Virginia Law

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.