GUIDELINES FOR QUALIFICATIONS OF PRACTITIONERS FOR RESIDENTIAL GEOLOGIC EVALUATIONS

The most comprehensive standard for the practice of residential geotechnical evaluations (RGE) may be "The Residential Geotechnical Evaluation for Ownership Transfer: A Risk Assessment Guideline," Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists Special Publication No. 25, by Harry S. Audell (2013). In this publication, the qualifications of a practitioner are described as "Any person possessing a state issued license as a professional geologist...or professional engineer...is qualifed to perform the RGE. However, it is typically performed by an engineering geologist or geotechnical engineer."

Although the statement in AEG SP 25 regarding the qualifications of the practitioner is true, it is suggested that the description of qualifications of practitioners of RGE's be expanded to include the following:

1. Have extensive knowledge of the geologic conditions in the geographic area,

2. Have knowledge of the history of building design and performance criteria, local building code changes, and standards of practice,

3. Have knowledge of geologic processes that are capable of causing damage, and

4. Have an open mind.