Geologists do much more than study rocks. A geologist gathers and interprets data about the Earth and uses that knowledge to improve the quality of human life. They help find and develop our natural resources such as drinking water, minerals, and oil and gas in ways that safeguard the environment. Geologists provide critical information to protect us from natural and man-made hazards including earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and chemical spills – all of which have dominated the recent headlines in New York State.
You will need to be licensed if you are or want to become:
An owner, officer, etc. of firms offering geological services
An individual providing professional geological services
Future New York State officers and employees of a certain grade
You will NOT need to be licensed if you:
Are an employee working under a Professional Geologist
Are an employee of a firm offering engineering services (firm cannot offer or advertise geologic services)
Were a current state official or employee before 2016
Natural Resource Exploration and Extraction (Oil, Gas, Mining)
Environmental Engineering, Remediation and Consulting
Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
Civil Engineering and Construction
Waste Management
Soil Management
Land and Water Resources
Nuclear Research
Academia
Natural Hazard Management
Oceanography
Local and Regional Planning Organizations
State-Level Geological Surveys
Transportation Industry
Government Agencies
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
NASA
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Division of Environmental Remediation
Division of Materials Management
Division of Mineral Resources
Division of Water
New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT)
Geotechnical Engineering Bureau
Materials Engineering Bureau
New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH)
Division of Environmental Health Assessment
Division of Environmental Health Protection
National Park Service (NPS)
Why Get Licensed?
Licensure is the mark of a professional. It’s a standard recognized by employers and their clients, by governments, and by the public as a dedication to the skill and quality of services provided. New York licenses over 50 professions with five considered as Design Professions (Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Engineering, Geology, and Land Surveying).
Required in New York State
A person representing themself as a geologist and providing geologic services must be licensed to do so in New York or work under another Professional Geologist (PG).
Denotes a Specialization in Geology
Only a licensed geologist may prepare, sign, seal, and submit geologic reports or documents to any public authority for approval, or seal geologic work for public and private clients.
Demonstrates Basic Competence in Geology
Regulation of the geology profession by licensure provides a higher standard of work. PG candidates must meet education requirements and pass two qualifying examinations to become licensed.
Career Advancement
A PG license allows a geologist to grow within the industry, demonstrate leadership, sign and seal geologic documents, manage firms or other geologists, serve as expert witnesses, and represent clients in regulatory hearings.
Commitment to Continuing Education
Professional Geologists must maintain competency through continuing education requirements regulated by New York State.
Career Flexibility
A PG license allows geologists to represent themselves as specialists, own firms, or manage geology divisions within organizations.
How To Get Licensed
A professional geology license is the authorization to practice and use the title of Professional Geologist in New York State. The license is valid for life unless it is revoked, annulled, or suspended by the NYS Education Department. To practice in New York with the license, a professional geologist must also be actively registered with the Department. A licensee is automatically registered for the first three-year registration period when the license is issued. The Education Department will subsequently send renewal information to the name and address they have on file for you prior to the date the registration expires.
Any use of the title "Professional Geologist" or provision of geological services within New York State requires licensure, except in certain "exempt" settings. These settings are detailed in Section 7208-a of the Education Law and are detailed in the dropdowns below.
To be licensed as a Professional Geologist in New York State, an applicant must:
Be of good moral character
Be at least 21 years of age
Meet education, examination, and experience requirements
Submit an application with required forms and fees
Pass the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Principles of Geology (PG) exams
New York State does not have a reciprocity/comity agreement with any other states offering licensure. An applicant who is licensed in another state may be eligible for licensure in New York State via endorsement if they meet all the requirements for licensure in New York State.
Under this provision, an applicant:
Currently licensed in another jurisdiction
Passed FG and PG examinations
Meet education and/or experience requirements per this table.
An applicant must complete a combination of education and/or experience for which years of credit are awarded to become licensed as a professional geologist in New York State. The education credit determines the number of years of work experience that you will need in order to be approved for licensure as described below and as shown in this table.
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Geosciences and a minimum of five (5) years of practical experience;
Master of Art or Master of Science degree in geosciences and a minimum of four (4) years of practical experience; or
A minimum of twelve (12) years of practical experience with no education.
The Bachelor's degree in geosciences must include the following coursework:
Six (6) semester hours in mathematics beyond college algebra or trigonometry
Fifteen (15) semester hours in a combination of at least two of the following sciences:
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Thirty (30) semester hours of approved geosciences courses. Twenty-four (24) of the thirty (30) hours must be from the following subject areas and must include at least one course from four of the eight different areas:
Earth Materials
Sedimentary Geology
Geotechnology
Surficial and Near-surface Geology
Hydrogeology
Geodynamics and Geophysics
Economic Geology
Note: Geologic courses centered around math and physical sciences (chemistry, physics, etc.) beyond the thirty hours can be applied to the math and science requisite.
New York State has adopted the National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG®) Exam.
The exam has 2 parts (below), each part takes 4 hours and is multiple choice.
Fundamentals of Geology (FG)
: Consists of 140 questions. It is recommended to take this exam during the final semester in college or shortly after graduation. Individuals who do not have a geoscience degree must have 8 years of experience to qualify for the FG exam.
Practice of Geology (PG)
: Consists of 110 questions. This examination can be taken after 5 years of experience with a bachelor’s degree, after 4 years of experience with an advanced degree, or after 12 years of experience without a geoscience degree.
Applicants Applying for ASBOG Fundementals of Geology Exam (FG) Only
You may be eligible to sit for the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology exam if you meet the education or experience requirement as indicated by the arrows in the table representing the four pathways to licensure.
Applicants must complete and submit Forms 1 and 2 if sitting for the test without the requisite experience (paths 1-3 on table). Applicants must submit Forms 1, 2, 4, and 4A if sitting for the FG test as part of the twelve years of experience with no education route. Please make sure to submit all required payments and forms at least six months prior to the exam date. Forms can be downloaded from the Office of Professions website under the "Examination Requirements" tab. Once an applicant is approved to sit for the FG exam, the Board will upload preregistration information for all approved candidates to the Prometric Registration Portal. Candidates will receive an email from [email protected] (Prometric/Iso-Quality Testing (IQT)) approximately 45 days in advance of the scheduled exam, providing instruction on how to complete registration, pay for the examinations and seat fee, and select a testing location.
Applicants Applying for ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology Exam (FG) and the Principles of Geology Exam (PG) or for the Principals of Geology Exam (PG) Only
You may be eligible to sit for the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology exam and/or the Principles of Geology exam if you meet the education and/or experience requirements as indicated by the arrows in the table representing the four pathways to licensure.
Applicants must submit Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, and 4A if sitting for the FG and PG exams. Please make sure to submit all required payments and forms at least six months prior to the exam date. Forms can be downloaded from the Office of Professions website under the "Examination Requirements" tab. Once an applicant is approved to sit for the FG exam, the Board will upload preregistration information for all approved candidates to the Prometric Registration Portal. Candidates will receive an email from [email protected] (Prometric/Iso-Quality Testing (IQT)) approximately 45 days in advance of the scheduled exam, providing instruction on how to complete registration, pay for the examinations and seat fee, and select a testing location.
The ASBOG® exams are now online. Learn more at asbog.org.
Nothing in the professional geology laws shall be construed to affect or prevent:
1. The employment and supervision of interns and other persons qualified by education or experience by professional geologists as assistants in the performance of geological services, or as consultants or employees in special fields related to but not uniquely geology, provided that the professional geologist employing or supervising such persons shall not be relieved of any responsibility whatsoever by delegation to such persons.
2. The practice of professional engineering by a professional engineer licensed pursuant to this article to practice engineering in this state or an entity authorized pursuant to section seventy-two hundred ten of this article to provide engineering in this state, including the investigation, acquisition, evaluation, and interpretation of the physical and chemical properties of the soil, rock, groundwater, earth materials and data related thereto, and the performance of activities as specified in section seventy-two hundred four-a of this article, provided that no such person shall use the designation, or hold himself or herself out as a "professional geologist," unless licensed as such in this state, and provided further that nothing in this chapter shall preclude a licensed professional engineer or authorized entity from offering to provide or providing the work enumerated in this subdivision, however categorized, on the grounds that such licensed professional engineer or authorized entity is not licensed to practice geology.
3. The practice of land surveying by any person that is licensed or otherwise authorized to practice land surveying in this state, provided that no such person shall use the designation or hold himself or herself out as a "professional geologist" unless licensed as such in this state.
4. The execution of work by contractors or by others of work prepared by a professional geologist, or the superintendence of such work as a superintendent, foreman or inspector.
5. The practice of the profession of geology by officers and employees of this state practicing solely as officers and employees; provided, however, that this exemption shall not apply to officers and employees of the state of New York who commence employment or the performance of work related activities after the effective date of this section.
6. The execution of geological research and/or teaching conducted at accredited educational institutions and not-for-profit research institutions, conducted solely through those institutions.
7. Work customarily performed by physical or natural scientists provided such work does not include geological investigations, being in responsible charge of geological work, or the drawing of geological conclusions and recommendations.
8. Work customarily performed by water well drillers who have received a certificate of registration pursuant to section 15-1525 of the environmental conservation law.
