Chapter GHSS 4

GHSS 4.05(3)(b)1. 1. Met the requirements under s. 470.04 (4) (a), Stats.

GHSS 4.05(3)(b)2. 2. Met the requirement under s. 470.04 (4) (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 soil scientist section to be equivalent to the requirement under s. 470.04 (4) (b), Stats.

GHSS 4.05(3)(b)3. 3. Completed at least 6 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character satisfactory to the professional soil scientist section, or completed at least 5 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character satisfactory to the section if the applicant has one or more advanced degrees relevant to the practice of professional soil science, demonstrating that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science 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 soil scientist section.

GHSS 4.05(3m) (3m) Application for examination. An applicant for initial licensure shall file an application for examination with the professional soil scientist section not less than 2 months before the scheduled date of the examination.

GHSS 4.05(4) (4) Americans with disabilities act. Otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities shall be provided with reasonable accommodations.

GHSS 4.05(5) (5) Examination and refund fees. The fee for the examinations for professional soil scientists and the requirements for refund of fees are specified in s. 440.05, Stats., and ch. SPS 4, respectively.

GHSS 4.05(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 soil scientist section.

GHSS 4.05(7) (7) Passing scores.

GHSS 4.05(7)(a) (a) The passing scores set by the professional soil scientist section represent the minimum competency required to protect public health and safety.

GHSS 4.05(7)(b) (b) The fundamentals of soil science and the principles and practice of soil science examinations are scored separately. An applicant shall achieve a passing score on each of the required examinations to qualify for licensure.

GHSS 4.05(7)(c) (c) The professional soil scientist section may accept the recommendations of the examination provider for the passing scores on the fundamentals of soil science and the principles and practice of soil science examinations.

GHSS 4.05(8) (8) Cheating. The professional soil scientist 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.

GHSS 4.05 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; am. (2) (c) and (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.

GHSS 4.06 GHSS 4.06 Application contents. An application for licensure as a professional soil scientist shall include:

GHSS 4.06(1) (1) Either of the following:

GHSS 4.06(1)(a) (a) Official transcripts of graduate and undergraduate training, properly attested to by the degree granting institution and submitted by the institution directly to the professional soil scientist section establishing that the applicant has been granted a bachelor’s degree in soil science or a bachelor’s degree with a soil science major meeting the requirements under s. 470.04 (4) (b), Stats., 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, or

GHSS 4.06(1)(b) (b) A chronological history of the applicant’s employment or other qualifying experience in satisfaction of s. 470.04 (7), Stats.

GHSS 4.06(2) (2) A chronological history of the applicant’s employment or other qualifying experience in satisfaction of s. 470.04 (4) (c) 1. or 2., Stats.

GHSS 4.06(3) (3) For applicants applying under s. 470.04 (4) (c) 1., Stats., a completed ”supervised soil science experience” form completed by a supervisor relating to professional soil science and who is one of the following:

GHSS 4.06(3)(a) (a) A professional soil scientist who, during the time of the supervised practice, was licensed in this state.

GHSS 4.06(3)(b) (b) A professional soil scientist who, during the time of the supervised practice, was licensed in another licensing jurisdiction that has licensure requirements not lower than the requirements for licensure in this state.

GHSS 4.06(3)(c) (c) A person who the board determines is qualified to have responsible charge of soil science work.

GHSS 4.06(4) (4) For applicants applying under s. 470.04 (4) (c) 2., Stats., submission of at least 3 ”peer evaluation” forms satisfactory to the board completed by licensed professional soil scientists who have had professional contact with the applicant’s practice and who certify that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science work.

GHSS 4.06(5) (5) References from at least 5 individuals, at least 3 of whom shall be professionally competent to evaluate the applicant’s practice.

GHSS 4.06(6) (6) The fee required under s. 440.05 (1), Stats.

GHSS 4.06(7) (7) For applicants previously licensed in another state, territory or possession of the United States or in another country, verification of the applicant’s licensure in the licensing jurisdiction of original licensure or, if the applicant has permitted his or her licensure in the jurisdiction of original licensure to lapse, verification of licensure in the licensing jurisdiction where the applicant is currently licensed and where the applicant was last engaged in the practice of professional soil science.

GHSS 4.06(8) (8) For applicants who have a pending criminal charge or have been convicted of a crime, all related information necessary for the professional soil scientist section to determine whether the circumstances of the pending criminal charge or criminal conviction are substantially related to the circumstances of the practice of soil science.

GHSS 4.06(9) (9) Any additional data, exhibits or references showing the extent and quality of the applicant’s experience that may be required by the professional soil scientist section.

GHSS 4.06(10) (10) Evidence of successful completion of fundamentals of soil science and principles and practice of soil science examinations.

GHSS 4.06 Note Note: Application forms are available upon request to the Professional Soil Scientist Section of the board at 1400 East Washington Avenue, P.O. Box 8935, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8935; phone [phone] or available for download from the department webpage: http://dsps.wi.gov.

GHSS 4.06 History History: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00.