FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Background

A 19-year effort to include geology among the licensed professions came to an end when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed Chapter 475 of the Laws of 2014 into law on November 21, 2014. The law, which had a 2-year effective date, became effective on November 21, 2016. Following enactment of the licensing law, NYSCPG introduced additional legislation to convert geologists’ business corporations and limited liability companies into professional corporations (P.C.) and professional limited liability companies (PLLC). This included the requirement for Professional Geologists to form or be added as a corporate officer of these professional entities.

The NYSCPG then turned its attention to continuing education. Our efforts were complicated by the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) request that our legislation be tied to NYSED’s efforts to modernize existing continuing education requirements for professional engineers and land surveyors. It was not until March 2020 that this combined bill was introduced in the New York State Legislature. It became law on November 11, 2020 as Chapter 260 of the Laws of 2020 and the new continuing education requirements became effective on January 1, 2022.

The Office of the Professions, which is a part of the New York State Education Department, prepared and updated Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) to provide information about the Continuing Education process. NYSCPG has summarized the material below.  If something remains unclear regarding this subject matter, please contact our office at [email protected] or (518) 579-6580.

Jump to Specific Frequently Asked Questions

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Practice

The state employee exemption from licensure provision applies under the following conditions:

  • The exemption applies to New York State employees, who were employed on November 21, 2016 in a position where they perform geologic services (as defined in the scope of practice of geology in the statute). If the employee is subsequently promoted to a position where they are expected to perform geologic services, they would retain their exemption from the licensure requirement.
  • The exemption from licensure does NOT apply to those who were employed by the State of New York on November 21, 2016, if at that time, they were in a position that performed work that was outside of the scope of practice of geology.
  • The exemption from licensure does NOT apply to those who were employed by the State of New York on November 21, 2016 at that time and they were in a position that was NOT in the scope of practice of geology. The exemption from licensure does NOT apply to such individuals if they are subsequently promoted to a position with job duties that are within the scope of practice for geology, because the position requires them to provide geologic services. Such individuals would need to obtain a professional geology license in NYS, since they were not exempt at the time the statute went into effect.
  • The state employee exemption does NOT apply to employees of New York City or any other municipality.
  • If an exempt New York State employee leaves state service and is employed in their new job to provide geological services, the former state employee would need to obtain a professional geology license to perform those services in New York State.
Section 7204-a of the Education Law defines the practice of the profession of geology as performing professional service such as researching, investigating, consulting and geological mapping, describing the natural processes that act upon the earth's materials, predicting the probable occurrence of natural resources, predicting and locating natural or human-induced phenomena which may be useful or hazardous to humankind and recognizing, determining and evaluating geological factors, and the inspection and performance of geological work and the responsible supervision thereof in furtherance of the health, safety and welfare of the public; provided, however, that geological mapping must not include the practice of land surveying as defined in section 7203 of the Education Law.
Under Section 7204-b of the Education Law only a person licensed or otherwise authorized under Article 145 of the Education Law practice geology or use the title "professional geologist." A "person licensed" is an individual, who has satisfied the education, experience and examination requirements for licensure and has been issued a New York State professional geologist license by the State Education Department.
Persons "otherwise authorized" may include an individual person (but not a New York State corporation of any kind) licensed in another state that has applied for and received a limited permit to practice for a specific time period or with respect to a specific project in accordance with the Commissioner's Regulations, part 68.11. Application information may be found on the NYSED website.
An applicant who submitted an application to the Department for licensure within one year of the November 21, 2016 effective date of statute, which would be on or before November 20, 2017, and met the moral character, education and experience requirements may have been qualified for a license as a professional geologist without a written examination. Although the grandparenting licensure pathway expired on November 20, 2017, the licenses issued under it will not.
The Department may license an applicant who meets all requirements for licensure in New York State, except examination, and has been issued a license or certificate to practice professional geology upon written examination by a legally constituted board of examiners in any other state or political subdivision of the United States, provided that the examination for such license or certificate was the equivalent of the examination required in this State at the time it was issued, in accordance with Commissioner's Regulations part 68.10.

When an individual successfully completes the licensure requirements they are awarded a professional license. The license is valid for life unless it is surrendered or revoked following disciplinary action by the Board of Regents.

Professional geologists in New York State must register with the State Education Department every three years to practice their profession, pursuant to Commissioner's Regulations part 59.8.

Effective January 1, 2023 licensed professional geologists renewing registration of a license on or after January 1, 2023 are required to complete continuing education requirements of 36 contact hours per triennial renewal period.

Please refer to the Continuing Education Section for more information.

Some professionals practice their profession as individual licensed practitioners. Others practice in some sort of corporate or business entity structure. Not all such structures may legally provide professional services. The following brief descriptions are based in law and address different corporate practice venues. These descriptions provide basic information on acceptable organizational structures for professionals. This general information is no substitute for consulting the law and/or an attorney directly for guidance before deciding to practice in a specific corporate arrangement. There are many factors, including tax consequences, and personal and professional liability, to consider when deciding which form a professional practice should take.

  • Professional service corporations (PSC) authorized under Article 15 (domestic - New York) of the New York State Business Corporation Law. All shareholders, officers, and directors must be licensed by New York State in one or more of the design profession(s) they are practicing (engineering, land surveying, geology, architecture, landscape architecture).
  • Design Professional Service Corporations (DPC) - Business Corporation Law Section 1503 permits the incorporation of design professional service corporations (engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, land surveying, geology or any combination thereof) first organized on or after January 1, 2012, in which non-professionals may own less than 25 percent of the shares and may constitute less than 25 percent of director and officer positions. The shareholders of a design professional corporation may include employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and employees of the corporation who are not licensed as design professionals, provided that:
  1. Greater than 75% of the outstanding shares of stock of the corporation are owned by design professionals and an ESOP (or ESOPs) with greater than 75% of the plan's voting trustees or greater than 75% of the plan's committee members being design professionals;
  2. An ESOP, either in part or in its entirety, may not constitute part of the greater than 75% owned by design professionals unless greater than 75% of the plan's voting trustees or greater than 75% of the plan's committee members are design professionals;
  3. Greater than 75% of the directors are design professionals;
  4. Greater than 75% of the officers are design professionals;
  5. The president, the chairperson of the board of directors and the chief executive officer or officers are design professionals; and
  6. The single largest shareholder is either a design professional or an ESOP with greater than 75% of the plan's voting trustees being design professionals and greater than 75% of the plan's committee member's being design professionals
  • Professional service corporations (PSC) authorized under Article 15-A (foreign PSC) of the New York State Business Corporation Law. Only the individual(s) actually providing professional services must be licensed in New York State. All other officers, directors, and shareholders must be licensed design professionals in some jurisdiction.
  • Professional limited liability companies and foreign professional limited liability companies. All members must be licensed to provide professional services in New York State.
  • Partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and foreign limited liability partnerships. All partners must be licensed to provide professional services in New York State.
  • General Business Corporations "inc."
  1. General business corporations cannot provide professional geology services, exercise any judgment over the delivery of professional geology services, have employees who offer professional geology services to the public, hold themselves out as offering professional geology services, or share profits or split fees with licensed professionals.
  2. A General Business Corporation may employ licensed professionals to provide in-house services. For example, General Motors may employ licensed or unlicensed geologists to provide geology services for the corporation. However, General Motors may not set up a business to provide geology services to the public.
  • All business entities legally permitted to provide professional geology services in New York State are required to obtain a "Certificate of Authorization to Provide Professional Geology Services in New York State" from the State Education Department according to section 7210 of Education Law. This requirement applies to all types of business entities listed in question 9.
  • Individual licensees, who are legally permitted to practice geology in New York State, can obtain a "Certificate of Authorization" according to section 7210 of New York State Education Law, however, they are not required to do so.
  • Additional information is available on the Professional Corporations website and the Application for a Certificate of Authorization to Provide Professional Engineering or Land Surveying Services in New York State can be obtained by contacting the Office of the Professions, Professional Corporations Unit at 518-474-3817 ext. 400; e-mail [email protected].
Yes - business entities, as listed in question 9, that are legally permitted to provide multiple professional services (meaning professional services in multiple and different licensed professions) in New York State are required to obtain Certificates of Authorization for each professional service offered by the firm. For more information contact the Office of Professions, Professional Corporations Unit at 518-474-3817 Ext. 400; e-mail [email protected].
No entity or individual except those described in the preceding (including a general business corporation that may be authorized under the laws of another state to practice there) may practice professional geology in New York State.
No. Not as an employee or officer of that company. A person who is licensed (or otherwise authorized) to practice in New York State and is an officer or employee of a general business corporation operating in New York State or in a state other than New York cannot provide professional geology services in New York as an officer or employee of that firm, but can do so as an individual. In other words, a contract with a New York client must be between the individual licensee and the client and not the corporation employer and the client.
No. An entity not authorized to provide professional geology services, such as a general contractor, cannot subcontract with a licensed professional geologist in order to provide professional services to a third party client. The basis for professional regulation is that the service of the professional must be provided directly from the professional to the client without any unlicensed third party between the client and the professional. This unlicensed third party may have other interests (such as financial) that could jeopardize the level and/or quality of the professional service received by the client.
The laws of the State are clear in regard to unauthorized practice. Section 6512.1 of the Education Law makes it a class E felony for anyone not authorized to practice who practices or offers to practice or holds themselves out as being able to practice professional geology. Section 6509 of the Education Law defines professional misconduct as, among other things, permitting, aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license; and, section 6512.2 of the Education Law makes it a class E felony for anyone, including a public official, to knowingly aid or abet three or more unlicensed persons to practice a profession requiring a license.

The New York State Board of Regents adopted a revision to section 29.3(b) in its rules on unprofessional conduct for the design professions. This revision, which became effective June 14, 1996, describes activities of licensed professionals which will not be considered to be unprofessional conduct. In order to assist design professionals to better understand its meaning and applicability, the following "plain language" interpretation of the revision has been prepared.

  • It is not unprofessional conduct for a licensed professional to delegate or assign the performance of a professional service through an unlicensed third party, such as a contractor or subcontractor, to another licensee.
  • It is not unprofessional conduct for the licensee to whom the work is delegated to accept and perform such work.
  • Under these circumstances, the unlicensed third party would not be considered to be engaging in illegal practice.
  • The work that can be delegated must be limited to work that is "ancillary" to the main project components.
  • The licensee delegating the work must specify all of the design parameters that the design must meet.
  • The licensee who has delegated the design function, upon receiving the design, must review and approve the design as meeting the design parameters that were specified and to ensure that the designed element can be integrated into the overall project.
  • A licensee is always responsible for his or her work even if such work has been endorsed or accepted by another licensee.

Continuing Education

Licensed professional geologists work in a world of evolving technology, increased consumer expectations and other emerging issues. Practice in this changing environment requires ongoing development of knowledge and skills. It is critical that licensees remain current with changes and developments in the profession to render quality services and to ensure public protection. The Office of the Professions is committed to helping professionals stay up-to-date and informed throughout their professional lives.

Who is Required to take Continuing Education? 

Every New York State licensed and registered professional geologist must complete continuing education unless you satisfy the requirements of the public sector exemption outlined in question 3 or are newly licensed as outlined in question 5 or 6. Professional geologists will be required to complete a total of 36 hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period. Dually licensed professionals are required to complete a total of 36 hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period. Each licensee must take continuing education in appropriate subject areas offered by approved sponsors. Consult the Continuing Education Hours Section for more information.
To satisfy the continuing education requirements under the Public Sector Exemption, a licensee must be directly employed on a full-time basis by the State of New York; its agencies, public authorities, public benefit corporations or local government units on January 1, 2022, working in a position requiring licensure in geology, and either represented by a collective bargaining unit or, pursuant to Article 14 of the Civil Service Law, designated managerial or confidential. If a licensee practices geology (i.e., provides geological services) in New York State outside the government service described above, the exemption no longer applies. In these situations, the licensee must complete the regular continuing education requirement of 36 hours per registration period.

Beginning January 1, 2023, professional geologists will be required to complete 36 contact hours of continuing education during each three-year registration period.

If you are renewing the registration of your license on or after January 1, 2023, the number of contact hours you will be required to complete and report will vary, depending on when your current registration expires. You will be required to complete continuing education at a rate of 1 hour per month beginning January 1, 2022 to the date your registration is due to be renewed for a maximum of 36 hours.

No, you are not required to complete continuing education during your initial three-year registration period. However, if you were previously licensed in a different state prior to your licensure in NYS, question 6 (below) applies.
Yes, you must complete 1 hour of continuing education for every month of your registration period.
Yes. To reactivate your New York State registration, you are required to have completed the number of hours applicable to the period of time of your last registration period, beginning January 1, 2023, plus take 1 hour of continuing education for each month your registration is inactive, up to an additional 12 hours in the last 12 months.
Yes. To reactivate your New York State registration, you are required to have completed the number of hours applicable to the period of time of your last registration period beginning January 1, 2023 plus take 1 hour of continuing education for each month your registration is inactive, up to an additional 12 hours in the last 12 months.
No, registration periods are adjusted so that renewals occur during the licensee's month of birth. When this happens and your registration period is less than three-years, you must calculate how many hours you are required to complete. To do this, count the number of months of the registration period, beginning on January 1, 2023. You must complete 1 hour of continuing education for each month up to a maximum of 36 hours. For example, suppose your registration period extends from 01/01/23 to 06/30/25. This registration period is a 30-month period; therefore, you are required to complete 30 hours of continuing education if you are a professional geologist or if you are dually licensed.

Continuing Education Hours 

An hour of continuing education is one contact hour of at least 50 minutes in duration. Most continuing education providers give credit in hours; however, you may also see credit given in continuing education units.

One continuing education unit (CEU) equals 10 contact hours. Therefore, .1 CEU equals one contact hour. To convert CEU's to contact hours, multiply by 10. To convert contact hours to CEU's divide the contact hour by ten.

Individuals completing college-level course work should note that one-semester hour of college level course work equals 15 contact hours and one-quarter hour of college-level course work equals 10 contact hours.

Continuing education hours, commonly referred to as Professional Development Hours (PDH) are based on the duration of time it takes for continuing education course content to be delivered. It includes only instructional time and does not include breaks or mealtimes. 1 PDH is equivalent to 60 minutes of instruction.

In the case of a one hour long, stand-alone educational session, 1 PDH may be awarded for 50 minutes of instruction. In all other cases, 1 PDH should be assigned for each 60 minutes of instructional time.

Example 1: Day Session at local conference from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
9:00 - 10:00 New Monitoring Requirements for Reporting Ground Water Conditions at Earthen Dams 1 PDH
10:30 - 12:30 Best Practices for Estimating and Valuing Mineral Resources 2 PDH
1:00 - 1:50 Borehole and Seismic Applications for Identifying Hydrocarbon Reservoirs 1 PDH
Total PDH credits to be awarded for attendance at all three sessions would be 4 PDH.

  • If participants only attended the 9:00 am session on Monitoring Ground Water Conditions at Earthen Dams, they would receive 1 PDH for the 60 minute session.
  • If participants only attended the 1 PM session on Borehole and Seismic Applications, they would receive 1 PDH for that session, even though it was only 50 minutes in duration.
  • If participants attended only the 10:30 am session on Best Practices for Estimating Mineral Resources, they would receive 2 PDH credits for the 120 minutes of instruction.

Example 2: Breakfast Lecture Series
7:00 Welcome and Breakfast Service Begins
7:30 – 8:20 Speaker – "Re-Interpretating Post-Glacial Depositional Environments and Landforms"
8:30 Questions, Answers and Closing Remarks

  • Participants attending this continuing education session would receive 1 PDH credit for the lecture portion of the session, which was 50 minutes in duration (from 7:30 – 8:20).

Example 3: 2-Part Presentation
10:00 – 11:00 Part 1 – In-Situ Technologies for Remediating Contaminated Ground Water- Lecture Presentation
11:00 – 12:00 Local Geology Association awards ceremony
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch on your own
1:00 – 3:00 Part 2 – Applications and Limitations of Chemical and Biological Remedial Methods – Case Study Discussions

  • Participants attending Parts 1 and 2, would receive 3 PDH credits for 180 minutes of instruction.
  • Participants attending only Part 1 would receive 1 PDH credit for 60 minutes of instruction.
  • Participants attending only Part 2 would receive 2 PDH credits for 120 minutes of instruction.
Yes. Beginning January 1, 2022, a maximum of six continuing education hours completed during one triennial registration period may be transferred to a subsequent triennial registration period.
No. You can complete the hours any time during the three-year registration period as long as you have completed the required hours prior to the expiration date of your registration, unless you have had a lapse in your registration. If this is the case, the requirements outlined in question 9 would apply. However, we recommend that you complete courses each year, beginning January 1, 2023, so you are sure to have them completed before it is time to reregister.

Acceptable Subject Areas, Activities, and Providers 

Acceptable continuing education includes courses and educational activities.

  • 1 hour of professional ethics must be taken as either a course or educational activity every registration period.

To be acceptable the courses/educational activities must be:

  • administered by an approved New York State sponsor (provider) and
  • in an approved subject area and
  • in an approved format.

To be an acceptable ethics course, the live course or educational activity must increase the geologist's knowledge of ethical standards for the practice of their profession. This may include:

  • Focusing on the New York State Education Law, Rules of the Board of Regents, and the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. See Laws, Rules & Regulations for Geology
  • Ethical concerns or issues in the area of specialization/geology discipline that is inclusive of information on recent litigation with a discussion of case studies in these fields
  • Foundation courses that cover such topics as:
  1. Introduction to ethical concepts
  2. The psychology of moral development
  3. Judgment and values
  4. The sociology of professions
  5. Virtue and the role of ethics
  6. Public expectations of geologists' responsibilities
  7. Ethical dilemmas

An ethics component may be incorporated into a continuing education course, but must meet the following criteria, for audit purposes:

  1. be at least 60 minutes in duration
  2. be indicated in the title of the course and course completion certificate
  3. be identified in the course syllabus/topical outline

Acceptable continuing educational activities include:

  • Preparing and teaching a course offered by an approved New York State sponsor (provider) and in an acceptable subject area. Continuing education hours credited for this activity can include actual instructional time plus preparation time, which may be up to 2 additional hours for each hour taught. Teaching experience will not be accepted if you have taught the course on more than one occasion without presenting substantially new or revised material.
  • Authoring an article in an approved subject area published in a peer reviewed journal or a published book. You will receive 9 continuing education hours for each work published during the registration period.
  • Making a technical presentation in an approved subject area at a professional conference or meeting sponsored by an organization that is an approved sponsor (provider). Continuing education hours credited for this activity can include actual instructional time plus preparation time, which may be up to 2 additional hours for each hour taught. A specific presentation may only be counted once during any given registration period.
  • Obtaining a patent related to the practice of geology. You will receive 9 continuing education hours for each patent granted on an invention during the registration period.
  • Completing educational activities/on-demand programs. Educational activities must be taken from an approved provider and in an acceptable subject area and be structured study that is based on audio, audio-visual, written, online, or other media, and does not meet the criteria established for live instruction described in question 15. In addition, an educational activity/on-demand course must have a testing instrument for the licensee to receive proper credit for the course. For example, answering questions throughout the course, a quiz at the end of the course, providing course codes periodically throughout the course that would need to be entered before a certificate of completion is issued, pop-up boxes throughout the course asking, "Are you still there?", in addition to an attestation at the end of the course that the licensee completed the entire course.
  • Completing an educational tour in an approved subject area, meaning a structured tour of an instructional nature, provided by an approved sponsor (provider). The tour may not be promotional in nature.
  • Professional service on a committee or task force that addresses technical and/or regulatory issues relating to the professional practice of geology, provided that such committee/task force has been established by a governmental entity or other entity determined by the Department to be acceptable. Such service must be certified in writing by an authorized individual within the committee or task force. You will receive 1 continuing education hour for every 2 hours of time spent in formal collaborative sessions, while engaged in activities directly related to professional practice. Licensees are permitted to earn up to 9 hours per registration period for this activity.

The following entities are authorized to approve sponsors of continuing education for New York State professional geologists. If the courses and educational activities are offered by sponsors approved by one of these entities and the subject area of the courses and educational activities meet the requirements in question 18, then the courses or educational activities would be considered approved New York State mandatory continuing education.

Please note: NOT all courses and educational activities offered by an approved sponsor are acceptable for continuing education credit in New York State. Also note: Courses and educational activities requiring the use of a self-reporting form by the sponsor will NOT be accepted for New York State continuing education credit. Use of the words "university or college" in the title of a corporate name is unacceptable unless your business is a post-secondary educational institution.

  • Sponsors recognized by the Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System™ (LA CES™). The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) list of recognized sponsors is available at Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System™ (LA CES™)
  • American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACECNY). ACECNY's list of recognized sponsors is available from ACECNY, 6 Airline Drive, Suite 110, Albany, NY 12205; Phone 518-452-8611
  • Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). RCEP's list of registered providers is available at www.rcep.net/Education-Providers/Find-a-Provider-1114.htm.
  • International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). IACET's list of recognized sponsors is available from IACET, 45591 Dulles Eastern Plaza, Suite 132, Box 805, Sterling, VA 20166; Phone 703-763-0705; Fax 703-738-7194 or www.iacet.org/affiliates/accredited-providers-list/
  • National Council of Structural Engineers Association (NCSEA). NCSEA's list of recognized sponsors is available from NCSEA, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60606; Phone 312-649-4600
  • The Practicing Institute of Engineering (P.I.E). P.I.E's list of recognized sponsors and procedures is available from P.I.E., 6 Airline Drive, Suite 114, Albany, NY 12205; Phone 631-849-8255 or www.practicinginstitute.org/sponsors
  • New York State Council of Professional Geologists (NYSCPG) list of recognized sponsors is available from NYSCPG 679 Plank Road, Clifton Park, NY 12065; Phone 518-579-6580
  • American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) list of recognized sponsors is available from AIPG 1333 W. 120th Ave, Suite 211, Westminster, CO 80234-2710; Phone 303-412-6205
  • AIA's Continuing Education System list of recognized sponsors is available from the Continuing Education Program, 1735 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006-5292; Phone 800-242-3837

Please note: Only courses designated as Health, Safety and Welfare (HSW) will be accepted for continuing education credit from AIA. Learning Units (LU) hours will not be accepted.

  • The Shaw Fund Continuing Education Approved Provider Program. The Shaw Fund list of recognized sponsors is available from the Shaw Fund Approved Provider Program, 146 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210; Phone 518-432-4046
  • Colleges, universities and other degree granting institutions offering degree (e.g. AAS, BS, MS), certificate or diploma programs carrying degree credit that are registered by the State Education Department or have authority to offer equivalent programs accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency (e.g., ABET). The State Education Department's "Inventory of Registered Programs" includes all degree granting institutions in the State and can be found on SED's site at https://www2.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html
  • A sponsor of continuing education that is approved by a licensing authority or agency of another jurisdiction under standards substantially equivalent to those of the department
  • The NYS Education Department directly approves sponsors (providers). Please see the list of currently approved sponsors. Further information and an application form are available on their website.
  • Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) www.osha.gov
  • US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.gov
  • Federal Highway Administration – FHA
  • National Highway Institute – NHI
  • FEMA
  • Office of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Department of Energy

Not all courses and educational activities offered by an approved sponsor are acceptable for continuing education credit in New York State. Courses and educational activities must contribute to the professional practice of professional geology. The subject matter of the course or educational activity must be related to professional practice and contribute to the development or maintenance of professional knowledge. Subject areas that are not so related, such as, project management related to improving/maximizing profitability and professional fees; marketing and public relations; expanding a design professional's business; laws related to arbitration, mediation, liens and limiting the design professional's liability (unless they are related to safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of the public); real estate licensing; basic Auto CAD; personal, estate or financial planning; zoning as it relates to increasing a developer or engineer/land surveyor's profitability; design build and/or alternative delivery methods (unless it includes information on the laws related to design build and its limitations in New York State) are non-acceptable subjects.

Acceptable subjects may include courses of learning and educational activities in architecture, engineering, interior design, land surveying, landscape architecture and geology that may contribute to professional practice in professional engineering, land surveying and/or professional geology as such practice is defined in Sections 7201, 7203 and 7204-a of the Education Law.

No. Independent study or informal group "study clubs" and/or "book clubs" of professional geologists that are not approved sponsors cannot be accepted. Continuing education offered by an approved sponsor assures appropriate course format, effective evaluation and necessary record keeping.

Yes. Individuals teaching a college-level course; at a college, university or other degree granting institutions offering degree (e.g. AAS, BS, MS), certificate or diploma programs carrying degree credit that are registered by the State Education Department or have authority to offer equivalent programs accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency (e.g. ABET) which is taught over the course of a college semester and is in an approved subject area may receive New York State continuing education credit which may be counted once during any given registration period.

The number of contact hours accepted for teaching a college course is as follows: one semester hour equals 15 contact hours; one quarter hour 10 contact hours.

Documentation should be obtained from the college or university's department chair or registrar's office, certifying that you taught the course which should include; the title of the course and any identification number assigned; number of semester hours completed; name of the college; verification by the sponsor or department chair (registrar) that you taught the course; date and location of the course.

Continuing Education Hours 

Sponsors must provide a Certificate of Completion to licensees who completed courses or educational activities for continuing education credit. The information on each course or educational activity should be retained in your records for six years from the date of completion. For NO reason will self-reporting forms be acceptable for New York State continuing education credit. A Certificate of Completion should include the following information:

  • title of the course or program, the specific acceptable subject area, and any identification number assigned to it by the sponsor
  • number of hours completed
  • the sponsor's name and any identifying number
  • verification by the sponsor of your attendance
  • the date and location of the course or activity
  • you taught the course or made a presentation - alternatively, a signed letter from the sponsor indicating you taught the course or made the presentation (including name of the course, when, where, how many hours taught/presented) may be accepted in place of a certificate of completion.
Send your completed registration form, on which you will attest that you completed the required continuing education hours, together with the registration fee, which is currently $242, and the continuing education fee, which is currently $45, for a total of $287.
No. On the registration renewal form you will be required to certify that you have completed the required continuing education. You should retain your continuing education records in your files for a period of 6 years after the date of completion of the continuing education. However, you are required to make your continuing education records available for inspection by the Department upon our request. We audit random samples of mandatory continuing education records to assure compliance with the continuing education requirement.
Upon request, you must provide the Department with your records of completion for each approved continuing education course or activity. Completion certificates may be submitted via fax, email or postal mail. Dropbox submissions are not acceptable. In no cases will self-reporting forms be acceptable for New York State credit.
You may be subject to charges of professional misconduct. Willfully making or filing a false report is unprofessional conduct, according to section 29.1 of the Rules of the Board of Regents. Penalties may include censure and reprimand, fine, and/or suspension or revocation of your license to practice in New York State.

If you request, the Department, at its discretion, may issue you a conditional registration. The conditional registration is valid for one year only and is not renewable. To be granted a conditional registration you would have to:

  • agree to complete the required hours of continuing education from the previous registration period during the period of conditional registration,
  • complete the regular continuing education requirement at a rate of 1 hour per month,
  • complete and submit the Registration Remittance Addendum, and
  • pay the fee for the conditional registration, which is currently $287.

At the end of the conditional registration period, you must submit to the Department, your continuing education records certifying that you have completed the required continuing education and pay the regular registration and continuing education fee, which is currently $287, for the remaining two years of the registration period.

Fine, as long as you are not practicing your profession in New York State. Your status will remain "not registered" until you meet the continuing education requirement and submit a registration renewal application with the appropriate fee. If you practice your profession while unregistered or after the Department has denied renewal of your registration for failure to report completion of the required hours of continuing education, you are subject to charges of professional misconduct.
The Department may grant an adjustment (not an exemption) to the requirement for: poor health certified by a physician; a specific physical or mental disability certified by an appropriate health care professional; extended active duty with the armed forces of the United States; or extreme hardship which, in the judgment of the Department, makes it impossible for you to comply with the continuing education requirements in a timely manner. You must request an adjustment from the Office of the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology, by completing and submitting the Registration Remittance Addendum, and provide written documentation of the circumstances preventing you from complying with the requirements.

More Information 

Contact us at [email protected] or call 518-579-6580.
Alternatively, please contact the Office of the State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology, New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Education Building - 2nd Floor Mezzanine East Wing, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York, 12234; Phone 518-474-3817 ext. 140; Fax 518-473-6282; E-mail [email protected]