Professional Geologist Individual Licensing

In 32 states, individuals that prepare plans, reports, or documents of a geological nature may be required to obtain a state-issued geologist license. Each state board has its own professional standards for engineering licenses.

Prerequisites

While each state board for geologists has its own requirements for licensure, potential licensees will follow a similar path of prerequisites to obtain a license in any state. Prerequisites typically include:

• A bachelor’s or advanced degree in geology or a related geological science from an accredited school.
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) or another similar examination.
• Successful completion of the Practice of Geology (PG) or another similar examination.
• A requisite amount of geologic experience, which for most states is five years and is usually under the supervision of a professional geologist.

Geologist-in-Training Certificates

After passing the Fundamentals of Geology exam, most states issue or allow individuals to apply for a geologist-in-training (GIT) certificate. Although in many states GIT certificates are valid perpetually, some states require certificates to be renewed periodically. Click on a state page link below for more information about geologist-in-training certificates in your state.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the standard licensing requirements mentioned above, some states have requirements that go beyond what is required in other states. Additional requirements often include:

• A reference from licensed engineer
• A duration of internship or training
• Additional experience
• Jurisdiction-specific exams (beyond the FG and PG)

Initial Application Process

After meeting the prerequisites for licensure, applicants can begin the license application process. Depending on the state, applicants may need to file an application with the board prior to taking the FG exam, after passing the FG exam, or both prior to taking and after passing the FG exam.

Like the application process, application fees also vary by state. Some states charge separate fees for exam applications, license applications, and the issuance of the license, while other states charge a single flat fee. In many states, applicants must wait until their license application is approved before submitting the license fee and then receiving their license from the board.

Reciprocal Registration

Thanks to reciprocity, geologists who perform services in more than one jurisdiction can apply for additional licenses using a streamlined process. Most states allow for reciprocal registration as long as the jurisdiction that issued the original license has substantially similar licensing requirements for geologists. While the majority of states require only proof of education, experience, and passage of exams for reciprocity, some states may require applicants to obtain more experience or to pass additional exams before a license is issued.

Renewal Requirements

Professional geologist licenses typically need to be renewed on an annual or biennial basis. In addition to filing a renewal application and paying the license renewal fee, geologists in many states must complete continuing education hours before renewing their license.

Continuing Education Requirements

The majority of jurisdictions in the United States require professional geoscientists to earn continuing education credits before each license renewal. Requirements vary by state licensing boards. While not every state requires geologists to meet a continuing education requirement, those that do usually require between 24 and 30 hours per biennial license period.

Whether self-guided or instructor-led, continuing education courses offer professional geologists the opportunity to stay up-to-date on industry issues. Professional geologists need to understand their states’ continuing education and renewal requirements to remain compliant and operational.

Keeping up with each state’s requirements, tracking renewals, and submitting the applications on time is critical to avoiding penalties. As part of our engineering licensing solutions, our team of dedicated compliance experts can help you keep track of varying jurisdiction requirements and updated laws.

Geology Firm Licensing

A Plan for Compliance: The map below illustrates nationwide licensing requirements for geology firms.

Overview of Geology Firm Licensing Requirements

Before providing geologic services in a state, firms are required to meet a number of licensing and registration requirements. Although relatively few states issue geology licenses to firms, business entities offering geologic services may be subject to ownership and individual licensing requirements.

In states where a firm license is required, firms must typically designate an employee as the geologist in responsible charge of all geological activities. The geologist in charge is generally required to have an active professional geologist license in the state where the firm license is being issued.

License application requirements vary by state, but many applications ask for:

• Business entity information
• A list of officers or owners of the firm
• Geologist-in-charge information
• A certificate of authority (if a foreign entity)
• A certificate of good standing from the secretary of state
• Application fees

Firms operating in more than one location within the same state will likely also need to provide geologist-in-charge and contact information for each of their branch office locations. In some states, each branch office must obtain its own firm registration or license.

Entities that offer engineering or land surveying services in addition to geologic services will typically need a separate license for each professional service they provide. A few states do, however, issue design firm licenses that cover a multitude of engineering disciplines, as well as architecture and land surveying, under a single license.

Multi-State Licensure

Geology firms pursuing projects outside of their home state should expect to have to register with the board of geologists, secretary of state, and sometimes the department of revenue before providing services in a new state. In states with no licensing requirement for businesses, firms should still make sure that they are clear to operate in the jurisdiction under their entity type and that there is a licensed professional geologist in charge of all geology-related services for the firm.

For states with a licensing requirement for firms, the order of the licensing process varies. Some states require firms to foreign qualify their business entity with the secretary of state before applying for a geology firm license, while others give firms the flexibility to complete these registrations in the order they choose.

Firms should also apply for any necessary tax-related registrations before providing geologic services in a state. Corporate income tax, withholding tax, and unemployment insurance tax registrations are commonly required when doing business in a new state.

Maintaining Compliance

After licenses and registrations are obtained, firms must file renewals to remain in good standing. Geology firm licenses renew on an annual or biennial basis in every state except for New York, which requires firms to renew their license every three years. Along with license renewal, firms may also need to submit annual reports to maintain their entity registration with the secretary of state.

In addition to these structured renewal events, firms must also report address, contact information, qualifying individual, and ownership changes as they occur. States typically require these types of changes to be reported within 10 or 20 days of their occurrence.

Firms should also track continuing education requirements to ensure that their qualifying individuals meet their individual license renewal requirements. Geologists in charge who fail to meet renewal requirements will jeopardize the good standing of the firm license.

A loss of good standing with the board of geologists or secretary of state typically results in the payment of penalty fees to reinstate, and registrations left delinquent for long enough can become dissolved entirely. Maintaining compliance in these areas is the key to avoiding unnecessary penalties and preventing costly delays caused by delinquent registrations.

Keeping up with each state’s requirements, tracking renewals, and submitting the applications on time are critical to avoiding penalties. Our compliance software and services can help you keep track of varying jurisdiction requirements and relevant updates to state laws.

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