Does state provide a license: Yes
Current Active Licensees
| Title | Licensees |
|---|---|
| Geologist | 1100 |
License: Professional Geologist
Exam Entity: ASBOG
Licensing Board: North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists
Licensing Board Website: https://www.ncblg.org/
Degree required:
Majors accepted:
Courses required:
Courses accepted:
Geology credits required: 30
Credit information: 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.
Education Notes: See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure.
Years of experience required: 5
Experience credits needed: 4
Experience information: Undergraduate study may qualify for up to two years of experience. Graduate study may qualify for an additional two years of experience.
Continuing education requirements: Yes
Continuing education years: 12
Continuing education details: Licensees must obtain 12 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) of geologic education each license year in order to renew their license.
Geologist in Training license available: Yes
Can take Fundamentals of Geology test before graduation: Yes
Fundamentals of Geology test details: The rules, regulations and board website do not specifically address taking the FG examination before degree completion. The regulations state that to qualify, the applicant is required to have completed 30 semester hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology, of which at least 24 hours of the equivalent were upper level undergraduate courses or graduate courses
Legal Code Reference for GIT, FG: § 89E-3, and § 89E-9 Geologist Licensing Act
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
Sunset regulation name: Periodic Review and Expiration of Existing Rules
Sunset statute: General Statutes, Chapter 150B. Administrative Procedures Act, Section 21.3A. Periodic Review and Expiration of Existing Rules
Sunset statute reference: https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/GeneralStatuteSections/Chapter150B
Sunset committee: Rules Review Commission, and Joint Legislative Administrative Procedure Oversight Committee
Sunset committee website: https://www.nc.gov/agency/rules-review-commission
Sunset duration: Each agency subject to this Article shall conduct a review of the agency’s existing rules at least once every 10 years
Sunset notes: The results of the 2014 RRC review were “Necessary without substantive public interest”. See RRC guide for
Other sunset references: Overview of the Review Process
Other sunset references website: https://www.oah.nc.gov/rules-division/rules-review-commission/periodic-review-and-expiration-existing-rules/overview-review
Auditor name: North Carolina Office of the State Auditor
Auditor website: https://www.ncauditor.net
Audit statute: General Statutes, Chapter 147. State Officers, Article 5A. Auditor
Audit Statute abbreviation: General Statutes, Chapter 147. State Officers, Article 5A. Auditor Section 41-5A-1
Audit statute link: https://www.ncleg.gov/Laws/GeneralStatuteSections/Chapter147
Audit legislation committee: None identified
Audit legislation committee website: https://www.ncleg.gov/committees
Audit reference: Report Search
Audit reference website: https://www.ncauditor.net/pub42/AdvancedSearch.aspx
| Year | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Sunset law created | The Periodic Review of Certain State Agencies law (sunset law) was created under NC Statute §143-34.10. |
| 1979 | Sunset law amended | The sunset law was amended, sections were repealed. |
| 1981 | Sunset law repealed | The sunset law was repealed on 7/30/1981. |
| 1981 | Sunset law created | The Legislative Committee on Agency Review was created. This agency succeeded the sunset law and operated until 6/30/1983. |
| 1983 | Sunset law repealed | The Legislative Committee on Agency Review was repealed. |
| 1986 | Practice regulation | The North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists was created. |
| 1986 | Sunset law created | The Rules Review Commission (RRC) was created. |
| 1995 | ASBOG | The first ASBOG exam was administered. |
| 2013 | Sunset law created | The Regulatory Reform Act was created by Session Law 2013-413, HB 74. In this law, the RRC was to review every rule at least once every 10 years. |
| 2014 | Audit | Financial Audit of the Occupational Licensing Boards and Commissions by the Office of the State Auditor, report number FCA-2014-7902. |
| 2014 | Sunset review | The Board for Licensing of Geologists was reviewed by RRC, report number G.S. 150B-21.3A Report for 21 NCAC 21. The RRC determination was “Necessary without substantive public interest.” |
| 2017 | Audit | Financial audit of the Board, report number CPA-2016-8110. |
| 2018 | Audit | Financial audit of the Board, report number CPA-2017-8110. |
| 2019 | Audit | Financial audit of the Board, report number CPA-2018-8110. |