Does state provide a license: Yes
Current Active Licensees
| Title | Licensees |
|---|---|
| Soil Scientist | 89 |
| Professional Geologist | 917 |
| Geologist In Training | 60 |
License: Professional Geologist
Exam Entity: ASBOG
Licensing Board: The Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists
Licensing Board Website: http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/SSWPG/
Degree required:
Majors accepted:
Courses required:
Courses accepted:
Geology credits required: 30
Credit information: 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.
Education Notes: See the state regulations for a complete explanation of the education requirements for licensure.
Years of experience required: 7
Experience credits needed: 4
Experience information: The candidate must have at least seven years of geological work that shall include either a minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified or certified professional geologist, or a minimum of three years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two (2) years, and each year of full-time graduate study shall count as a year of experience up to a maximum of three (3) years. Credit for undergraduate and graduate study shall in no case exceed a total of four (4) years toward meeting the requirements for at least seven years of geological work.
Continuing education requirements: No
Geologist in Training license available: Yes
Can take Fundamentals of Geology test before graduation: Yes
Fundamentals of Geology test details: Be enrolled in an undergraduate geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science curriculum of at least four years at an accredited college or university and be within 12 months of completing undergraduate degree requirements. The applicant shall provide an official college transcript that demonstrates satisfactory completion of course work. At least 12 of the 30 semester hours of geological science courses must have been completed in four of the seven subjects listed in this subsection. The applicant shall provide an official college transcript and written documentation that demonstrates the courses satisfactorily completed are equivalent to those required by this section.
Legal Code Reference for GIT, FG: 18VAC145-40-83. Qualifications for the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination. 18VAC145-40-85. Qualifications for Geologist-in-Training (GIT) design
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: No
License subject to audit review: Yes
Current law to establish new licensure board: Yes
Sunset regulation name: Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act
Sunset statute: Code of Virginia, Title 30. General Assembly, Chapter 7. Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, and Chapter 8. Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act
Sunset statute reference: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodefull/title30/chapter8/
Sunset committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Composition of sunset committee: JLARC comprises nine members of the House of Delegates, of whom at least five also serve on the House Appropriations Committee, and five members of the Senate, of whom two also serve on the Senate Finance Committee.
Sunset committee website: http://jlarc.virginia.gov/
Sunset duration: Seven (7) year cycle for functional areas of government. Small business impact reviews conducted every four (4) years.
Sunset notes: In the 2018 review of the department, Geologists were not on the list of occupations that do not appear to meet criteria for public health and safety.
Other sunset references: 2019 Periodic Review and Small Business Impact Review, Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists
Other sunset references website: https://www.townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewpreview.cfm?PRID=1871
Auditor name: Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts (APA)
Auditor website: http://www.apa.virginia.gov/
Audit legislation committee: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
Audit legislation committee website: http://jlarc.virginia.gov/
| Year | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Sunset law created | The Legislative Program Review and Evaluation Act was created by Chapter 388 of 1978 under VA Code Title 30, Chapter 8 ยง30-64. |
| 1981 | Practice regulation | Certification of Professional Geologists was implemented in Virginia under the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists. |
| 1982 | Audit | The Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission (JLARC) Audit Report was completed on the Occupational and Professional Regulatory Boards. The Geology Certification board was not included because it was newly implemented. |
| 1983 | Sunset review | JLARC completed a report on the Occupational and Professional Regulatory System in Virginia. |
| 1986 | Sunset law amended | The sunset law was amended. |
| 1998 | ASBOG | The first ASBOG exam was administered. |
| 2014 | Audit | The Auditor of Public Accounts (APA) performed financial review audits of the Professional and Occupational Regulation. The audit reports were completed in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2012 nad 2014. |
| 2015 | A Periodic Review and Small Business Impact Review was completed for the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists. | |
| 2018 | Executive order | Executive Order (EO) 14, titled Development and Review of State Agencies, was administered by Governor Northam on 7/16/2018. EO 14 established policies and procedures for the review of all new regulations and changes to existing regulations proposed by state agencies, including all agencies, boards, commissions, and other entities of theCommonwealth within the executive branch authorized to promulgate regulations. |
| 2018 | The Auditor of Public Accounts (APA) provided a letter dated 6/7/2018 that stated that the Internal Control Questionnaire that was provided by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), submitted on 5/8/2018, was reviewed. | |
| 2018 | Sunset review | A Performance Review of the Dept of Professional Licensing and Occupational Regulation was conducted. The results show that Geologists were not on the list of occupations that “do not appear” to meet criteria for public health and safety. |
| 2019 | A Periodic Review and Small Business Impact Review was completed for the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists. | |
| 2023 | The next scheduled date for a Periodic Review and Small Business Impact Review for the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists. |