Virginia Administrative Code › Title 18 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING › Agency 145 - BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL SOIL SCIENTISTS, WETLAND PROFESSIONALS, ANDGEOLOGISTS › Chapter 20 - PROFESSIONAL SOIL SCIENTISTS REGULATIONS › Part II - Entry › Section 18VAC145-20-90 - Qualifying experience in soil evaluation

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
Minimum experience requirements are established in Chapter
					 22 (§ 54.1-2200 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. Applicants
					 shall satisfy the length of experience established relative to their education.
					 Applicants shall demonstrate experience in two or more of the following
					 areas:
1. Soil mapping. Compiled soil
				  maps representing at least 5,000 acres as part of a soil survey or surveys with
				  a formal mapping legend under the direct guidance of an experienced technical
				  supervisor. Only maps in a published report, a report scheduled to be
				  published, or a report of a publishable quality shall be deemed as acceptable
				  for this type of experience;
2.
				  Soil evaluation. Conducted at least 20 soil evaluations for specific land uses
				  under the direct guidance of an experienced technical supervisor. Examples of
				  such uses include, but are not limited to, onsite wastewater disposal,
				  residential and commercial development, sanitary landfill sites, forestry or
				  agriculture production, soil erosion and sediment control, shrink-swell, or
				  hydric soils. The finished product must have been submitted to a client or
				  government agency (e.g., Health Department, Environmental Protection Agency,
				  Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Conservation and Recreation,
				  or local planning commission);
3.
				  Field/Laboratory studies. Conducted at least 10 detailed field or laboratory
				  studies under the direct guidance of an experienced technical supervisor. The
				  field or laboratory study must have resulted in a soil evaluation report that
				  was accepted by the client or government agency;
4. Research/Teaching. Conducted at least one
				  research project as part of a thesis or publication or taught at least one
				  full-time course in a soil science curriculum at an accredited institution of
				  higher education, the quality of which demonstrates to the board that the
				  applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist;
5. Consulting (public/private). Assembled or
				  compiled soil information with existing data or field studies and evaluated
				  data for a specific land use. The work may have been done independently or
				  under supervision. At least three written reports must have been submitted to
				  the client or government agency; or
6. Education. Each year of full-time
				  undergraduate study in a soils curriculum or related natural science may count
				  as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years. Each year of
				  full-time graduate study in a soils curriculum may count as one year of
				  experience up to a maximum of two years. One year equals 30 semester credit
				  hours earned or 45 quarter credit hours earned. Any credits used to meet the
				  education requirements established in Chapter 22 (§ 54.1-2200 et seq.) of
				  Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia may not be used to meet experience
				  requirements.
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-201 of the Code of
						Virginia.