PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE OF GEOLOGISTS (Invited Presentation)

Licensure refers to permission granted by a government agency based on education, experience, and examination. Each state that licenses geologists administers its own licensing program under the state’s statutes and rules. Oversight of licensed professionals is carried out through a state board, which is given its legal authority through the state statues, whereas the requirements are contained in the state rules.

The specific requirements can have important variations, so geology departments are advised to refer to each state’s requirements, or to use a conservative approach to preparing their students. For example, some states have very detailed lists of the topics that must be included in an applicant’s background and how many hours must be completed in each topic. This can be especially important to note as traditional geology degrees have morphed into broader, multi-disciplinary degrees that may not contain “core courses”.

Most states require that examinations prepared by the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) be passed; these exams are for “Fundamentals of Geology” and “Practice of Geology”. These are two separate examinations that test for competency at the “Geologist-in-Training” and “Professional Geologist” levels. The initial examination can be taken even while still an undergraduate student, whereas experience working under a Professional Geologist is required prior to taking the second examination.

The board members are appointed by the state governor. Although the board members do not create the rules, the board members have the responsibility to interpret the details of the rules in consultation with a state attorney. They review applications and determine whether applicants meet the licensing requirements. The board members hear and act on complaints against geologists. The board members also work with ASBOG as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) who help validate the ASBOG exams and create new questions. Additional qualified SMEs from academia are needed in the development of the Fundamentals of Geology test questions. Participation in the state boards and/or as an ASBOG SME are valuable contributions to the profession of geology, and provides a unique perspective into the licensing process.