§ 37.36a. Requirements for licensure as a professional geologist without certification as geologist-in-training.
(a) General. As an alternative to the requirements of § 37.36 (relating to requirements for certification as a geologist-in-training and for licensure as a professional geologist), a candidate who is not certified as a geologist-in-training may apply for licensure as a professional geologist by satisfying the requirements of this section.
(b) Qualifications. A candidate for licensure as a professional geologist shall be of good moral character and satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
(1) The candidate shall possess one of the following educational qualifications that include field geology and structural geology coursework that is sufficient to demonstrate that the candidate has educational experience in tectonics and fractured bedrock geology and the field methods needed to measure, map and evaluate geologic data:
(i) Graduation from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, having majored in geology, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering geology and having completed 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in the major.
(ii) Graduation from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States that does not offer a major in geology, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering geology, having completed 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours or an equivalent amount of geological education, including 24 semester hours or an equivalent amount in third-year or fourth-year courses or graduate courses.
(iii) Graduation from a foreign college or university that World Education Services or other Board-approved professional evaluation service deems equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering geology from an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States.
(2) The candidate shall have obtained experience in accordance with this paragraph prior to the submission of the examination application. The experience must require the utilization, application and interpretation of fundamental and practical principles of the geological science and be of a character and grade to qualify the candidate to assume responsible charge of the work involved in the practice of geology. Acceptable experience may include the technical completeness reviews or inspections of unfinalized work product. Unacceptable experience includes routine sampling, laboratory work and geological drafting. A graduate degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry or engineering geology may be substituted as part of the experience requirements in this paragraph at a rate of 1 year for a master’s degree and 1 year for a doctoral degree. Credit for graduate degrees may not exceed 2 years of experience. The candidate shall possess one of the following experience qualifications:
(i) Five years of experience performing geological services or work in a position that requires independent judgment, competence and accountability.
(ii) Five years of experience performing geological services or work, including 3 years under the supervision of a professional geologist, except that experience acquired prior to February 16, 1993, may be under the supervision of an unlicensed geologist who, through education and experience, possesses the equivalent level of expertise as that of a professional geologist.
(iii) Five years of progressive full-time teaching experience in a geological curriculum, including senior-level or graduate-level coursework, at an accredited institution of higher learning.
(c) Examinations. A candidate who has satisfied the requirements of subsection (b) will be licensed as a professional geologist upon achieving passing scores on the ASBOG fundamentals of geology examination and the ASBOG principles and practice of geology examination. A candidate may not be admitted to sit for the principles and practice of geology examination until achieving a passing score on the fundamentals of geology examination.
Authority The provisions of this § 37.36a issued under sections 4(b) and (l), 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 of the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologist Registration Law (63 P. S. § § 151(b) and (l), 151.2, 151.3 and 151.4).
Source The provisions of this § 37.36a adopted February 14, 2014, effective February 15, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 888.
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 37.20 (relating to licensure by endorsement); and 49 Pa.B. 3736 (relating to requirements for certification as a geologist-in-training and for licensure as a professional geologist).
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