This course is a 3 and a 1/2 day (Wednesday through Friday in class with a Saturday exam) certification program for licensed surveyors wishing to become Certified Floodplain Surveyor (CFS). Participants must pass a comprehensive exam on Saturday (1/2 day) to receive certification.  Lunch is included Wednesday - Friday.

Course and exam will both take place at the NCSS Office.

Instructors: Gary Thompson & Steve Garrett

Bring a calculator for class and the final exam.

The program will cover the following...

• National Flood Insurance Program/FIRM Maps: Provides training in the CFS certification program. Topics include a regulatory overview, definitions, flood zone designations, flood study profiles, FIRM flood maps, flood map revision overview, LOMA and LOMR, lowest adjacent grade and lowest floor.
• NFIP Regulations and Elevation Certificates: Examines Federal LOMA, LOMR and LOMR-F regulations, other NFIP regulations and citations. Further elaboration of NFIP topics will be provided. Elevation certificates will also be discussed.
• Letter of Map Change Overview: Introduces the concepts needed to write Letters of Map Amendment and Letters of Map Revision.
• Letters of Map Change Processing: We will discuss components of LOMAs and LOMRs, including fill considerations and the MT-1 form, survey data requirements, and the CFS’s obligations in obtaining the Letter of Map Correction. We will include hands-on exercises and an exam review game on Friday afternoon.

A certificate with the specific number of PDHs awarded will be emailed upon completion of the class. Saturday’s exam does not qualify for PDHs.

Hotel Information:

We have a contract/preferred rate with: 

• Holiday Inn Express and Suites at 11400 Common Oaks Drive Raleigh, NC. Rate is $99/night King/2 Queens, $112/night King Suite, or $112/night Two Queen Suite. Price doesn't include taxes/fees. Please call (919)570-5550 and mention rate code: IE5K1
• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriot 12051 Retail Drive, Wake Forest, NC 27587 Rate is $119/Standards & $134/Suites. Rates do not include taxes/fees. Please call (919) 435-7056 for reservations.  Mention NC Society of Surveyors for our rates.
• Tru by Hilton at 12315 Hampton Way Drive, Wake Forest, NC.  The rate is $105/night for a King Suite or $115/night for a 2 Queen Studio Suite. The weekend rate (9/19 & 9/20) is $139/night for a King Suite and a 2 Queen Studio Suite. Price doesn’t include taxes/fees. Click Here to Make Reservations Online. Enter the group code 91K when booking. Reservation Deadline: August 25, 2025 or call (919)488-4505 for any assistance with booking.

Instructors

Gary W. Thompson, PLS - Mr. Gary W. Thompson is the Deputy Risk Management Chief, North Carolina Emergency Management/Risk Management and Chief of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey/Risk Management/NC Emergency Management. He has held a professional license as a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in North Carolina since 1980.  He has served as president of both the North Carolina Society of Surveyors (NCSS) and the National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS).  Gary is an emeritus member of the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors (NCBEES), and a commission member of  the ABET Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission.

Steve Garrett, CFM, State NFIP Coordinator (NCEM) - Steve Garrett serves as the State NFIP Coordinator. He has worked for North Carolina Emergency Management for over 20 years, serving many roles including LOMR Review Partners Program Manager, NCFMP-NCDOT MOA Coordination Lead, Floodplain Mapping Program Outreach Planner, Environmental Specialist, and Hazard Mitigation Grant Project Manager.  Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management from North Carolina State University.