Does state provide a license: Yes
License: Professional Geologist
Exam Entity: ASBOG
Licensing Board: Puerto Rico Board of Examiners of Geologists
Licensing Board Website: https://estado.pr.gov/en/geologists/
Degree required:
Majors accepted:
Courses required:
Courses accepted:
Geology credits required: 30
Credit information: 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.
Education Notes: See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure.
Years of experience required: 3
Experience credits needed: 0
Experience information: The applicant is required to have a minimum of two (2) years of professional experience under the supervision of a licensed geologist or a minimum of three (3) years of experience as the person in charge for geological work certified by a licensed geologist. Credit for graduate study shall be provided at the discretion of the Board up to maximum of two (2) years.
Continuing education requirements: No
Geologist in Training license available: Yes
Can take Fundamentals of Geology test before graduation: Yes
Fundamentals of Geology test details: The board website do not specifically address taking the FG examination before degree completion. The board website states that to sit for the exam, the applicant musta minimum of thirty (30) semester credit hours or forty-five (45) semester credit hours in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geology applied to engineering, environmental geology, or their subdivisions.
Legal Code Reference for GIT, FG: TBD - rules and regulations are not readily available on the PG licensure website.
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.
| Year | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Practice regulation | The geologist practice laws were signed August 23, 1996, and a licensing Board of Geologists was named September 26, 1996. |
| 2008 | ASBOG | The first ASBOG exam was administered. |