b.  Copies of plans, reports and documentation of selected work projects undertaken by
the applicant that cover an applicable competency (or many of them). This could begin
with the information provided to the client/Council/LINZ in the course of a normal work
project, supplemented by a written discussion including topics such as equipment
choice, methodology, logistics, hurdles overcome, reflections etc
c.  A comprehensive covering report linking the work projects submitted to the
competencies that are demonstrated. The covering report will have a word limit.

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d.  A declaration signed by the applicant that all the information submitted is
predominantly their own work and that the summary of work experience is accurate.
e.  An attestation signed by the supervising LCS(s) verifying the summary of work
experience. When an applicant changes company a separate summary would need to
be signed by the relevant supervising LCS.
6.  Provisions are available for those applicants who are unable to get project work to cover a
particular competency. This needs to be approved by the Board in advance and can only be
for a small percentage of the Portfolio. In such cases the Board will require the applicant to
demonstrate their competence through some other means, such as writing an essay or
undertaking a mock project.
7.  Suitable pre-graduate experience may be included in the summary of work experience. This
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can be approved by the Assessment Panel, under a delegation by the Board, in the following
circumstances:
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a.  the applicant holds a formal survey technician qualification; and
b.  the work was done under the supervision of a LCS; and
c.  no more than 6 months pre-graduate experience is recognised.
Applicants with pre-graduate experience that does not align with the above criteria can
submit a request to the Board for consideration.  Information
8.  The deadline for the submission of the complete Portfolio of Experience will be set 3 months
(to be confirmed) before the Professional Challenge is to be held, which will be determined
and communicated by the Examinations Coordinator in consultation with the Assessment
Panel.
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9.  The Examinations Coordinator will undertake a quality assurance check to ensure all the
necessary information has been submitted with the completed Portfolio of Experience. Once
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all the correct information is received, the portfolio is passed to the Assessment Panel for
review and acceptance.
10. The Assessment Panel will review the portfolio submitted by the applicant to ensure it is
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meets the requirements of the assessment framework and the Guideline.
11. If a portfolio is below the required standard and is not accepted by the Panel, the applicant
will need to provide further evidence and re-submit the portfolio at a future date.
12. Once the Panel is satisfied with the information provided, the applicant will be advised that
the portfolio has been accepted. The applicant can then progress to the next stage, being
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the Professional Challenge.
D.5  Professional Challenge
1.  The purpose of the Professional Chal enge is to independently test the applicant’s
knowledge, understanding, and abilities in the applicable competencies detailed in Schedule
1 of the Standards.
2.  The Portfolio of Experience needs to have been accepted by the Assessment Panel before an
applicant can undertake the Professional Challenge.

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3.  The requirements of the Professional Challenge are:
a.  An invigilated time-bound challenge, or series of challenges.
b.  Al  applicants undertake the challenge(s) at the same time.
c.  The challenge will include real-world scenarios that would likely be faced by applicants
at this stage of their careers.
d.  Access to legislation and other relevant reference material would be available.
e.  The format of the challenge is to reflect current academic best-practice and be of a
standard that is consistent from year to year.
f.  The chal enge will be offered at least once (preferably twice) a year.
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g.  The chal enge may be held on-line if sufficient controls are in place to ensure the
integrity of the process.
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h.  The chal enge is to be designed to test applicants against the relevant competencies
and how to apply them. The challenge will not necessarily cover all the competency
areas, however, the challenge will include mandatory components on cadastral law and
the current rules for cadastral surveying.
i.  The challenge needs to clearly determine whether an applicant has passed or failed.
j.  The chal enge may also be used to test applicants for licenses who have not fol owed
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the normal graduate pathway, such as qualified surveyors from jurisdictions beyond
New Zealand and Australia.
4.  The Professional Challenge, or series of challenges, will be designed, marked and moderated
by the Assessment Panel.
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5.  The Examinations Coordinator, in consultation with the Assessment Panel, will determine
and communicate the date and locat
the ion of each Professional Challenge at least 12 months in
advance. Any venue used must be suitable for the format of the chal enge.
6.  The Professional Challenge must be passed by an applicant within two years after the
acceptance of their Portfolio of Experience, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
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7.  A pass in the Professional Challenge is required before the applicant can progress to the
Professional Interview.
D.6  Professional Interview
1.  The purpose of the Professional Interview is to confirm that an applicant has achieved
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proficiency in the competencies. An applicant can only attend the Professional Interview
once they have passed the Professional Chal enge.
2.  The requirements of the Professional Interview are:
a.  The interview for each applicant will be conducted by three members of the
Assessment Panel. The panel members will between them have significant expertise
across all the applicable competencies.
b.  The interviews will be conducted in person unless there are extenuating circumstances.

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c.  The interviewers will utilise the applicant’s Portfolio of Experience and Professional
Chal enge results to help shape the discussion. The interview will also assess the
applicable competencies that are not easily tested by the portfolio or challenge, such as
professional conduct and communication skills.
d.  The interview will be offered at least once (preferably twice) a year and will follow a
suitable period of time (to be confirmed) after the completion of the Professional
Challenge.
e.  The interviews may be offered in different locations to make it easy for applicants and
interviewers to attend them.
3.  The Examinations Coordinator, in consultation with the Assessment Panel, will determine
and communicate the date and location of each Professional Interview at least 12 months in
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advance.
4.
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  The Professional Interview must be completed by an applicant within two years after passing
the Professional Challenge, unless there are extenuating circumstances.
5.  An applicant may be accompanied by a support person, subject to advance warning being
given to the Examinations Coordinator and appropriate protocols being followed.
6.  Interviewers will either confirm a pass, identify any remedial work required by the applicant,
or rule that the applicant is unsuccessful. Each applicant will be notified of the decision as
soon as possible after the interview.
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7.  Any remedial action required will be clearly articulated to the applicant in writing with a
reasonable timeframe for completion.
8.  If an applicant does not successfully complete the interview, they will be required to attend
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a scheduled interview at a later date.
9.  After the successful completion of the interview, or following the completion of any
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remedial action, the applicant will be issued a certificate of competency by the Assessment
Panel. The Examinations Coordinator will also be notified.
10. The certificate of competency can be used by the applicant to apply for an initial licence
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from the Board.
E.  Other Matters to Support the Competency Assessment Framework
E.1  Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board
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1.  The Board will own the assessment framework and maintain responsibility under the Act to
arrange for the conduct of examinations.
2.  The roles of the Board under this assessment framework are:
a.  Enter into any arrangement with a third party provider for the Assessment Panel (if
required).
b.  Work with the Assessment Panel to design and refine the detail to deliver the different
post-graduate stages.

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c.  Approve the appointment of members to the Assessment Panel.
d.  Undertake any audits on the performance of the framework, including, to ensure a
consistent and appropriate level of assessment is being achieved.
e.  Approve the setting of fees charged to applicants.
f.  Consider applications for recognition of tertiary education and qualifications, where
required to be approved by the Board, to satisfy the first stage of the assessment
framework.
g.  Consider applications under post-graduate stages of the assessment framework for
recognition of prior experience, exemptions, clarifications or time extensions. These
must be directed to the Examinations Coordinator in the first instance.
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h.  Consider requests from applicants for reviews of decisions made by the Assessment
Panel.
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i.  Determine whether to issue an initial licence to an applicant who provides a Certificate
of Competency.
E.2  Assessment Panel
1.  The Assessment Panel is a group established by the Board or a third party entity, to
undertake the assessment process described by this framework.
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2.  A third party entity that provides the Assessment Panel must enter into a formal
arrangement with the Board.
3.  A third party entity must recruit panel members with the appropriate skills to undertake the
assessment process.  They must ensure that there is sufficient capacity to cover Panel
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member unavailability and to manage workloads.
4.
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  A third party entity must train and induct new Panel members, and ensure effective
succession planning.
5.  The roles of the Assessment Panel under this assessment framework are:
a.
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  Review and accept the Portfolio of Experience, or make recommendations on any
further work experience or documentation required.
b.  Design, prepare, mark and moderate the Professional Challenge.
c.  Undertake the Professional Interviews, and set requirements for remedial work for
those applicants who are deemed to not yet be proficient in the competencies.
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d.  Issue a Certificate of Competency to successful applicants.
E.3  Examinations Coordinator
1.  The competency assessment framework wil  be administered by a dedicated Examinations
Coordinator (the Coordinator).
2.  The Coordinator will be engaged by the Board.

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3.  The role requires skills in technical surveying and administration. The Coordinator would also
need to have a good understanding of the assessment framework.
4.  The key functions of the role of the Coordinator are to:
a.  Respond to the day-to-day enquiries from applicants about the assessment process.
b.  Administer the Register of Applicants.
c.  Set the date by which the Portfolio of Experience must be received prior to a
Professional Challenge, in consultation with Assessment Panel.
d.  Undertake a quality assurance check to ensure al  the necessary information has been
submitted with the Portfolio of Experience. Once all the correct information is received,
the portfolio is passed to the Assessment Panel for review and acceptance.  1982
e.  Arrange venues and set dates for the Professional Challenge and Professional
Interviews, and coordinate with the Assessment Panel members.
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f.  Receive applications from applicants to sit a Professional Challenge and Professional
Interview.
g.  Receive notification from the Assessment Panel when an applicant has been issued with
a certificate of competency.
h.  Be a conduit between applicants and the Board with respect to enquires about
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recognition of prior experience, exemptions, clarifications or time extensions.
i.  Report to the Board on assessment matters annually or as required.
E.4  Register of Applicants
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1.  A register of applicants will be established by the Board and maintained by the Examinations
Coordinator. Potential applicants (graduates) will be invited to record their interest in
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participating in the assessment framework. It will also enable the Board, through the
Examinations Coordinator, to communicate directly with the applicants on their progress
and matters that affect them.
2.
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  The register will hold information and milestones such as:
•  Date of graduation, name of qualification, and a transcript of the papers passed (e.g. to
confirm SURV457 has been included);
•  BAOQ determination for overseas graduates;
•  Date of intended submission of Portfolio of Experience, and dates when actual y
submitted and accepted;
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•  Date of intended sitting of Professional Challenge, and then date and pass mark once
completed;
•  Date of intended participation in Professional Interview, and then date once successful y
completed;
•  Date of issue of Certificate of Competency.
3.  The Board Secretary would have access to this register and would use it to confirm the issue
of a Certificate of Competency to an applicant when they apply for their initial licence.

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E.5 Fees
1. The direct costs of the assessment process (excluding administration) are to be recovered
from fees charged to the applicants. The level of fees charged are to be approved by the
Board.
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