This publication analyzes and summarizes the experience of conducting the state final certification of students using distant learning technologies on the example of the Institute of Land Management, Cadastres and Environmental Engineering of Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University. The analysis was carried out taking into account the opinions of all participants of the state final certification process, namely: Representatives of employers and teaching staff, supervisors of graduate qualification works, secretaries and graduates. As a result of summarizing interviews and questionnaires of participants, conclusions are drawn that determine the strengths and weaknesses of organizing and conducting the defense of graduate qualification works using distant learning technologies, which allow us to formulate suggestions for optimizing the process of defense and amending the existing Regulations of conducting the state final certification. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.