REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS
§ 37.36. Requirements for certification as a geologist-in-training and for licensure as a professional geologist.
(a) General. The requirements in this section apply to candidates for certification as a geologist-in-training and candidates for subsequent licensure as a professional geologist. A candidate who meets the applicable requirements may apply at the same time both to sit for the fundamentals of geology examination and to sit for the principles and practice of geology examination to be licensed as a professional geologist as provided in § 37.36a (relating to requirements for licensure as a professional geologist without certification as geologist-in-training).
(b) Geologist-in-training. A candidate for certification as a geologist-in-training shall be of good moral character and achieve a passing score on the ASBOG fundamentals of geology examination.
(1) To qualify for the fundamentals of geology examination, the candidate shall possess one of the following qualifications:
(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. A student who has completed 2 years in a program and has maintained current enrollment may, with Board approval, sit for the fundamentals of geology examination, but will not be eligible for certification as a geologist-in-training until the student provides proof of graduation, including compliance with the educational content requirements of paragraph (2). The effective date of certification will be the later of the date of graduation or the date of notification from ASBOG of achieving a passing score on the fundamentals of geology examination.
(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. A student who has completed 2 years in a program and has maintained current enrollment may, with Board approval, sit for the fundamentals of geology examination, but will not be eligible for certification as an geologist-in-training until the student provides proof of graduation, including compliance with the educational content requirements of paragraph (2). The effective date of certification will be the later of the date of graduation or the date of notification from ASBOG of achieving a passing score on the fundamentals of geology examination.
(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 and which satisfies the educational content requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) The formal education required under this subsection must 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.
(c) Professional geologist. A candidate for licensure as a professional geologist shall be of good moral character, be certified as a geologist-in-training and achieve a passing score on the ASBOG principles and practice of geology examination.
(1) To qualify for the principles and practice examination, the geologist-in-training certified in this Commonwealth or another jurisdiction who also satisfies the requirements under subsection (b) to sit for the fundamentals of geology examination shall have obtained one of the following experience qualifications prior to the submission of the examination application:
(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.
(2) The experience required under this subsection 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.
Authority The provisions of this § 37.36 amended 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 § 37.36 adopted October 25, 1996, effective October 26, 1996, 26 Pa.B. 5106; amended February 14, 2014, effective February 15, 2014, 44 Pa.B. 888. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (221136) to (221137).
Cross References This section cited in 49 Pa. Code § 37.20 (relating to licensure by endorsement); and 49 Pa. Code § 37.36a (relating to requirements for licensure as a professional geologist without certification as a geologist-in-training).
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