Virginia Law

Article 2. Soil Scientists and Wetland Professionals.

A. The certification program for wetland delineation set forth in this chapter shall be voluntary and shall not be construed to prohibit:

1. The practice of wetland delineation by individuals who are not certified professional wetland delineators as defined in this chapter;

2. The work of an employee or a subordinate of a certified professional wetland delineator or of an individual who is practicing wetland delineation without being certified;

3. The work of any professional engineer, landscape architect, or land surveyor as defined by § 54.1-400 in rendering any of the services that constitute the practice of wetland delineation or the practice of soil evaluation; or

4. The practice of any profession or occupation that is regulated by another regulatory board within the Department.

B. The licensing program for professional soil scientists shall not be construed to prohibit:

1. The work of an employee or a subordinate of a licensed soil scientist;

2. The work of any professional engineer, landscape architect, or land surveyor as defined in § 54.1-400 in rendering any services that constitute the practice of soil evaluation; or

3. The practice of any profession or occupation that is regulated by another regulatory board within the Department.

C. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize an individual to engage in the practice of engineering, the practice of land surveying or the practice of landscape architecture, unless such individual is licensed or certified pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.).

1987, c. 626, § 54-970; 1988, c. 765; 1993, c. 499; 2002, c. 784; 2009, c. 309; 2011, cc. 777, 859.

Repealed by Acts 2012, cc. 803 and 835, cl. 39.

A. Any person practicing or offering to practice as a wetland professional in the Commonwealth may submit to the Board evidence of qualification to be a certified professional wetland delineator as provided in this chapter. The Board may certify any applicant who has satisfactorily met the requirements of this chapter and its regulations and shall specify on the certificate the appropriate endorsement.

B. Any individual who allows his certification to lapse by failing to renew the certificate or failing to meet professional activity requirements stipulated in the regulations may be reinstated by the Board upon submission of satisfactory evidence that he is practicing in a competent manner and upon payment of the prescribed fee.

1987, c. 626, § 54-973; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 784; 2011, cc. 777, 859.

Repealed by Acts 2011, cc. 777 and 859, cl. 3, effective July 1, 2013.

A. No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, the practice of soil evaluation in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions of this chapter.

B. In order to be licensed as a professional soil scientist, an applicant shall:

1. Submit satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that the applicant:

a. Is 18 years of age or older;

b. Is of good moral character; and

c. Has successfully completed such educational and experiential requirements as are required by this chapter and the regulations of the Board.

2. Achieve a score acceptable to the Board on an examination in the principles and practice of soil evaluation and satisfy one of the following criteria:

a. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a soils curriculum which has been approved by the Board and have at least four years of experience in soil evaluation, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist; or

b. Hold a bachelor's degree in one of the natural sciences and have at least five years of experience in soil evaluation, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist; or

c. Have a record of at least eight years of experience in soil evaluation, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist; or

d. Have at least four years of experience in soil science research or as a teacher of soils curriculum in an accredited institution of higher education which offers an approved four-year program in soils and at least two years of soil evaluation experience, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist.

C. The Board shall establish by regulation requirements for continuing education as a prerequisite to the maintenance and renewal of a license issued under this chapter, not to exceed eight contact hours per year.

D. Individuals applying for a license as a professional soil scientist between July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2015, who (i) have been certified as professional soil scientists by the Board or (ii) have achieved a score set by the Board on the examination required by this section shall be licensed by the Board if all other requirements of this chapter or Board regulations have been met, unless an applicant is found by the Board to have engaged in any act that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action.

1987, c. 626, § 54-975; 1988, c. 765; 1991, c. 181; 2011, cc. 777, 859.

A. The Board may waive the requirement for examination pursuant to § 54.1-2205 upon written application from an individual who holds an unexpired certificate or license, or its equivalent, issued by a regulatory body of another state, territory or possession of the United States and is not the subject of any disciplinary proceeding before such regulatory body which could result in the suspension or revocation of his certificate or license, if such other state, territory or possession recognizes the license issued by the Board.

B. The Board shall waive the requirement for examination pursuant to § 54.1-2206.2 upon the written application from an individual who holds an unexpired certificate or its equivalent issued by a regulatory body of another state, territory or possession of the United States or has been provisionally certified under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program of 1993 and is not the subject of any disciplinary proceeding before such regulatory body, which could result in the suspension or revocation of his certificate.

1987, c. 626, § 54-976; 1988, c. 765; 1991, c. 181; 2002, c. 784; 2003, c. 447; 2010, c. 91; 2011, cc. 777, 859.

The Board may certify any applicant as a Virginia certified professional wetland delineator who has submitted satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that the applicant:

1. Is eighteen years of age or older;

2. Is of good moral character; and

3. Has successfully completed such educational and experiential requirements as are required by this chapter and the regulations of the Board.

2002, c. 784.

In order to be certified as a professional wetland delineator, an applicant shall achieve a score acceptable to the Board on an examination, which may include a field practicum, in the principles and practice of wetland delineation, provide three written references from wetland professionals with at least one from a certified professional wetland delineator, and satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a wetland science, biology, biological engineering, civil and environmental engineering, ecology, soil science, geology, hydrology or any similar biological, physical, natural science or environmental engineering curriculum that has been approved by the Board; have successfully completed a course of instruction, in state and federal wetland delineation methods, that has been approved by the Board; and have at least three years of experience in wetland delineation, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a certified professional wetland delineator;

2. Have a record of at least six years of experience in wetland delineation, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a certified professional wetland delineator; or

3. Have a record of at least three years of experience in wetland science research or as a teacher of wetlands curriculum in an accredited institution of higher education, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a certified professional wetland delineator.

2002, c. 784; 2007, c. 334; 2013, c. 546; 2024, c. 545.

Any professional soil scientist who is licensed or any wetland delineator who is certified, as provided in this chapter, shall be considered guilty of unprofessional conduct and subject to disciplinary action by the Board, if he:

1. Obtains his certification or license through fraud or deceit;

2. Violates or cooperates with others in violating any provision of this chapter, the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct or any regulation of the Board;

3. Performs any act likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public;

4. Demonstrates gross negligence, incompetence or misconduct in the practice of soil evaluation or wetland delineation; or

5. Is convicted of a felony.

1987, c. 626; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 784; 2011, cc. 777, 859.

A. No person shall represent himself as a licensed professional soil scientist unless he has been so licensed by the Board. Any person practicing or offering to practice soil evaluation within the meaning of this chapter who, through verbal claim, sign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a licensed professional soil scientist without holding a license from the Board shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

B. No person shall represent himself as a certified professional wetland delineator unless he has been so certified by the Board. Any person practicing or offering to practice wetland delineation within the meaning of this chapter who, through verbal claim, sign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a certified professional wetland delineator without holding such a certificate from the Board shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

1987, c. 626, § 54-971; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 784; 2011, cc. 777, 859.