Professional Geologist Licensing

In 32 states, individuals that prepare plans, reports, or documents of a geological nature may be required to obtain a state-issued geologist license. Each state board has its own professional standards for engineering licenses.

• Jump To:
• Prerequisites
• Additional Requirements
• Initial Application Fees
• Reciprocal Registration
• Renewal Requirements
• Continuing Education

Explore licensing in your state:

Prerequisites

While each state board for geologists has its own requirements for licensure, potential licensees will follow a similar path of prerequisites to obtain a license in any state. Prerequisites typically include:

• A bachelor’s or advanced degree in geology or a related geological science from an accredited school.
• Successful completion of the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) or another similar examination.
• Successful completion of the Practice of Geology (PG) or another similar examination.
• A requisite amount of geologic experience, which for most states is five years and is usually under the supervision of a professional geologist.

Geologist-in-Training Certificates

After passing the Fundamentals of Geology exam, most states issue or allow individuals to apply for a geologist-in-training (GIT) certificate. Although in many states GIT certificates are valid perpetually, some states require certificates to be renewed periodically. Click on a state page link below for more information about geologist-in-training certificates in your state.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the standard licensing requirements mentioned above, some states have requirements that go beyond what is required in other states. Additional requirements often include:

• A reference from licensed engineer
• A duration of internship or training
• Additional experience
• Jurisdiction-specific exams (beyond the FG and PG)

Initial Application Process

After meeting the prerequisites for licensure, applicants can begin the license application process. Depending on the state, applicants may need to file an application with the board prior to taking the FG exam, after passing the FG exam, or both prior to taking and after passing the FG exam.

Like the application process, application fees also vary by state. Some states charge separate fees for exam applications, license applications, and the issuance of the license, while other states charge a single flat fee. In many states, applicants must wait until their license application is approved before submitting the license fee and then receiving their license from the board.

Reciprocal Registration

Thanks to reciprocity, geologists who perform services in more than one jurisdiction can apply for additional licenses using a streamlined process. Most states allow for reciprocal registration as long as the jurisdiction that issued the original license has substantially similar licensing requirements for geologists. While the majority of states require only proof of education, experience, and passage of exams for reciprocity, some states may require applicants to obtain more experience or to pass additional exams before a license is issued.

Renewal Requirements

Professional geologist licenses typically need to be renewed on an annual or biennial basis. In addition to filing a renewal application and paying the license renewal fee, geologists in many states must complete continuing education hours before renewing their license.

Continuing Education Requirements

The majority of jurisdictions in the United States require professional geoscientists to earn continuing education credits before each license renewal. Requirements vary by state licensing boards. While not every state requires geologists to meet a continuing education requirement, those that do usually require between 24 and 30 hours per biennial license period.

Whether self-guided or instructor-led, continuing education courses offer professional geologists the opportunity to stay up-to-date on industry issues. Professional geologists need to understand their states’ continuing education and renewal requirements to remain compliant and operational.

Keeping up with each state’s requirements, tracking renewals, and submitting the applications on time is critical to avoiding penalties. As part of our engineering licensing solutions, our team of dedicated compliance experts can help you keep track of varying jurisdiction requirements and updated laws.