Membership in the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors requires a baccalaureate level degree in Geomatics from an accredited university program, for example Ryerson or York University in Toronto, the University of New Brunswick or the University of Calgary, or a course equal in content and level of difficulty. This is followed by a 1-1/2 year term of articles and a set of professional examinations.

All candidates must first apply to the Association for a detailed evaluation of their post-secondary education.  This evaluation will be made, provided that one of the following has been obtained:

1. A university degree.
2. A minimum two-year technological degree or diploma in Engineering or Geomatics.
3. A professional survey commission from another recognized jurisdiction.

If your degree/diploma was earned in another country, we require that you first apply to the Comparative Education Service (CES) of the University of Toronto, or to World Education Services (WES) and submit a document by document evaluation from one of these services with your application. You may contact CES at (416) 978-2185, or go to

http://www.adm.utoronto.ca/ces/.  The WES website is www.wes.org/ca.  

The evaluation will specify what additional university courses, or equivalents, you will need in order to satisfy our academic requirements. The majority of these courses are available at the above named universities. Courses relating to the GIM branch may be available at several universities and colleges. For the evaluation to be undertaken, we require:

- payment of the $226 ($200 + HST) fee.  We accept cheques, Visa or MasterCard;
- a cover letter; (sample) 

- your detailed résumé;
- an official transcript forwarded directly from the educational institution (If this is not possible you may bring your original documents to the AOLS office to be copied)
- detailed course descriptions); and,
- any other supporting information - academic or experience related - that  may support your evaluation.

Experience

In preparation for admission to membership in the Association, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 1-1/2 years of training and experience in professional land surveying to the satisfaction of the Academic and Experience Requirements Committee. This is done under Articles of Agreement with an Ontario Land Surveyor/Ontario Land Information Professional.

Articles of Agreement

The "Articles" is an agreement respecting training and service between a member of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (Supervising Surveyor) and a student. Under the terms of Articles the student undertakes to serve the surveyor in the practice of professional land surveying. The Supervising Surveyor is required to give an undertaking to the AERC that he or she is willing to provide the scope of experience stipulated by the AERC. The Articles must be approved by the AERC.

Each student's term of articles is monitored by a member of the Association appointed by the Academic and Experience Requirements Committee.

During the term of Articles, the student must complete a series of reports and assignments, and pass a Statutes examination.

Term of Articles

The standard term of Articles for a student who has completed the academic requirements is 1-1/2 years. However, where an articling student has received work experience in professional land surveying prior to his or her term of articles that is comparable to the stipulated requirements, the AERC may reduce the articling time by the lesser of the period of prior experience and one year. Under certain circumstances a student may be permitted to have his or her articles transferred to another surveyor.

To Whom May I Article?

The Regulations state that a term of articles shall be under the direction of:

a member of the Association, who became a licensed member at least three years before the beginning of the term of articles (This provision pertains to students who are articling in order to apply for a licence as cadastral surveyors.); or,

a member who has held a Certificate of Registration for at least three years before the beginning of the term of articles or a person who, in the opinion of the AERC is competent to provide and direct the approved professional experience. (This provision pertains to students who are articling in order to apply for a Certificate of Registration.)

The Professional Examination

Upon successful completion of the term of articles the student is required, as a final step, to pass a professional entrance examination consisting of both a written and oral test. Examinations are normally held twice a year, in May and November. The application by an articling student to take the professional examination must be submitted in writing to the Registrar at least one month before the examination.

On successful completion of the professional examination the student is eligible to apply for membership in the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors.

Members of Other Surveying Associations

The AOLS is a signatory to a Mutual Recognition Agreement that was signed by all Canadian surveyors associations. Under this agreement, a licenced surveyor from any Canadian jurisdiction may achieve membership in another jurisdiction by demonstrating, through an examination and/or completion of an assignment, knowledge of local jurisprudence and systems.  No academic evaluation or period of articles is required.