Proposed Text
Part I
General
18VAC145-40-10. Definitions.
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Board" means the Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists.
"Geologist" means a person engaged in the public practice of geology.
"Geologist-in-Training (GIT)" means an individual who has completed the academic requirements specified in this chapter and has passed the Fundamentals of Geology examination, but has not met all requirements to qualify as a Virginia certified professional geologist.
"Geology" means the science dealing with (i) the earth and its history in general; (ii) the investigation, prediction, evaluation, and location of materials and structures which compose the earth; (iii) the natural processes that cause changes in the earth; and (iv) the application of knowledge of the earth, its processes, and its constituent rocks, minerals, liquids, gases and other natural materials.
"Practice of geology" means the performance of any service or work for the general public wherein the principles and methods of geology are applied.
"Qualified geologist" means an uncertified person who possesses all the qualifications specified in § 54.1-2208.2 of the Code of Virginia for certification.
"Related geological science degree" means a degree that shall include, but not be limited to, a degree in economic geology or petroleum geology.
"Responsible charge" means the direct control and supervision of the practice of geology.
"Supervision" means quality control review of all significant data collection, interpretation and conclusions.
"Virginia certified professional geologist" means a person who possesses all qualifications specified in this chapter for certification and whose competence has been attested by the board through certification.
18VAC145-40-20. Fees.
All fees for application, examination, renewal, and reinstatement shall be established by the board pursuant to § 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia. All fees are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated.
1. The application fee for certification shall be $40.
2. The fee for renewal of certification shall be $35.
3. The application fee for the Geologist-in-Training (GIT) designation shall be $20.
3. 4. The fee for examination or reexamination is
subject to contracted charges to the department by an outside vendor. These
contracts are competitively negotiated and bargained for in compliance with the
Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq. of the Code of Virginia).
Fees may be adjusted and charged to the candidate in accordance with this
contract.
4. 5. The penalty fee for late renewal shall be
$25 in addition to the renewal fee.
5. 6. The reinstatement fee shall be $40.
18VAC145-40-83. Qualifications for the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination.
The board may approve applicants to sit for the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination without having met the experience requirements of 18VAC145-40-70. The applicant shall submit an application on forms provided by the board, pay the fee established in 18VAC145-40-20, and satisfy one of the following requirements:
1. 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 and provide an official college transcript that demonstrates satisfactory completion of the degree program.
2. Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a major other than geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science and satisfactorily completed at least 30 semester hours (or the equivalent) of geological science courses including, but not limited to, the following subjects:
a. Stratigraphy;
b. Structural geology;
c. Mineralogy;
d. Paleontology;
e. Petrology;
f. Geomorphology; and
g. Field geology.
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.
3. 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.
4. Be enrolled in a graduate geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science curriculum at an accredited college or university and be within six months of completing graduate degree requirements. The applicant shall provide an official college transcript that demonstrates satisfactory completion of course work.
18VAC145-40-85. Qualifications for Geologist-in-Training (GIT) designation.
A. To be eligible to obtain the GIT designation, each applicant shall:
1. Make application on forms provided by the board;
2. Be of ethical character;
3. Have achieved a passing score on a board-approved Fundamentals of Geology examination;
4. 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; or
5. Hold a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a major other than geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science and have satisfactorily completed at least 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 of the 30 semester hours of geological science courses must have been completed in four of the seven subjects listed in this subsection.
B. Prior to obtaining the designation of GIT, an applicant who qualified to sit for a board-approved Fundamentals of Geology examination under subdivision 3 or 4 of 18VAC145-40-83 and passed the examination must provide an official college transcript that demonstrates satisfactory completion of the degree program.
C. The designation of GIT will remain valid until the individual meets all requirements for certification as a Virginia certified professional geologist.
D. The designation of GIT does not give an individual the authority to practice as a certified professional geologist. An individual may not practice as a certified professional geologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia until his competence has been attested by the board through certification.
FORMS (18VAC145-40)
Certification Application, 28CERT (rev. 6/00).
Geologist-in-Training Designation Application (rev. 10/12).
Experience Log, 28EXP (rev. 1/05).