Association of Canada Lands Surveyors

What Association of Canada Lands Surveyors does

The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) is the national professional regulatory body authorized under the Canada Lands Surveys Act to license Canada Lands Surveyors (CLS) and permit companies to perform cadastral surveying on Canada Lands — namely Canada's three federal territories, federal parks, First Nations lands, and on or under Canada's oceans. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Ottawa, ACLS operates as a non-profit self-governing association with a 9-person staff and a bilingual (English/French) service mandate. Its core regulatory functions include commissioning CLS credentials, maintaining public verification directories of licensed surveyors and permitted companies, administering a mandatory triennial practice review program, running continuing professional development requirements, and adjudicating complaints and discipline matters.

ACLS's product and service portfolio spans licensing/commissioning, two public-facing online directories (Directory of Licenced CLS and Directory of Permits for Companies), the Canadian International Hydrographic Certification (CIHC) scheme (offering Certified Hydrographer, Certified Hydrographic Technician, and Certified Hydrographic Executive credentials, IBSC-recognized since 2016), the Getting it Right (GIR) professional development workshop, an annual National Surveyors' Conference, a Student Hub pipeline, and a formal complaints/discipline process. Technology is centered on the ACLS public website (acls-aatc.ca) and the Eudonet-hosted member portal and directory platform (acls.eudonet.com); there are no AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

ACLS generates revenue primarily through membership and licensing fees, permit fees from companies, CIHC certification fees, conference and workshop registrations, and related professional development offerings, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market is regulatory rather than commercial: enforcement of statutory licensing standards, public protection through discipline processes, and engagement with members through professional development events. Recent strategic activity has focused on modernizing its digital infrastructure (2025 website redesign), repositioning the CIHC hydrographic certification as a standalone international brand (November 2025), and managing a 2026 leadership transition with the announced retirement of Registrar Marie Robidoux.

Name

Association of Canada Lands Surveyors

Legal name

Association of Canada Lands Surveyors

Website

https://acls-aatc.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) is the national regulatory body licensing Canada Lands Surveyors to perform cadastral surveying on Canada's federal territories, parks, First Nations lands, and offshore waters. It administers licensing, public verification directories, hydrographic certification (CIHC), and professional development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Regulatory Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional & Occupational Licensing Examination Authorities (EDADAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

Keywords

• Cadastral surveying regulation
• Professional licensing services
• Hydrographic certification programs
• Land surveying standards
• Professional regulatory body

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) is the national professional regulatory body that commissions Canada Lands Surveyors and authorizes companies to conduct cadastral surveys on Canada Lands, including the three territories, federal parks, First Nations lands, and offshore waters. It administers the Canadian International Hydrographic Certification (CIHC) scheme for hydrographers and offshore surveyors, maintains public online verification directories, enforces competency standards through mandatory triennial practice reviews, and delivers professional development and complaints/discipline oversight.

Product overview

The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) is a national regulatory body governing Canada Lands Surveyors (CLS) who perform cadastral surveying on Canada's three territories, federal parks, First Nations lands, and offshore areas. ACLS operates as a unified professional association offering licensing/commissioning of surveyors, verification directories (Directory of Licensed CLS and Directory of Permits), a hydrographic certification program (CIHC), professional development workshops (Getting it Right), practice review programs, and an annual National Surveyors' Conference. The organization maintains public directories for verifying surveyor licences and company permits, while also providing student resources and handling complaints and discipline matters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Canadian International Hydrographic Certification (CIHC): Certification scheme for hydrographers and offshore surveyors, offering Certified Hydrographer (CH), Certified Hydrographic Technician (CHTech), and Certified Hydrographic Executive (CHE) certifications.
• Getting It Right (GIR) Workshop
• National Surveyors' Conference (NSC/CNAG)

Products and services

• Directory of Licenced CLS A public online verification tool that enables clients, government, and the public to confirm whether a Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) holds a valid licence to practice cadastral surveying on Canada Lands.
• Directory of Permits (Companies) A public online verification tool that enables clients, government, and the public to confirm whether a company or entity holds a valid permit to perform surveying work on Canada Lands, including applicable restrictions or discipline history.
• Canada Lands Surveyor (CLS) Commission A statutory credential issued to surveyors demonstrating they have met ACLS education, training, and experience requirements to perform cadastral surveys that establish and define legal interests on Canada Lands.
• Canadian International Hydrographic Certification (CIHC) An internationally recognized certification scheme for hydrographers and offshore surveyors offering three levels: Certified Hydrographer (CH), Certified Hydrographic Technician (CHTech), and Certified Hydrographic Executive (CHE). Developed by ACLS in collaboration with the Canadian Hydrographic Association and the Canadian Hydrographic Service.
• Getting it Right (GIR) Workshop A professional development program for new CLS licence holders that covers professional responsibilities, regulatory expectations, and decision-making in practice through real-world scenarios and case studies.
• National Surveyors' Conference (NSC) An annual conference bringing together Canada Lands Surveyors, geomatics professionals, industry leaders, regulators, educators, and suppliers for technical sessions, keynotes, professional development, and networking.
• Student Hub An online resource portal providing prospective surveyors with information on becoming a Canada Lands Surveyor, study materials, and details on awards and scholarships.
• Practice Review Program A mandatory program requiring ACLS members to submit their projects for review every three years to ensure compliance with professional standards and ACLS regulations.
• Complaints and Discipline Process A formal regulatory process for receiving and investigating complaints against Canada Lands Surveyors, handled confidentially by the Complaints Committee and potentially referred to the Discipline Committee.
• Company Permit to Work on Canada Lands A statutory authorization issued by ACLS to companies and entities permitting them to conduct surveying work on Canada Lands, including federal territories, parks, First Nations lands, and offshore areas.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canadian Hydrographic Association (CHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHA collaborates with ACLS in developing hydrographer and offshore surveyor certification through the Canadian International Hydrographic Certification (CIHC) scheme. The CIHC program was officially recognized by the International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyers and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC).
• Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHS partners with ACLS and CHA in hydrographic certification and advancing hydrographic and offshore surveying excellence. Together they work to ensure competency standards and professional recognition in Canada's marine environments.
• International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBSC is a joint body of the International Hydrographic Organization, the International Federation of Surveyors, and the International Cartographic Association. IBSC officially recognized CIHC (formerly IHCS) as the second competency recognition program in the world for hydrographic surveyors.
• Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCBEPS is referenced as a partner organization on the ACLS website, working together on professional surveying standards and examination processes.
• Provincial Land Surveyor AssociationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple provincial associations are listed including: Alberta Surveyors Association (ALSA), Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of Saskatchewan (APEGS), Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS), Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ), Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association (SLSA), Alberta Commercial and Exclusive Development Surveyors (ABCDLS), Alberta Metis and Non-Status Surveyors (AMNSS), Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors (ANBLS), Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Surveyors (ANLS). These organizations govern surveying within their respective provincial jurisdictions.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors (ABCLS): Provincial regulator of land surveying in British Columbia, operating CLS-equivalent licensing and discipline functions across a significant portion of Canadian land.
• Canadian Board of Examiners for Professional Surveyors (CBEPS): National academic/examination body for surveyors across Canada and a listed ACLS partner. Closely comparable in its role as a gatekeeper of surveyor competency and a feeder to ACLS commissions.
• National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS): U.S. national professional society for surveyors. Comparable in member-based representation, CPD advocacy, and standards-setting function across a larger geographic base.
• Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association (SLSA): Provincial surveying regulator in Saskatchewan listed as an ACLS channel partner, with analogous licensing and discipline responsibilities within its jurisdiction.
• Association of Newfoundland and Labrador Surveyors (ANLS): Provincial surveying association in Newfoundland and Labrador, also listed as an ACLS partner, providing comparable licensing and member-services functions in a smaller provincial jurisdiction.
• Alberta Land Surveyors' Association (ALSA): Provincial regulatory body for Alberta land surveyors, performing licensing, discipline, and CPD oversight analogous to ACLS's role on Canada Lands.
• Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ): Quebec's professional order governing land surveyors, with comparable licensing, examination, and continuing education mandates, particularly relevant given ACLS's bilingual operations.
• Association of Ontario Land Surveyors (AOLS): Provincial counterpart regulating cadastral surveying in Ontario. Closest direct peer by function, scope of authority, and member-facing programs, differing only in jurisdictional boundary (provincial vs. federal lands).

Broad incumbents

• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS): Globally established chartered body for surveying and real estate professionals. Comparable as a credentialing and standards authority but operates at much greater scale and across broader disciplines than ACLS.
• International Federation of Surveyors (FIG): International umbrella organization for surveyor associations, of which ACLS-adjacent bodies are members. Comparable as a higher-level standards and advocacy body in the same profession.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-canada-lands-surveyors

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Canada Lands Surveyors