The licensing requirement becomes effective July 1, 2000. David Curlis, P.G., a senior consultant with Delta Environmental Consultants in Charlotte, N.C., is a licensed Professional Geologist in about six states. He's watched the licensing movement grow, and believes it will increasingly affect geologists and firm's ability to stay competitive. Clients have come to expect that consulting firms have licensed professionals in any state that the client is involved with environmental issues, he says. In addition, the states that have geologist registration, generally have adopted regulations that require all geologic work to be supervised by a registered geologist and all reports to be signed and sealed by one.
Different states have different requirements.
The years of experience needed for licensing vary. In Kansas, for example, geologists will not be able to take the exam until they have had four years of work experience. The exams are tough. The second half includes problem sets, calculations and mapping. In the Carolinas where Curlis works the pass rate is about 50 percent.