Find out how to get a specialty geologist license by exam or by reciprocity.
License requirements
Before you apply for an engineering geologist or hydrogeologist license, make sure you've completed the licensing, education, and experience requirements.
Active geologist license
You must be a licensed geologist in Washington to apply for a specialty license.
Licenses from another state (Reciprocity)
If you're applying for a specialty license by reciprocity, you must be currently licensed, registered, or certified in good standing as a geologist in a state or jurisdiction approved by the Board and:
- Pass a specialty exam adopted by, or acceptable to, the Board, or
- Be currently licensed in the specialty in 1 of these states:
- California – engineering geologist or hydrogeologist
- Oregon – engineering geologist
Education requirements
Complete one of the following advanced studies related to your chosen specialty:
- 18 semester or 27 quarter hours of graded academic coursework, or
- 270 hours of seminars or workshops, or
- 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
Experience requirements
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.
How to apply
Follow these steps to get your engineering geologist or hydrogeologist license.
1. Submit your work experience
Complete section 1 of an Employment and Experience Verification form for each work experience you're 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.
2. Submit your proof of education
You must show that you've met the education requirements for a specialty geologist license. Choose one of the options below.
Request your college transcript
Have your college or university mail your official transcript to:
Geologist Licensing Board
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9012
Olympia, WA 98507-9012
Submit educational equivalents
If you're applying with educational equivalents, include any or all of the following documentation with your online or mail application:
- Course syllabi or class outlines
- Copies of study materials
- Tables of contents of books used in the courses
- Certificate of completion for non-academic courses
3. Provide a list of projects
To demonstrate how you've used your knowledge, skills, and abilities, fill out one or both of the forms below:
Upload or mail your list(s) of projects with your online or paper application.
4. Submit your application
You must pay the specialty geologist license fee when you apply. Choose the method that works best for you.
Apply for your license online
You'll receive your license faster by applying and paying online.
Log into SecureAccess Washington (SAW)
Don't have a SAW account? Learn how to create a SAW account.
Apply for your license by mail
Complete a Geologist Specialty License Application form and mail it with a check or money order for the license fee (payable to the Department of Licensing) to:
Geologist Licensing Board
Department of Licensing
PO Box 3777
Seattle, WA 98124-3777
5. Pass the exam
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.
Once you've passed the exam, we'll issue the specialty endorsement on your license. For more information, read about geologist licensing exams.
If you fail the exam
You can take the exam as many times as needed to pass, but you must submit a Geologist and/or Specialty License Re-exam Registration and pay the re-exam administration fees for each re-exam.
Reciprocity exams
If you're applying for a specialty geologist by reciprocity, we'll let you know if you need to take a specialty exam.
- If you do need to take a specialty exam, we will contact you if any additional information is needed. Otherwise, you will receive an exam admission letter about 1 month before the exam date.
- If you don't need to take a specialty exam, we'll issue your geologist license with the appropriate specialty endorsement.