Wis. Admin. Code Examining Board of Professional Geologists, Hydrologists and Soil Scientists § GHSS 2.06 - Examinations

Current through March 28, 2022

(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.

(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:

(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.

(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).

(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:

(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:

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

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.

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:

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. , 1997 Stats.

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.

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.

(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:

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

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.

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.

(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.

(4) AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT. Otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities shall be provided with reasonable accommodations.

(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.

(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.

(7) PASSING SCORES.

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

(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.

(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.

(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.

Notes

Wis. Admin. Code Examining Board of Professional Geologists, Hydrologists and Soil Scientists § GHSS 2.06

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.