Qualifications
SECTION 40-77-230. Eligibility for registration; qualifications; certificate of registration.
(A) An applicant is eligible for registration as a registered professional geologist if the applicant:
(1) graduated in an approved geologic curriculum of four or more years with a minimum of thirty semester hours or forty-five quarter hours in geology or geophysics from a school or college approved by the board and furnishes a specific record of an additional five years or more of full-time experience as a geologist-in-training in geologic work or at least five years of geologic work germane to public practice satisfactory to the board indicating that the applicant is competent to practice geology and has passed written examinations required by the board. In counting years of experience the board may give credit, not in excess of one year, for each graduate degree in geology; or
(2) graduated in geology or a related science curriculum approved by the board of four years or more with a minimum of thirty semester hours or forty-five quarter hours in geology or geophysics in a school or college other than those approved by the board, furnishes a specific record of eight years or more of experience on geologic work of a character satisfactory to the board indicating that the applicant is competent to practice geology and has passed a written examination designed to measure knowledge and skill approximating that attained through graduation in an approved four-year geologic curriculum, and passes the examinations required of applicants in item (1).
(B) The minimum evidence that an applicant is qualified for registration as a geologist-in-training is proof that the applicant:
(1) graduated in an accredited geologic curriculum of four scholastic years or more with a minimum of thirty semester hours or forty-five quarter hours in geology or geophysics from a school or college approved by the board and passing a written examination required by the board; or
(2) graduated in a geologic or a related science curriculum of four scholastic years or more with a minimum of thirty semester hours or forty-five quarter hours in geology or geophysics from a school or college other than those approved by the board in item (1) with a specific record of five years or more of experience in geological work of a character satisfactory to the board or passing written examinations in geologic subjects designed to measure knowledge and skill approximating that attained through graduation in an approved geologic curriculum and passing the written examinations as required in item (1).
(C) The board shall issue a certificate of registration, upon payment of the registration fee, to an applicant who satisfactorily has met the requirements of this chapter. For a registered professional geologist, the certificate must authorize the practice of geology. For a geologist-in-training the registration card must be issued as the certificate of registration and must state that the applicant has been enrolled as a geologist-in-training. The registration cards must show the full name of the registrant, the board assigned serial number, and must be signed by the chairman of the board bearing the seal of the board.
131-05. General Registration Provisions for Professional Geologists.
An applicant for initial registration as a professional geologist must:
(A) be a graduate of a geologic curriculum of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of geology approved by the Board, including an earned bachelor's degree or advanced degree from an accredited college or university; and
(B) submit an application on forms approved by the Board and the required fees, and have certified transcripts of all undergraduate or postgraduate college credits supplied directly to the Board from the school(s) or college(s). A geologist-in-training applying for registration as a professional geologist is not required to submit additional copies of college transcripts; and
(C) pass a fundamentals and practical examination approved by the Board. The Board may authorize an applicant to take both the fundamentals and practical examination on the same day. The applicant must receive passing scores on both examinations taken to qualify for registration; and
(D) submit evidence of at least five (5) years of full-time professional geological work satisfactory to the Board, either as a geologist-in-training or in geologic work germane to the public practice of geology. For persons who have graduated in geology or a related science curriculum of at least four (4) years but not from a school or college approved by the Board, the work experience must consist of eight (8) years. In counting years of experience the Board may give credit, not in excess of one (1) year, for graduate degrees in geology provided such graduate degrees are not the initial degree in geology; and
(E) be of good ethical character.
131-04. General Registration Provisions for Geologists-in-Training. [S.C. ADC 131-04]
An applicant for initial registration as a geologist-in-training must:
(A) be a graduate of a geologic curriculum of a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours or forty-five (45) quarter hours of geology approved by the Board, including an earned bachelor's degree or advanced degree from an accredited college or university; and
(B) submit an application on forms approved by the Board and the required fees, and have certified transcripts of all undergraduate or postgraduate college credits supplied directly to the Board from the school(s) or college(s); and
(C) pass a fundamentals examination approved by the Board; and
(D) be of good ethical character.