Virginia Law

A. In addition to the requirements in § 54.1-2208.2 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant for certification as a professional geologist in Virginia must:

1. Make application on forms provided by the board;

2. Be of ethical character, which may be established if the applicant:

a. Has not been convicted of a non-marijuana misdemeanor in the last 10 years or has never been convicted of a felony that would render the applicant unfit or unsuited to engage in the occupation or profession applied for in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia;

b. Has committed no act involving dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, or incompetence reasonably related to:

(1) The proposed area of practice within 10 years prior to application for licensure, certification, or registration; or

(2) The area of practice related to licensure, certification, or registration by the board while under the authority of the board;

c. Has not engaged in fraud or misrepresentation in connection with the application for licensure, certification, or registration, or related exam;

d. Has not had a license, certification, or registration revoked or suspended for cause or been disciplined by the Commonwealth or by any other jurisdiction, or surrendered a license, certificate, or registration in lieu of disciplinary action; and

e. Has not practiced without the required license, certification, or registration in the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction within the five years immediately preceding the filing of the application for licensure, certification, or registration by the Commonwealth.

3. Have at least seven years of geological work that must include either a minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified or certified professional geologist or a minimum of three years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. The work must include one or more of the following areas:

a. Mineralogy.

(1) Identify and classify major rock types.

(2) Identify mineral assemblages.

(3) Determine probable genesis and sequence of mineral assemblages.

(4) Identify minerals on the basis of chemical composition.

(5) Predict subsurface mineral characteristics on the basis of exposures and drillholes.

b. Petrography or petrology.

(1) Identify and classify major rock types.

(2) Determine physical properties of rocks.

(3) Determine chemical properties of rocks.

(4) Determine types or degrees of rock alteration.

(5) Determine suites of rock types.

c. Geochemistry.

(1) Establish analytical objectives and approaches.

(2) Evaluate geochemical data.

(3) Construct models based on results of geochemical analysis.

(4) Make recommendations based upon results of geochemical analyses.

d. Hydrogeology.

(1) Design and interpret hydrologic testing programs.

(2) Utilize chemical data to evaluate hydrogeologic conditions.

(3) Apply geophysical methods to analyze hydrogeologic conditions.

(4) Determine physical and chemical properties of aquifers and vadose zones.

(5) Determine groundwater flow systems.

(6) Evaluate groundwater resources.

(7) Evaluate groundwater quality.

(8) Design wells and drilling programs.

(9) Develop groundwater resource management plans.

(10) Plan and evaluate remedial action programs.

e. Engineering geology.

(1) Provide geological information and interpretations for engineering design.

(2) Identify and evaluate potential seismic and other geologic hazards.

(3) Provide geologic consultation during and after construction.

(4) Develop and interpret engineering geology maps and sections.

(5) Evaluate materials resources.

(6) Define and establish site selection and evaluation criteria.

(7) Design and implement field and laboratory programs.

(8) Describe and sample soils for geologic analysis and materials properties testing.

f. Mining geology.

(1) Formulate exploration programs.

(2) Implement field investigations on prospects.

(3) Perform geologic interpretations for mineral reserves.

(4) Perform economic analyses or appraisals.

(5) Provide geologic interpretations for mine development and production activities.

(6) Provide geologic interpretations for mine abandonments, closures, or restorations.

g. Petroleum geology.

(1) Formulate exploration programs.

(2) Implement field investigations on prospects.

(3) Perform geologic interpretations of physical properties and hydrocarbon reserves.

(4) Perform petroleum economic analyses or appraisals.

(5) Provide geologic interpretations for development and production activities.

(6) Provide geologic interpretations for abandonments, closures, or restorations.

B. Applicants holding degrees other than those listed in § 54.1-2208.2 B 2 of the Code of Virginia must provide the board with written documentation that demonstrates that the courses satisfactorily completed by the applicant are equivalent geological science courses.

C. A year of full-time employment is a minimum of 32 hours per week. Partial credit may be given for actual hours of work or workdays experience if the applicant works as a geologist less than full time.