To qualify for a license or recognized certification as a geologist or environmental professional requires demonstrated formal educational achievements. In most cases this includes a college degree in a specific major or covering a specific set of courses. In general these requirements are the minimum requirement for either to take the qualifying exam or for consideration of an application for recognition.
| State | Degree Required | Eligible majors | Required courses | Qualifying courses | Geo Credits Required | Credit notes | Education notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not specified | Engineering geology, geology, related geological sciences | structural geology, stratigraphy, historical geology, mineralogy, field geology, physical geology | paleontology, hydrology, environmental geology, other, geomorphology, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, petroleum geology, igneous petrology, sedimentology, optical mineralogy, engineering geology, metamorphic petrology, geophysics | 30 | A minimum of 30 semester hours or their equivalent of coursework in geological science are required. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Alaska | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
not specified | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Arizona | Bachelor's degree | Earth science, geology |
not specified |
not specified |
not specified | Be a graduate of a school approved by the board or have four years or more of education or experience, or both, in work in the profession in which registration is sought that meets standards specified by the board in its rules. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Arkansas | Not specified | Related geological sciences, earth science, geology, engineering geology, geological engineering |
not specified |
not specified |
not specified | An appropriate number of hours of geological courses that would normally constitute a geology degree are required and will be evaluated on a case by case basis. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| California | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences | structural geology, earth materials | geomorphology, other | 30 | Completion of a combination of at least 30 semester hours, or the equivalent, in courses that, in the opinion of the board, are relevant to geology are required. At least 24 semester hours, or the equivalent, shall be in upper division or graduate courses. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Connecticut | Bachelor's degree | Mechanical engineering, geology, hydrogeology, soil science, wetland science, ecology, biology, chemistry, agricultural engineering, hydrology, earth science, toxicology, environmental science, natural resources management, chemical engineering, water resources, environmental engineering, environmental studies, civil engineering |
not specified |
not specified |
not specified | Not specified | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Delaware | Bachelor's degree | Geology |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | Thirty (30) credit hours of geology or its subdisciplines, of which 24 credits are third or fourth year courses or graduate courses are required. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Florida | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
paleontology, other, structural geology, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, historical geology, optical mineralogy, mineralogy, geophysics, physical geology | 30 | Satisfactory completion of at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of geological coursework are required. A typical listing would include most of the subject areas in the accepted courses category. See state regulations for specific guidance. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. Other specialized courses may be used to complete the total, but may not be used in abundance to substitute for the basic listing as described above. Where some question concerning a course submitted as qualifying as a geology course exists, the Board will utilize the contents of similar courses offered within the Florida State University System for evaluation. It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit documentation, including a course syllabus, university catalog copy, or evaluation by a qualified geologist familiar with the course, for any course offered as a geology equivalent that needs additional explanation. |
| Georgia | other, Bachelor's degree | Engineering geology, geological engineering, geology |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must have graduated from an accredited college or university which has been approved by the board with a major in either geology, engineering geology, or geological engineering; or completed 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology, of which at least 36 quarter hours or the equivalent were taken in the third or fourth year or in graduate courses. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Idaho | other | Related geological sciences |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must have thirty (30) semester units or equivalent quarter units in courses in geologicalscience leading to a degree in the geological sciences of which at least twenty-four (24) units are in third or fourth year, and/or graduate courses. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Illinois | other, Bachelor's degree | Geology |
not specified |
paleontology, terrain analysis, other, environmental geology, structural geology, geomorphology, geophysics, glacial geology, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, sedimentology, remote sensing, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, field geology | 30 | The applicant must have earned a degree in geology from an accredited college or university, as established by rule, with a minimum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter hours of course credits in geology, of which twenty-four (24) semester or thirty-six (36) quarter hours are in upper level courses. The Department may, upon the recommendation of the Board, allow the substitution of appropriate experience as a geologist for prescribed educational requirements as established by rule. The geology curriculum shall be designed to teach fundamentals and principles and practices of geology, and shall be designed to train the student to engage in the practice of geology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Indiana | Bachelor's degree | Other, geochemistry, geology, geological engineering, geophysics |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | Successful completion of at least thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of course work in geology. At the discretion of the board, courses dealing with applied geological science that are given under the auspices of an academic department other than geology may be considered toward the fulfillment of this requirement. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Iowa | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
not specified | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Kansas | Bachelor's degree | Geology |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must have graduated from a course of study in geology, or from a program which is of four (4) or more years duration and which includes at least thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter hours of credit with a major in geology or a geology specialty, that is adequate in its preparation of students for the practice of geology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Kentucky | Bachelor's degree | Related geological sciences, geochemistry, geology, geological engineering, geophysics |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant much hbave successfully completed of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours or fortyfive (45) quarter hours of course work in geology, culminating in a baccalaureate or advanced degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological/geotechnical engineering from an accredited college or university. At the discretion of the board, courses dealing with applied geological science that are given under the auspices of an academic department other than geology may be considered toward the fulfillment of this requirement. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Louisiana | Bachelor's degree | Environmental geology, petroleum geology, geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geophysics, soil science |
not specified |
paleontology, environmental geology, structural geology, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, petroleum geology, stratigraphy, historical geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, geophysics, physical geology, mining geology | 30 | The applicants courses must consist of at least four (4) years of study and includes at least thirty(30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of credit in geoscience, of which at least twenty (20) semester hours or thrity (30) quarter hours of credit must be in upper-level college courses in that discipline. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Maine | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a major in geological sciences, or have completed thirty (30) credits in geological sciences at an accredited college or university, or have at least seven (7) years of professional geological work that shall include either a minimum of three (3) years of professional geological work under the supervision of a qualified geologist or a minimum of five (5) years of responsible charge of geological work. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Massachusetts | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
not specified | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Minnesota | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
other, structural geology, geomorphology, geophysics, glacial geology, geochemistry, sedimentology, igneous petrology, stratigraphy, historical geology, hydrogeology, mineralogy, metamorphic petrology, field geology, physical geology | 30 | A minimum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter credits in geology are required, with a minimum of twenty-four (24) semester or thirty-six (36) quarter credits divided among at least three of the following geology areas: physical geology; historical geology; stratigraphy; sedimentology or sedimentary petrology; mineralogy; igneous and/or metamorphic petrology; structural geology; hydrogeology; geochemistry; geophysics; glacial/quaternary geology; geomorphology; and field geology or geologic field methods. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Mississippi | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must have graduated from a course of study in geology satisfactory to the board from an accredited college or university, or from a program accredited by an organization recognized by the board, of four (4) or more years and which includes at least thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter hours of credit, with a major in geology or a geological specialty. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Missouri | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences | structural geology, stratigraphy, sedimentology, earth materials, field geology, physical geology | other, environmental geology, independent study, seminar, hydrogeology, engineering geology | 30 | The applicant shall have completed at least thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of credit in a course of study in geology. The thirty (30) semester hours shall include the following courses or their equivalents: Physical Geology (3 semester hours), Earth Materials (minerals and rocks) (3 semester hours), Structural Geology (3 semester hours), Stratigraphy & Sedimentation (3 semester hours), and Field Geology (6 semester hours). | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Nebraska | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
environmental geology, soil science, structural geology, geophysics, petrology, petroleum geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, field geology, physical geology, mining geology | 30 | Applicants are required to have completed at least thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of course work in geology, and the applicant has received a baccalaureate or advanced degree in geology or a geologic specialty from a program recognized by the board. Five of the following courses (or equivalent) are required: field geology, physical geology, mineralogy, petrology/petrography, structural geology, stratigraphy/sedimentology/soils, or hydrogeology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Nevada | Bachelor's degree | Chemistry, engineering, hydrology, toxicology, environmental science, geology, hydrogeology, biology |
not specified |
not specified |
not specified | A bachelor’s or advanced degree from an accredited college or university in an area relating to the environment are required. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| New Hampshire | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
paleontology, hydrology, other, geomorphology, petrology, geochemistry, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, historical geology, mineralogy, geophysics, mining geology | 30 | The applicant must have thirty (30) credit hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours in geology from an accredited four-year college. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| New Jersey | Bachelor's degree | Engineering, natural science, chemical science, physical science |
not specified |
not specified |
not specified | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| New York | other, Bachelor's degree | Related geological sciences, earth science, environmental science, geochemistry, geology, engineering geology, geophysics | other | other, economic geology, sedimentology, hydrogeology, geodynamics, engineering geology, earth materials, field geology, surficial geology | 30 | An applicant for licensure must have a minimum of 30 semester hours in geological sciences coursework or the substantial equivalent as determined by the department, of which 24 semester hours or their substantial equivalent shall include at least one course from four of the following eight subject areas listed in Part 52 of the Regulations of the Comissioner. | Applicants should review the applicable statutes, rules, regulations and Board website to determine if their course work qualifies for licensure. See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| North Carolina | other, Bachelor's degree | Engineering geology, geological engineering, geology, related geological sciences | other, metamorphic petrology, structural geology, sedimentology, igneous petrology, stratigraphy, historical geology, mineralogy, physical geology | analytical chemistry, remote sensing, hydrogeology, soil science, water chemistry, advanced structural geology, geochemistry, optical mineralogy, GIS, engineering geology, advanced petrology, hydrology, seismology, stratigraphy, paleontology, other, environmental geology, geomorphology, earth materials, geophysics | 30 | The Board requires thirty (30) hours of geological study, with twenty-four (24) hours of upper-level courses in areas including: geology, geophysics, geochemistry, oceanography, paleontology, hydrology, soil science, economic geology and engineering geology. See the "North Carolinea Geological Licensure: Academic Guidelines" for specific academic requirements considered acceptable for licensure. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Oregon | Bachelor's degree | Engineering geology, geological engineering, geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | To be eligible for a certificate of registration, an applicant shall meet each of the following minimum qualifications: graduated from an accredited college or university with a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering or related geological science approved by the State Board of Geologist Examiners; or completed and passed 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in geological science. courses. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Pennsylvania | Bachelor's degree | Engineering geology, geochemistry, geophysics, geology | structural geology, field geology |
not specified |
30 | The applicant is required to have having completed 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in one of the approved majores. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Puerto Rico | Bachelor's degree | Related geological sciences, environmental geology, geochemistry, geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, geophysics |
not specified |
other | 30 | Each applicant is required to hold accrediting evidence that the applicant has graduated from an institution of higher education approved and recognized by the Board, with a major in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geology applied to engineering, environmental geology, or any of its respective subdivisions, with a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours per semester, or forty-five (45) credit hours per trimester in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geology applied to engineering, environmental geology, or any of its respective subdivisions. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| South Carolina | Bachelor's degree | Geophysics, geology |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant must be a graduate of a geologic curriculum of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of geology approved by the Board, including an earned bachelor’s degree or advanced degree from an accredited college or university. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| South Dakota | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
not specified | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Tennessee | Bachelor's degree | Related geological sciences, geochemistry, geology, engineering geology, geophysics |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | The applicant shall have successfully completed a minimum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter hours of course work in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, engineering geology or their subdivisions. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Texas | Other, Bachelor's degree | Related geological sciences, environmental geology, petroleum geology, geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, geophysics, soil science |
not specified |
not specified |
30 | An applicant must have completed at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of credit in geoscience, of which at least 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of credit must be in upper-level college courses in that geology or sub-discipline of geology including but not limited to engineering geology, petroleum geology, hydrogeology, and environmental geology; geophysics; or soil science. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. An applicant must have graduated from a course of study from an accredited university or program in one of the following disciplines of geoscience that consists of at least four years of study and includes at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of credit in geoscience, of which at least 20 semester hours or 30 quarter hours of credit must be in upper-level college courses in that geology or sub-discipline of geology including but not limited to engineering geology, petroleum geology, hydrogeology, and environmental geology; geophysics; or soil science. An applicant who has not met the education requirement may satisfy the education requirement by having satisfactorily completed other equivalent educational requirements as determined by the Appointed Board. |
| Utah | Bachelor's degree | Geology, related geological sciences |
not specified |
paleontology, hydrology, environmental geology, structural geology, geomorphology, geophysics, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, petroleum geology, remote sensing, sedimentology, hydrogeology, stratigraphy, engineering geology, mineralogy, field geology | 30 | The applicant is required to have a Bachelor's or graduate degree in the geosciences granted through an institution of higher education that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency with a minimum of 30 semester or 45 quarter hours of course work in the geosciences; or have completed other equivalent educational requirements as determined by the division in collaboration with the board. A minimum of 24 semester or 36 quarter hours in upper level or graduate geology courses is required, which includes one or more of the following subject areas: structural geology, geophysics, sedimentology/stratigraphy/paleontology, mineralogy/petrology/geochemistry, engineering geology/environmental geology, hydrogeology/hydrology, geomorphology/remote sensing, economic geology/petroleum geology, and field geology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Virginia | other | Engineering geology, geological engineering, geology, related geological sciences | paleontology, other, structural geology, geomorphology, petrology, stratigraphy, mineralogy, field geology | other | 30 | The applicant is required to hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering or a related geological science. In the absence of one of the aforementioned degrees, each applicant shall provide evidence of the satisfactory completion of 30 semester hours (or the equivalent) of geological science courses including, but not limited to, the following subjects: stratigraphy, structural geology, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, geomorphology, and field geology; at least 12 semester hours must have been completed in four of the seven subjects listed. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Washington | other, Bachelor's degree | Engineering geology, hydrogeology, geology, related geological sciences | other | structural geology, geomorphology, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, engineering geology, earth materials, mineralogy, field geology |
not specified | An applicant shall have earned a Bachelor's degree in geology, engineering geology, hydrogeology, or geological sciences, including successful completion of core classes approved by the board; or have a related Bachelor's degree as approved by the board, which includes successful completion of coursework that is determined by the board to be educationally equivalent in content and rigor to that of a geological sciences degree program. The board may review and approve unique combinations of educational equivalents to a Bachelor's degree. This may include advanced study pertinent to geology, nonmatriculated coursework, practical seminars, and/or on-the-job training acceptable to the board. The applicant is required to have 24 semester or 36 quarter hours of upper division geology courses, including 14 semester or 21 quarter credits (unduplicated) from the list of acceptable courses. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Wisconsin | Bachelor's degree | Geology | other | paleontology, hydrology, structural geology, geomorphology, geophysics, glacial geology, petrology, geochemistry, petroleum geology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, historical geology, hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, field geology, physical geology, mining geology | 30 | In order to be considered a major in geology, an applicant must have completed at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course credits which include credits in at least 4 of the following areas: geochemistry or geophysics, geologic field methods, glacial geology or geomorphology, hydrogeology or hydrology, mineralogy, petrology or petrography, stratigraphy or sedimentology, and structural geology. In addition to the required coursework, other coursework that may be used to satisfy the 30 semester hour or 45 quarter hour requirement includes, but is not limited to, the following: engineering geology, historical geology, mining geology, paleontology, petroleum geology, and physical geology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |
| Wyoming | Bachelor's degree | Geology | other | paleontology, environmental geology, structural geology, geomorphology, geophysics, economic geology, petrology, geochemistry, sedimentology, stratigraphy, hydrogeology, engineering geology, mineralogy, field geology | 30 | Geologic course work required to qualify as a geologist" includes a minimum of thirty (30) semester or forty-five (45) quarter hours in geology course work at an accredited institution of higher education approved by the Board. At least twenty-our (24) of the semester hours or thirty-six (36) of the quarter hours in geology shall be in at least five (5) of the following subject areas:economic geology, engineering geology, environmental geology, field geology, geochemistry, geomorphology, geophysics, hydrogeology, mineralogy, paleontology, petrology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, or structural geology. | See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure. |