The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS), a member organization of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM), sponsors a comprehensive national certification program for survey technicians. The program is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of the National Apprenticeship Program. The Survey Technician Certification Board (STCB), which administers this program, recognizes the importance of technicians to the surveying and mapping profession.