Chapter GHSS 2

GHSS 2.05 GHSS 2.05 Education.

GHSS 2.05(1) (1) In satisfaction of the education requirement under s. 470.04 (2) (b), Stats., the professional geologist section shall accept a bachelor degree in geology, or a degree reflecting that the applicant has completed at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course credits in geology of a variety and nature sufficient to constitute a major in geology, granted by a college or university accredited by a regional accrediting agency approved by the state board of education in the state in which the college or university is located, or accredited by a Canadian accrediting agency satisfactory to the board.

GHSS 2.05(2) (2) If the degree is from an educational institution not meeting the requirements of sub. (1), the applicant must provide an official evaluation by a transcript evaluation service acceptable to the professional geologist section which shows that the degree is equivalent to a bachelor degree in geology or a bachelor degree with a major in geology meeting the requirements under sub. (1).

GHSS 2.05(3) (3) In order to be considered a major in geology, an applicant must have completed at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course credits which include credits in at least 4 of the following areas:

GHSS 2.05(3)(a) (a) Geochemistry or geophysics.

GHSS 2.05(3)(b) (b) Geologic field methods.

GHSS 2.05(3)(c) (c) Glacial geology or geomorphology.

GHSS 2.05(3)(d) (d) Hydrogeology or hydrology.

GHSS 2.05(3)(e) (e) Mineralogy.

GHSS 2.05(3)(f) (f) Petrology or petrography.

GHSS 2.05(3)(g) (g) Stratigraphy or sedimentology.

GHSS 2.05(3)(h) (h) Structural geology.

GHSS 2.05(4) (4) In addition to the coursework required under sub. (3), other coursework that may be used to satisfy the 30 semester hour or 45 quarter hour requirement includes, but is not limited to, the following:

GHSS 2.05(4)(a) (a) Engineering geology.

GHSS 2.05(4)(b) (b) Historical geology.

GHSS 2.05(4)(c) (c) Mining geology.

GHSS 2.05(4)(d) (d) Paleontology.

GHSS 2.05(4)(e) (e) Petroleum geology.

GHSS 2.05(4)(f) (f) Physical geology.

GHSS 2.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00.

GHSS 2.06 GHSS 2.06 Examinations.

GHSS 2.06(1) (1) Required examinations. An applicant for initial licensure as a professional geologist shall pass examinations for the professional practice of geology approved by the professional geologist section. Required examinations shall include a fundamentals examination and a principles and practice of geology examination.

GHSS 2.06(2) (2) Fundamentals examination. The fundamentals examination requires an understanding of the physical and mathematical sciences involved in the fundamentals of geology. To be eligible to take the fundamentals examination, an applicant shall have done one of the following:

GHSS 2.06(2)(a) (a) Completed at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of course credits in geology and be of not less than second semester senior standing in a bachelor program meeting the requirements of s. GHSS 2.05.

GHSS 2.06(2)(b) (b) Completed at least 4 years of experience, which is determined by the professional geologist section to be equivalent to the requirements of s. GHSS 2.04 (1).

GHSS 2.06(3) (3) Principles and practice examination. The principles and practice examination requires the ability to apply geologic principles and judgment to problems in the practice of professional geology. To be eligible to take the principles and practice examination, an applicant shall have done one of the following:

GHSS 2.06(3)(a) (a) To be eligible to take the principles and practice examination, an applicant under s. 470.04 (2) (c) 1., Stats., shall have done all of the following:

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)1. 1. Met the requirements under s. 470.04 (2) (a), Stats.

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)2. 2. Met the requirement under s. 470.04 (2) (b), Stats., or have at least 5 years of professional experience in addition to the qualifying experience under subd. 3., which is determined by the professional geologist section to be substantially equivalent to the requirement under s. 470.04 (2) (b), Stats.

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)3. 3. Completed at least 4 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the professional geologist section, or completed at least 3 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the section if the applicant has one or more advanced degrees relevant to the practice of professional geology, demonstrating that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of geologic work. At least one year of the qualifying professional experience under this subdivision must have been performed under the supervision of one or more of the following:

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)3.a. a. A person who is at the time of application licensed as a professional geologist under this chapter or who, during the period of supervised experience, was licensed as a professional geologist under ch. 470, 1997 Stats.

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)3.b. b. A person who, during the period of supervised experience, was licensed as a professional geologist in another state, territory or possession of the United States or in another country that has licensure requirements for professional geologists that are not lower than the requirements for licensure under this chapter.

GHSS 2.06(3)(a)3.c. c. A person who, during the period of supervised experience, is deemed by the professional geologist section to have been qualified to have responsible charge of geologic work.

GHSS 2.06(3)(b) (b) To be eligible to take the principles and practice examination, an applicant under s. 470.04 (2) (c) 2., Stats., shall have done all of the following:

GHSS 2.06(3)(b)1. 1. Met the requirements under s. 470.04 (2) (a), Stats.

GHSS 2.06(3)(b)2. 2. Met the requirement under s. 470.04 (2) (b), Stats., or have at least 5 years of professional experience in addition to the qualifying experience under subd. 3., which is determined by the professional geologist section to be equivalent to the requirement under s. 470.04 (2) (b), Stats.

GHSS 2.06(3)(b)3. 3. Completed at least 6 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the professional geologist section, or completed at least 5 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the section if the applicant has one or more advanced degrees relevant to the practice of professional geology, demonstrating that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of geologic work. At least one year of the qualifying professional experience under this subdivision must have been performed under a peer review system approved by the professional geologist section.

GHSS 2.06(3m) (3m) Application for examination. An applicant for initial licensure shall file an application for examination with the board not less than 2 months before the scheduled date of the examination.

GHSS 2.06(4) (4) Americans with disabilities act. Otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities shall be provided with reasonable accommodations.

GHSS 2.06(5) (5) Examination and refund fees. The fee for the examinations for professional geologists and the requirements for refund of fees are specified in s. 440.05 (1) (b), Stats., and s. SPS 4.06, respectively.

GHSS 2.06(6) (6) Place and time of examinations. The examinations required by this section shall be held at sites and on dates designated by the professional geologist section.

GHSS 2.06(7) (7) Passing scores.

GHSS 2.06(7)(a) (a) The passing scores set by the professional geologist section represent the minimum competency required to protect public health and safety.

GHSS 2.06(7)(b) (b) All required examinations are scored separately. The fundamentals of geology and the principles and practice of geology examinations of the association of state boards of geology are scored separately. An applicant shall achieve a passing score on each of the required examinations to qualify for licensure.

GHSS 2.06(7)(c) (c) The professional geologist section may accept the recommendations of the association of state boards of geology for the passing score on the fundamentals of geology and the principles and practice of geology examinations.

GHSS 2.06(8) (8) Cheating. The professional geologist section may deny release of scores or issuance of a credential if the board determines that the applicant violated rules of conduct of the examination or otherwise acted dishonestly in taking the examination.

GHSS 2.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; am. (7) (b), r. (7) (d), Register, November, 2000, No. 539, eff. 12-1-00; correction in (5) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2011 No. 671.