How to get your license: Engineering geologists or hydrogeologists (WA licensed geologists)
For geologists licensed in another state, see Geologists, engineering geologists or hydrogeologists by reciprocity.
Requirements
To get a specialty license, you must:
- Be currently licensed as a geologist in Washington,
- Have completed one of the following advanced studies pertinent to your chosen specialty.
- 18 semester or 27 quarter hours of graded academic course work
- 270 hours of seminars or workshops
- 540 hours of on-the-job training under the supervision of a geologist licensed in your chosen specialty, or others qualified to have responsible charge, as determined by the Board
- Have at least 5 years of documented, verifiable experience in your chosen specialty, including at least 3 years under the supervision of a geologist licensed in your chosen specialty, or others qualified to have responsible charge, as determined by the Board. If applying for 2 specialties, you must have at least 5 years of documented, verifiable experience in each specialty, and
- Pass a specialty exam adopted by, or acceptable to, the Board
How to apply
- Submit your application by sending us the following:
- Completed Geologist Specialty License Application.
- If you're submitting educational equivalents: Course syllabi/class outlines, copies of study materials, and the tables of contents of books used in the courses, or certificate of completion for non-academic courses. These education equivalents will be reviewed and must be approved by us.
- Completed List of Projects form for Engineering Geologists or Hydrogeologist.
- Check or money order, payable to the Department of Licensing, for the specialty license and exam fees.
- Complete section 1 of an Employment and Experience Verification form for each work experience you are having verified. Have the work verifier complete section 2 and return the form to the address shown at the top of the form.
- If you're only requesting one experience verification, you must also complete one Personal Reference form and have the reference return the form to the address shown at the top of the form.
- Have your college or university send official transcripts to (no overnight mail accepted):
Geologist Licensing Board
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9012
Olympia, WA 98507-9012
Email: geologist@dol.wa.gov (Email must come directly from the third party) - After we've reviewed and approved all your required documents:
- We'll send you an exam admission letter with the date, time, and location of the specialty exam you requested.
- Take and pass the exam.
- You can take the exam as many times as needed to pass, but you must submit a Geologist and/or Specialty License Reexam Registration and pay the re-exam administration fees for each re-exam.
- After you've passed the exam, we'll issue the specialty endorsement on your license.
