Become a Member

The Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago represent the professionals of Land, Quantity & Valuation Surveying in Trinidad & Tobago.

Types of Membership

The membership of the Institute shall consist of Full Members, Associate Members, Student Members and Honorary Life Members which are described in the sections below;

• Full Membership
  The academic qualification for new applicants for full membership is a Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree in the relevant field of surveying from a tertiary institution or equivalent that is recognised by the ISTT Board.Any person who satisfies the academic qualification and has been actively involved in the practice of professional surveying, under the supervision of a Full member of the ISTT, for a minimum of two years shall be eligible to become a Full Member of the Institute provided that s/he passes an interview held by the ISTT Board; or an individual who is registered as a Land Surveyor or Trinidad and Tobago Land Surveyor under the Act shall be qualified hereunder;
  A full member may carry the designation “MISTT”, meaning “Member of the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago” after his/her name.


• Associate Membership
  Any person who satisfies the academic qualifications which may from time to time be prescribed by the ISTT Board shall be eligible to become an Associate Member of the Institute


• Student Membership
  Any person actively pursuing a course of study leading to an academic qualification acceptable to the ISTT Board, shall be eligible to become a student member of the Institute, but shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Institute


• Honorary Membership
  Any person who is either no longer actively involved in the practice of professional surveying or who, in the opinion of the ISTT Board, has made a valuable contribution to both the profession of surveying and the Institute may be elected by the ISTT Board as an Honorary Life Member. Any person so elected shall not be liable for any further subscription and shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Institute or be eligible for election to the ISTT Board.

Membership Application

An application for Membership must be made on the approved form: Membership Application Form

What does the ISTT do for me?

by Kamal J. Sant, TTLS



At many Annual General Meetings in the past of the ISTT, the question of “What does the ISTT do for me?” invariably arises. This is a valid question from our members and needs to be addressed. If we cannot answer this basic question then how can we be a sustainable professional organization?




In addressing this we must first ask what is the ISTT and what are its objectives. The ISTT is a non-profit organization which provides a structure for professionals the areas of Land, Quantity and Valuation Surveying in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It was firstly recognised in the Land Surveyor’s Act of 1996, which provided for the Institute to play a role in the selection of four members of the Land Survey Board, advise on the selection of a Registrar of the Board and provide advice on survey standards and procedures.




Established since 1996, the ISTT’s predecessor organization was the Land Surveyors Association. The development and enactment of the Land Surveyors’ Act of 1996 provided the impetus for the development and expansion of the organizations umbrella to cover the current three areas of Land, Quantity and Valuation Surveying. The ISTT is also one of five Professional Organizations that comprise the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) of Trinidad and Tobago. As such, the ISTT does not directly address matters of concern in the public domain but does so under the ambit of the JCC. Therefore all matters involving the JCC also involves the ISTT. Over the years, the JCC has filed several legal matters regarding procurement, the issuance of public sector contracts and general governance and policy matters affecting the operations of Professionals within its five member organizations. The JCC therefore provides a one-stop-shop for State and Private policy formulators to achieve consultations on matters of public and professional undertaking. Hence although the general membership ISTT may not see activities directly under the ISTT we are in fact very active as one of the five pillars of the JCC.




New Members also ask what is the benefit of the ISTT: If you are interested in furthering your career, joining a professional association is a good start. There are associations for nearly every profession or area of interest and many have national and regional chapters available to join. An association is a synergistic group, meaning that the effect of a collection of people is greater than just one person.



• Enhance your network: For most people, creating professional relationships is important, and joining a group allows you to have a sense of security and trust. From this, you are able to support and help one another in reaching your professional goals. The ISTT sponsor numerous events throughout the year that allow you to connect with your peers. You can share ideas, ask for advice, volunteer to be a speaker or become a member of a committee. As a member organization of FiG and the RICS, you can participate and have the opportunity to learn about breaking news in your career, learn "best practices" or new ideas, hear about key achievers in your field and also meet and brainstorm with others who are also looking to share and learn new information. Another benefit of enhancing your network is that you may find a mentor to help you with your professional needs or you may be in a position to become a mentor to someone else. Giving back can be the greatest reward and benefit. Participating in forums, chat groups or discussion boards sponsored by the association is also a great way to grow your network. This allows you to use your peers as sounding boards and often make some great friends with the same interests as you.


• Job & Scholarship Opportunities: Another important reason to consider membership to a professional organization is to take advantage of its career resources. This is a great way to find targeted job postings for your area of interest. Additionally, associations have career resources available such as tips on effective resumes or cover letters, job searching strategies and negotiating techniques. Some associations even have panels of experts that you can contact for specific questions on career issues. Other benefits include information about seminars, training or certification classes that may be suitable for you. Often these classes can in the future be done through web- or podcasts so you don't even have to leave your home. And don't forget, listing your association membership on your resume is impressive to current or future employers as it shows that you are dedicated to staying connected in your profession. The ISTT provides numerous prizes to graduates and students in the tertiary education system to assist and encourage students in choosing this profession.


• Broaden your knowledge: Most associations provide an enormous amount of access to resource information such as: case studies, articles, white papers and books written by experts in your field or area of interest. Also, major journal, magazine and newsletter access is provided as a part of your membership privileges. Another reason to join an association is to learn more or stay informed about issues in diversity. As a professional organization the ISTT provides an avenue for young and upcoming professionals to meet and interact with seasoned practioners to get advice and guidance on work related matters. The young professionals also provide an avenue for the seasoned professional to gain exposure to new developments and technologies including advancements in the academic sphere.


• Improve your Marketability: It provides a means of local certification of professionals to enable potential clients to uses as a source for professional services. The annual list of members of the ISTT is frequently used by Government and Private Agencies in selecting service providers. As some professions are not regulated there exists a need for a structure to provide for certification, ethical behaviours and where necessary disciplinary action, the ISTT provides this role especially in the areas of Quantity and Valuation Surveying.


• Making a difference: By having similar professional under a single organization it provides for a louder voice in matters of public and private sectors which are of concern to our members. This ensures a peer reviewed overview from the profession rather than a sometimes skewed personal approach or perspective.


• Access to Training: Access to ISTT organized CPD events is under reduced rates to members and provides affordable quality local training opportunities.