THE ASBOG® FUNDAMENTALS OF GEOLOGY AND PRACTICE OF GEOLOGY EXAMINATIONS: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCOPE AND CONTENT USING A PERIODIC NATIONAL TASK ANALYSIS SURVEY (TAS)

Since the late 1980s, ASBOG^® has provided support to states that require licensure of publicly-practicing geologists. One major component of professional licensure is a two-part national examination: a Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination - designed to be taken upon the completion of the academic requirements; and a Practice of Geology (PG) examination - taken following completion of a prescribed amount of professional work experience. Both the FG and PG examinations use a four-options, closed-book, multiple-choice format. The FG and PG examinations contain 140 and 110 items, respectively.

The scope and content of these examinations is driven by a task analysis, a survey of licensed practicing professional geologists and academicians to determine what the profession considers needed knowledge and skills for professional practice. The results of the TAS are utilized to create test blueprints for both examinations that temporally and geographically reflect the practice of the profession.

Task analysis surveys have been performed every five years since 1995, and ASBOG is currently collecting data as part of the 2023 TAS. Results from previous TASs indicate a high degree of consistency in the practice of Geology throughout the United States, thereby establishing a sound basis for the development of examinations that are fair to candidates from all regions of the country. For each TAS, geologic tasks are rated by both practicing geologists and academicians in terms of the importance of the specific tasks to protection of the public. Basing the content of the examinations on the practice of the profession maximizes the quality and fairness of the examinations for candidates seeking licensure.