Does state provide a license: Yes
Current Active Licensees
| Title | Licensees |
|---|---|
| Environmental Engineer | 300 |
| Geological Engineer | 74 |
| Geophysical Engineer | 1 |
| Mining Engineer | 115 |
| Petroleum Engineer | 5 |
| Geologist | 820 |
License: Professional Geologist
Exam Entity: ASBOG
Licensing Board: Arizona Board of Technical Registration
Licensing Board Website: https://btr.az.gov/
Degree required:
Majors accepted:
Courses required:
Courses accepted:
Geology credits required: Not available
Credit information: 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.
Education Notes: See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure.
Years of experience required: 8
Experience credits needed: 5
Experience information: The Board shall grant credit according to the following: geology applicants with bachelor’s degree in geology or earth sciences: 48 months. Geology applicants with a master’s or doctoratedegree in geology or earth sciences: 60 months.
Continuing education requirements: No
Geologist in Training license available: Yes
Can take Fundamentals of Geology test before graduation: Yes
Fundamentals of Geology test details: To qualify for admission to the fundamentals examination solely on the basis of education, an applicant shall be a graduate or be in the final year of a four-year degree program with a major in geology or earth science at an accredited college or university.
Legal Code Reference for GIT, FG: A.A.C. R4-30-242
Most registration and licensure systems include structural approaches to review both the need and operational effectiveness of the process.
Some states provide formal sunset evaluation processes for their licensure programs. Many also include a periodic audit process of the licensure program/agency, which can range from cursory financial reviews to comprehensive evaluation of program effectiveness.
The audit process is often leveraged when political pressure is applied to eliminate geologist licensure, so awareness of the history and codes for audits and sunset evaluations is critical to montioring the health of the licensure within the state.
Current modes for sunsetting evaluation: Both sunset review and audit
License subject to sunset review: Yes
License subject to audit review: Yes
Current law to establish new licensure board: Yes
Sunset regulation name: Legislative Review of Agencies and Expiration of New Programs
Sunset statute: Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 41. State Government, Chapter 27. Legislative Review of Agencies and Expiration of New Programs, Articles 1 through 3
Sunset statute reference: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=41
Sunset committee: Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC)
Composition of sunset committee: JLAC consists of 5 Senate members appointed by the President of the Senate and 5 House members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
Sunset committee website: https://www.azauditor.gov/joint-legislative-audit-committee
Sunset duration: A maximum of every 10 years
Sunset notes: The 2005 report noted switching to ASBOG exam saved board $30,000 in exam creation and maintenance costs.
Other sunset references: Handbook on Arizona’s Sunset & Sunrise Review
Other sunset references website: https://www.azleg.gov/sunset_review.pdf
Auditor name: Arizona Auditor General
Auditor website: https://www.azauditor.gov/
Audit statute: Title 41 State Government, Chapter 7. Legislature, Article 10.1. Joint Legislative Audit Committee and Auditor General
Audit Statute abbreviation: Title 41 State Government, Chapter 7. Legislature, Article 10.1. Joint Legislative Audit Committee and Auditor General Section 41-5A-1
Audit statute link: https://www.azleg.gov/arsDetail/?title=41
Audit duration: A maximum of every 10 years
Audit legislation committee: Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC)
Audit legislation committee website: https://www.azauditor.gov/joint-legislative-audit-committee
Audit notes: There have been historical and recent attempts to remove licensing requirements for geologists in the state.
Audit reference: Internal Control and Compliance Reports User Guide
Audit reference website: https://www.azauditor.gov/sites/default/files/InternalControlandComplianceReportsUserGuide2019.pdf
| Year | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Practice regulation | Practice regulation for professional geologists. |
| 1978 | Sunset law created | enacted as 41-2351 |
| 1985 | Audit | Audit Report on Board of Technical Registration - Auditor General - recommended removing geologists from regulation because it could be eliminated without significantly affecting public health, safety and welfare. |
| 1992 | ASBOG | The first ASBOG exam was administered. |
| 1995 | Audit | The audit found that state licensure of geologists was unnecessary because the profession posed no signifianct harm to the public and other adequate safeguards exist to ensure the proper and safe delivery of services. |
| 2005 | Sunset review | Sunset review of the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration. JLAC recommended the board be continued for a period of ten years. |
| 2015 | Sunset review | Sunset review document not found. |
| 2015 | None | Board response to sunset review. |
| 2016 | Legislative bill | HB2613 Attempted to remove licensing requirements for geologists. The bill passed. Exempted geologists from meeting the qualifications for professional registration. |
| 2017 | Executive order | Executive Order (EO) 2017-03. The EO required reports on internal review of training requirements, continuing education, fees, and processes. The EO directed that licensing requirements should be as limited as possible.The EO included the State Board of Technical Registration. |
| 2017 | None | Board of Technical Registration response to EO 2017-03. |
| 2019 | Legislative bill | HB2231 (did not pass): This bill would not deregulate any profession or occupation. The AZBTR Practice Act would remain intact if it passed. It applied to the Sunset Review regarding a Committee of Reference recommendation for “status” of an occupation or profession by creating government registration or government certification as alternative options to occupational license. Neither the government registration or government certification would confirm credentials or regulates practice. It was unknown who would issue government registration or government certification The bill failed the 3rd read vote on March 4, 2019. |
| 2019 | Legislative bill | HB2569 becomes effective on August 27, 2019 - Applications for Universal Licensure, https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/54leg/1R/laws/0055.pdf |