PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES

The PG license in New York State

New York State became the 32nd state to require that professional geologists be licensed to practice the profession in the state. Licensure assures the public that decisions regarding geological issues in New York will be made by qualified professionals. New York agencies recognize the need to protect the public and ensure competency by requiring certain activities be performed by licensed professionals, including geologists. Given the geological issues in New York, there has never been a better time or stronger need to promote the professional licensure of geologists to help protect New York's citizens, natural resources, and the environment.


Licensure Renewal

Renewal service is available for licensees of all professions who are in the final 5 months of their current registration period or no more than 4 months past the expiration of their last valid registration period. Here is what you should do, and, more importantly, shouldn’t forget to not do:

This notice will contain everything you need to know to renew your license:

  1. It is clearly stated that this will be the only notice you will receive before your registration expires, so do not accidentally discard this notice or forget about it.
  2. The notice will contain a PIN required to renew your registration. If the PIN is lost, a new one must be requested. You will also need to enter your license number and profession (Professional Geology).
  3. The notice will include the website required to renew your registration:
    www.op.nysed.gov/renewalinfo.htm
  4. The notice will also include a document titled “Please Read this and the Enclosed Registration Renewal Document Carefully.” This information should not be ignored.

Renew Online: You are encouraged to renew online. You may update your address, request an optional professional photo identification card (additional $30), or choose to become inactive.

Month of Birth Renewal System: New York uses a month-of-birth-based registration system. Since this is your first renewal, your next renewal cycle will be a transition period. Your new license period will be between 2 and 3 years and will end the month prior to your birth month. The registration fee will be prorated. After this transition, renewal periods will be a full three years.

NYSCPG Job Board

The NYSCPG Job Board is available for members and nonmembers to post open positions and to view current postings. Members are able to create postings for free and can choose to post for 30, 60, or 90 days; non-members must pay a fee.

Both members and non-members may pay a fee in order to boost their posting for the duration they choose, which will promote the posting on the NYSCPG board as well as the Google Jobs Network. If you have any questions about posting, reach out to [email protected].

                       Access the Job Board here:

Access the Job Board by Clicking Here

Geology Laws

NYSCPG recommends all people interested in becoming professional geologists take the time to read and understand the laws and regulations that govern the licensed individual and companies.

Education Law – Article 145
The Education Law defines the profession of geology and its place within the Design Professions of Engineering and Land Surveying. Section 7211 applies to the continuing education requirements.

Rules of the Board of Regents – Part 29
Part 29 addresses Unprofessional Conduct. Section 29.1 covers General Provisions, while Section 29.3 applies specifically to the Design Professions.

Commissioner’s Regulations
The following sections provide the governing regulations for licensure of Geologists and other Design Professionals:

Licensure Verification and Statistics

You can view an official online verification of any New York State Professional license- for both individuals as well as Professional Business Entities- by using the Office of the Professions Online Verification Service at http://www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm.

Below is the breakdown of NYS licensed Geologists as of January 1, 2026.

(Last Updated: January 1, 2026)

County

Number

County

Number

County

Number

Albany

27

Jefferson

2

Saratoga

57

Allegany

1

Kings

12

Schenectady

18

Bronx

1

Lewis

0

Schoharie

4

Broome

3

Livingston

2

Schuyler

1

Cattataugus

2

Madison

9

Seneca

0

Cayuga

1

Monroe

23

Steuben

1

Chautauqua

3

Montgomery

1

St. Lawrence

3

Chemung

0

Nassau

31

Suffolk

117

Chenango

1

New York

13

Sullivan

0

Clinton

5

Niagara

9

Tioga

0

Columbia

3

Oneida

3

Tompkins

5

Cortland

5

Onondaga

42

Ulster

12

Delaware

0

Ontario

3

Warren

3

Dutchess

18

Orange

18

Washington

3

Erie

60

Orleans

0

Wayne

2

Essex

0

Oswego

2

Westchester

20

Franklin

2

Otsego

1

Wyoming

1

Fulton

1

Putnam

1

Yates

2

Genesee

2

Queens

9

NYS TOTAL

586

Greene

2

Rensselaer

15

OTHER US

489

Hamilton

0

Richmond

0

NON-US

5

Herkimer

1

Rockland

4

TOTAL

1,080

As of January 2026, there are 1,080 NYS-licensed Professional Geologists. The breakdown is as follows:

  • Total NYS-Based NYS Professional Geologists: 586(54.3%)

  • Total NYS-Licensed Professional Geologists from Bordering States (CT, NJ, MA, PA, and VT): 489(45.3%)

  • There are NYS-Licensed Professional Geologists from 4 States and 3 foreign countries (CN, UK, and the North Marianas Islands)

* - County of location reflects the licensee's primary mailing address on record with the NYSED. Licensees must be registered in order to practice or use the professional title within New York State; being registered, however, does not necessarily mean the licensee is actively engaged in practice.