1. (1) In accordance with the Licensure Law, Section 34-41-1 et seq. Code of Ala. 1975, an applicant is eligible for a license as a professional geologist in the State of Alabama if he/she meets the following educational requirements:

   1. (a) Has graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree in geology, engineering geology, or one of the related geological sciences. The college or university shall be accredited or officially recognized and approved as appropriate within the state in which the college or university is situated.
   2. (b) Has a degree with a major in geology, engineering geology, or one of the related acceptable geological sciences from a department offering a formal curriculum in geology, engineering geology, or a related geological science, such as geophysics, or has obtained a graduate degree in one of the above referenced disciplines. In any event, a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours (or its quarter-hour equivalent) of geology courses or the equivalent course work in the geological sciences leading to a degree from an accredited university or college is required.

2. (2) The following courses (or their equivalent) are preferred by the Board for licensure.

   Physical Geology
   Historical Geology
   Mineralogy
   Structural Geology
   Stratigraphy
   Field Geology4 semester hours
   4 semester hours
   4 semester hours
   3 semester hours
   3 semester hours
   6 semester hours

   Other courses, which may be considered toward the licensure requirements, shall include the following (or their equivalent)

   Applied Geophysics
   Economic Geology
   Environmental/Engineering Geology
   Geomorphology
   Groundwater Hydrology, Hydrology, or Hydrogeochemistry
   Paleontology Petroleum Geology Petrology, Petrography, or Sedimentary Petrology
   Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
   Optical Mineralogy
   Sedimentology

   Other geologically related courses may be considered by the Board.

   In no case will course work which is not specifically focused on the geological sciences be considered toward meeting the basic education requirements.

3. (3) Documentation of all educational qualifications will be through certified written references or certified transcripts submitted directly to the Board by the accredited university or college.

Author: Thornton L. Neathery

Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, §§34-41-9, 34-41-10.

History: New Rule: Filed May 10, 1996; effective June 14, 1996. Amended: Filed March 5, 2002; effective April 9, 2002. Amended: Filed April 22, 2015; effective May 27, 2015; Amended: Filed June 20, 2022. Amended: Published October 31, 2023; effective December 15, 2023.