Part II. Entry
18VAC145-30-20. Qualifications for certification.
Applicants for certification shall pass the board-approved exam and meet the requirements specified in Chapter 22 (§ 54.1-2200 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia and this chapter. The board will waive the examination requirement for applicants who meet the requirements of § 54.1-2206 B of the Code of Virginia.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-30. Receipt of application.
The date the completed application and fee are received in the board's office shall determine if the application has been received by the established deadline in 18VAC145-30-70.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-40. Qualification for examination.
In order to qualify for the examination, an applicant shall provide (i) documentation of meeting education and experience requirements and (ii) three written references as provided for in § 54.1-2206.2 of the Code of Virginia.
References shall not be related to the applicant.
Statutory Authority
§ 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. July 12, 2007; Volume 31, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2015; Volume 41, Issue 1, eff. October 1, 2024; Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-50. Qualifying experience in wetland delineation.
An applicant shall demonstrate experience in one of the following areas:
1. For those individuals seeking to qualify pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 1 or 2 of § 54.1-2206.2 of the Code of Virginia, the experience in wetland delineation must be as a wetland professional and include the preparation of no fewer than 10 delineations, which must be no more than 10 years old at the time of receipt by the board office, delineating wetlands in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations that include the proper identification of vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators. At least six of the 10 delineations must be for nontidal wetlands;
2. For those individuals seeking to qualify pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 1 or 2 of § 54.1-2206.2 of the Code of Virginia, the experience in wetland delineation must be as a wetland professional and include the inspection, review, or confirmation of no fewer than 30 delineations as an employee of a federal, state, or local governmental body that is authorized to review or approve such delineations, which must be no more than 10 years old at the time of receipt by the board office, delineating wetlands in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations that include the proper identification of vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators. Such experience must include the performance of field verifications of a portion of those wetland delineations that were inspected, reviewed, or confirmed. At least 18 of the 30 delineations must be for nontidal wetlands; or
3. For those individuals seeking to qualify pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 3 of § 54.1-2206.2 of the Code of Virginia, the experience as a wetland science researcher must include the preparation of a minimum of three field studies focused on wetland delineation practice and issues, which includes the proper identification of vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators, and the experience as a teacher of wetlands curriculum must have been acquired in an accredited institution of higher education as a field or laboratory instructor of quarter-length or semester-length classes for a minimum of six semester hours, or equivalent, within the past 10 years prior to the receipt of the application by the board office, and the curriculum must have included the proper identification of vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-60. Course requirements.
The education required pursuant to subdivision 1 of § 54.1-2206.2 of the Code of Virginia must include the following:
1. For a bachelor's or graduate degree to be approved by the board, it shall, at a minimum, contain coursework in the following:
a. Biological sciences, including courses such as general biology, botany, or zoology; general ecology; plant, animal, aquatic, or wetlands ecology; invertebrate zoology; taxonomy; marine science; fisheries biology; plant physiology, plant taxonomy, plant pathology, or plant morphology; relevant environmental sciences; and similar courses;
b. Physical sciences, including courses in soils, chemistry, hydrology, physics, geology, sedimentology, oceanography, coastal processes, environmental engineering, and similar courses; and
c. Quantitative sciences, including courses in math, computer sciences, basic statistics, population dynamics, experimental statistics, and similar courses.
2. The applicant must have successfully completed a course of instruction, of a minimum of 32 hours, in state and federal wetland delineation methods that includes the proper identification of vegetation, soil, and hydrology indicators and a field component.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-70. Examination.
A. Once approved by the board, an applicant shall be eligible to sit for a board-approved examination.
B. An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements as of the date the completed application and fee is received by the board's office. For examination candidates, the completely documented application and fee must be received by the board's office at least 60 days prior to the examination.
C. A candidate approved to take an examination shall do so within three years of the date of approval or submit a new application and fee in accordance with this chapter. Applicants who fail to pass the board-approved examination within three years of being approved shall be required to submit a new application.
D. A candidate who is unable to take the examination at the time scheduled must notify the department prior to the date of the examination.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2203 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.
18VAC145-30-80. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 20, eff. July 14, 2004; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 2, eff. November 1, 2025.