The SAMS Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors requires candidates to pass specific specialty examinations. Most applicants start with the Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor exam or the Hull and Machinery exam depending on their expertise. Try our IICS certification practice test.

For the Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor exam, a deep understanding of ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) standards is non-negotiable. These standards form the backbone of safety inspections for recreational vessels. Try our SSCP certification practice test.

How to Become a SAMS Surveyor

The path to becoming a Certified Marine Surveyor with SAMS involves mentorship, experience, and testing. Follow this timeline to achieve your marine surveyor certification.

1. Apply for Membership - Join the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors as an Associate member.
2. Gain Experience - Accumulate 5 years of verified marine surveying experience under mentorship.
3. Complete Education - Fulfill continuing education credits in marine surveyor certification courses.
4. Submit Surveys - Submit sample survey reports for review by the SAMS testing committee.
5. Pass SAMS Exam - Take and pass the specialty exam (e.g., Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor).
6. Interview - Complete a professional interview with regional SAMS officers.
7. Maintain Status - Pay dues and adhere to the SAMS code of ethics to remain an Accredited Marine Surveyor.

Expect to invest between $3,500 and $5,000 in your first year, including membership, testing, insurance, and setup costs for your marine surveyor license business.

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Keep your SAMS AMS status active by attending regional meetings and completing approved marine surveyor certification courses.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Sample Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified Practice Questions

Try these questions from our free Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified practice tests. The correct answer and an explanation follow each question.

1. A SAMS surveyor is hired for a pre-purchase survey. The seller's broker, who frequently recommends the surveyor for jobs, offers the surveyor a 'bonus' if the survey report is favorable and the sale is completed. What is the surveyor's most ethical course of action?

   • A. Perform the survey and accept the bonus, as it is a common business practice.
   • B. Disclose the bonus offer to the buyer and proceed with the survey.
   • C. Politely decline the bonus but proceed with the survey to maintain the relationship with the broker.
   • D. Immediately refuse the bonus, inform the client of the offer, and conduct the survey with complete objectivity.

   Answer: D. Immediately refuse the bonus, inform the client of the offer, and conduct the survey with complete objectivity.

   Accepting any form of compensation contingent on the outcome of a survey or sale creates a severe conflict of interest. The SAMS Code of Ethics requires surveyors to maintain independence, integrity, and objectivity. The surveyor's primary duty is to the client. The only ethical action is to refuse the bonus, ensure the client is aware of the situation to maintain transparency, and then proceed with an unbiased and objective survey.

2. A marine surveyor is inspecting a 40-foot recreational vessel with an installed toilet. Which of the following represents a compliant Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) configuration when operating in all U.S. navigable waters, including those designated as 'No Discharge Zones'?

   • A. A Type I MSD that macerates and disinfects waste before discharge.
   • B. A Type II MSD that provides a higher level of treatment but still discharges.
   • C. A Type III MSD with the Y-valve secured in a position to direct waste to the holding tank.
   • D. A portable toilet that is not permanently installed.

   Answer: C. A Type III MSD with the Y-valve secured in a position to direct waste to the holding tank.

   According to 33 CFR Part 159, in 'No Discharge Zones' (NDZs), the overboard discharge of any sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited. A Type III MSD is a holding tank system designed to prevent overboard discharge. To be compliant in an NDZ, any valve allowing for overboard discharge (like a Y-valve) must be secured in a way that prevents this, such as with a padlock or by removing the handle. Type I and Type II devices treat and discharge sewage, making them non-compliant for discharge within an NDZ. Portable toilets are not considered installed toilets and are not regulated as MSDs.

3. A marine surveyor detects osmotic blistering on a GRP hull. Which test provides the most definitive quantification of moisture intrusion in the laminate?

   • A. Visual blister count per square foot
   • B. Pin-type moisture meter reading
   • C. Hammer sounding for delamination
   • D. Core sample gravimetric moisture content analysis

   Answer: D. Core sample gravimetric moisture content analysis

   Gravimetric analysis of core samples measures actual water weight gain in the laminate, providing quantitative data that surface moisture meters cannot match in accuracy.

4. A SAMS surveyor is approached by a boat broker who offers a referral commission for each survey the surveyor recommends to the broker's clients. This arrangement is:

   • A. Acceptable if disclosed to the client in writing
   • B. Acceptable as standard industry practice
   • C. Unethical because it creates a conflict of interest regardless of disclosure
   • D. Acceptable only if the commission is under 10% of the survey fee

   Answer: C. Unethical because it creates a conflict of interest regardless of disclosure

   SAMS ethics prohibit referral commissions that could compromise independent judgment, even if disclosed, as they represent a structural conflict of interest.

Take the full Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors Certified practice test