The Florida Senate

492.105  Licensure by examination; requirements; fees.--

(1)  Any person desiring to be licensed as a professional geologist shall apply to the department to take the licensure examination. The written licensure examination shall be designed to test an applicant's qualifications to practice professional geology, and shall include such subjects as will tend to ascertain the applicant's knowledge of the theory and the practice of professional geology and may include such subjects as are taught in curricula of accredited colleges and universities. The department shall examine each applicant who the board certifies:

(a)  Has completed the application form and remitted a nonrefundable application fee and an examination fee which is refundable if the applicant is found to be ineligible to take the examination.

(b)  Is at least 18 years of age.

(c)  Has not committed any act or offense in any jurisdiction which would constitute the basis for disciplining a professional geologist licensed pursuant to ss. 492.101-492.1165.

(d)  Fulfills the following educational requirements at a college or university the geological curricula of which meet the criteria established by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education:

1.  Graduation from such college or university with a major in geology or other related science acceptable to the board; and

2.  Satisfactory completion of at least 30 semester hours of geological courses, 24 of which must be at the third or fourth year or graduate level.

(e)  Has at least 7 years of professional geological work experience, which shall include a minimum of 3 years of professional geological work under the supervision of a licensed or qualified geologist or professional engineer registered under chapter 471 as qualified in the field or discipline of professional engineering involved; or have a minimum of 5 accumulative years' experience in responsible charge of geological work. The following criteria of education and experience qualify, as specified, toward accumulation of the required 7 years of professional geological work:

1.  Each year of undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as 1/2 year of the experience requirement, up to a maximum of 2 years, and each year of graduate study shall count as 1 year of the experience requirement.

2.  Credit for undergraduate study, graduate study, and graduate courses, individually or in any combination thereof, shall in no case exceed a total of 2 years toward meeting the requirements for at least 7 years of professional geological work.

3.  Full-time teaching or research in the geological sciences at the college level shall be credited year for year toward meeting the requirement in this category.

4.  The ability of the applicant shall have been demonstrated by his or her having performed the work in a responsible position as determined by the board.

(2)  The department shall issue a license to practice professional geology to any person who has:

(a)  Paid the appropriate license fee;

(b)  Been certified by the board as qualified to practice professional geology; and

(c)  Passed the written licensure examination; provided that applicants meeting the other requirements of this section may be licensed without written examination if application is made in proper form within 1 calendar year of October 1, 1987.

(3)  The department shall not issue a license to any applicant who is under investigation in any jurisdiction for an offense which would constitute a violation of ss. 492.101-492.1165. Upon completion of the investigation, the disciplinary provisions of s. 492.113 shall apply.

History.--ss. 5, 19, ch. 87-403; s. 1, ch. 89-79; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 294, ch. 94-119; s. 519, ch. 97-103; s. 5, ch. 98-116.