Policies: Geologist Licensing Board
Board policies direct activities in the following areas:
- Activities not considered the practice of geology
RCW 18.220.190: Permitted activities — Certificate of licensing not required
The Washington State Geologist Licensing Board will not pursue complaints of unlicensed practice for the following activities:
- Underground storage tank (UST) site assessment for the sole purpose of determining whether leakage has occurred, if conducted by a certified UST site assessor. This does not include geologic interpretation of the physical environment.
- Collection of groundwater level data for the sole purpose of wetland delineation.
- Collection of storm water and sediment data and construction site monitoring solely for construction site erosion control, if conducted by a Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL).
POL 190-1, Board, 6/2009.
- Education requirements to take the Fundamentals of Geology Examination
RCW 18.220.060: Requirements for licensure
The Washington State Geologist Licensing Board will allow candidates without a degree to sit for the National Association of State Boards of Geology’s Fundamentals of Geology examination if they meet the educational requirements outlined in WAC 308-15-040(2)(b) ii).
POL 060, Board, 12/2010.
- Military training or experience
RCW 18.220.211: Military training or experience
The Washington State Geology Licensing Board will evaluate applicants with military training or experience on a case by case basis to determine if the experience/training meets the licensing requirements.
POL 211-1, Board, 3/2012.
- Order of succession for appointment of a presiding officer for adjudicative matters
RCW 18.235.030: Disciplinary authority —Powers
The Board, in its role to regulate the practice of geology, shall adopt the following pre-established order of succession for appointment of a presiding officer for adjudicative matters:
- Board Chair (unless unavailable because he or she is already the appointed reviewing Board member, or is unavailable for other reasons — conflict of interest, out of town etc.). If the Board Chair is unavailable, the role defaults to:
- Board Vice Chair (unless unavailable because he or she is already the appointed reviewing Board member, or is unavailable for other reasons — conflict of interest, out of town etc.). If the Board Vice Chair is unavailable, the role defaults to:
- Board Secretary
Board staff shall designate a person outside of the program to act as clerk of the court.
POL 030, Board, 12/2007.
- Reciprocity for candidates who took state exams developed before the ASBOG exam
RCW 18.220.100: Licensure or certification without examination — requirements
Upon review by a board member, the Washington State Geologist Licensing Board may approve for licensure candidates who:
- Are currently licensed in another jurisdiction, and
- Have passed that jurisdiction’s geology exam equivalent to the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) exam, and
- Meet all other licensing requirements.
POL 100-2, Board, 3/2011.
- Reciprocity for examinations developed prior to ASBOG
RCW 18.220.100: Licensure or certification without examination — Requirements
It is the policy of the Washington State Geologist Licensing Board that the qualifications of applicants for licensure who have passed the licensing examinations given by Oregon, Idaho and California prior to the development of the ASBOG examination meet the requirements of RCW 18.220 and will be considered for Washington licensure pursuant to RCW 18.220.100 without exam.
POL 100-1, Board, 3/2007.
