Wyo. Code R. 084-0001-3
Geologists, Board of Professional
Chapter 3: Licensure Provisions
Effective Date: 11/16/2015 to 09/18/2024
Rule Type: Superceded Rules & Regulations
Reference Number: 084.0001.3.11162015
(a) For the following items, the maximum chargeable fees are:
| (i) | Application for Geologist-in-training certification | $ 75 |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) | Application for Professional Geologist licensure | $150 |
| (iii) | Annual renewal for Geologist-in-training certification | $ 50 |
| (iv) | Annual renewal for Professional Geologist licensure | $100 |
| (v) | Annual renewal for Retired licensure | $ 50 |
| (vi) | Re-activation of a License from retired status | $100 |
| (vii) | FG Examination | $350 |
| (viii) | PG Examination | $350 |
| (ix) | Replacement certificate | $ 50 |
(b) The fees charged for items listed in (a) shall be reaffirmed or adjusted annually to ensure that, to the extent practicable, the total revenue generated from the fees collected approximates the direct and indirect costs of administering the regulatory provisions of the Act. Adjustments to charged fees shall be set by action of the Board at a properly noticed meeting.
(a) If a license or certificate has been expired for less than ninety (90) calendar days, an individual may reinstate the license or certificate by paying the unpaid appropriate annual renewal fee plus one-half (1/2) of the appropriate application fee, except that a retired licensee may reinstate his license by paying the unpaid appropriate annual renewal fee plus one-half (1/2) of that annual renewal fee.
(b) If a license or certificate has been expired for longer than ninety (90) calendar days, but less than two (2) years, an individual may reinstate the license or certificate by paying the unpaid appropriate annual renewal fee plus a fee that is equal to the appropriate application fee, except that a retired licensee may reinstate his license by paying twice the appropriate annual renewal fee.
(c) If a license or certificate has been expired for two (2) years or longer, the individual may not reinstate the license or certificate. An individual may apply for a new license or certificate by complying with the requirements and procedures for licensure or certification that are in effect at the time of re-application.
(a) The Board or its designee(s) shall notify each trainee, licensee, and retired licensee of the date of expiration of his certificate or license in advance of the expiration.
(b) Licenses and certificates expire annually at midnight on December 31.
(c) Failure to receive the notice described in Section 3(a) of this chapter shall not relieve a trainee, a licensee, or a retired licensee of the responsibility for renewing his certificate or license before it expires.
(d) It is the responsibility of each trainee, licensee, or retired licensee to promptly notify the Board in writing of any change in name, home address, business affiliation, preferred mailing address, and e-mail addresses. In the case of a change in name, the individual shall give notice to the Board within thirty (30) calendar days of the change, along with a copy of the legal documents effecting the change. This notice may be sent by mail, facsimile, or e-mail.
(a) Applicants for licensure shall complete application forms prescribed by the Board, which shall contain statements made under oath that demonstrate the applicant has met all the general requirements for licensure as defined in W.S. 33-41-102 (a)(iv) and W.S. 33-41-111, except (a)(iii). In addition, applicants shall:
(i) Include the appropriate fee(s);
(ii) Provide names and addresses of not less than three (3) professional references as defined in these rules who can attest to the applicant's professional character and repute as defined in these rules. Two (2) or more of the professional references shall be professional geologists or qualified geologists having personal knowledge of the applicant's geologic work experience. No more than one (1) reference can be from the same company or the same division of an agency. No more than one (1) reference can be from a current co-worker. One (1) reference shall be from a supervisor or client. If an applicant cannot provide three (3) professional references, he shall provide a written and signed explanation. Based on the applicant's explanation, the Board may prescribe alternatives to these requirements;
(iii) Arrange to have the registrars of colleges, universities, or other educational institutions send official or certified transcripts of course work, grades, and degrees directly to the Board;
(A) Transcripts shall show satisfactory graduation in a four year (4) academic degree program from an institution of higher education approved by the Board.
(B) Transcripts shall show satisfactory completion of the geologic course work required to qualify as a geologist.
(iv) Provide proof of lawful presence in the United States;
(v) Summarize all geological and related professional work experience and provide the names and addresses of supervisors or, in the case of consulting work, clients. If an applicant cannot provide the name and address of at least one (1) supervisor or client, he shall provide a written and signed explanation and the name and address of one (1) additional professional reference as defined by these rules; and
(vi) Be hereby apprised that submittal of an application authorizes the Board to investigate any or all of the statements or information in the application.
(b) Applicants for licensure shall mail professional reference forms to the individuals named in their application. Individuals providing these professional references shall return the completed forms or requests directly to the Board.
(c) Criteria the Board considers in determining what geologic work experience shall be credited toward the accumulation of the required four (4) years of professional practice in geologic work include, but are not limited to:
(i) Each month of full-time geologic experience of a character acceptable to the Board shall count as one (1) month of professional practice of geologic work if it was carried out for a client or under the direct supervision of a either a professional geologist or qualified geologist as defined by W.S. 33-41-102(a)(ix) or (x) or another professional who has similar experience, education, and professional character and repute in a related field;
(ii) Part-time geologic work experience meeting the criteria in Section 4(c)(i) of this chapter shall be prorated in one-quarter (1/4) of a month increments; and
(iii) The Board shall not accept any experience gained prior to an applicant's meeting the definition of a geologist in W.S. 33-41-102(a)(iv).
(d) When the Board is satisfied that an application is complete and in the proper form and that the applicant is eligible in all other aspects to be licensed, it shall certify the applicant as eligible to take the FG and PG examinations, or, if exempt from examination pursuant to W.S. 33-41-118(a) or W.S. 33-41-118(b), as eligible for licensure.
(e) If for any reason the Board is not satisfied that an applicant is eligible in all respects for examination or licensure as required by the Act or these rules, it may deny the application or it may require additional information.
(f) Before licensure, an applicant shall have passed both the FG and PG examinations, unless the applicant is exempt from examination, pursuant to W.S. 33-41-118(a) or W.S. 33-41-118(b).
(g) An individual shall not apply for licensure until the required four (4) years of professional practice in geologic work has been completed.
(a) Applicants for certification shall complete application forms prescribed by the Board, which shall contain statements made under oath that demonstrate the applicant has met the general requirements for certification as defined in W.S. 33-41-102 (a)(iv) and W.S. 33-41-112, except (a)(ii). In addition, the applicant shall:
(i) Include the appropriate fee(s);
(ii) Arrange to have the registrars of colleges, universities, or other educational institutions send official or certified transcripts of course work, grades, and degrees directly to the Board;
(A) Transcripts shall show satisfactory graduation in a four year (4) academic degree program from an institution of higher education approved by the Board.
(B) Transcripts shall show satisfactory completion of the geologic course work required to qualify as a geologist.
(iii) Provide proof of lawful presence in the United States; and
(iv) Be hereby apprised that submittal of an application authorizes the Board to investigate any or all of the statements or information in the application.
(b) An applicant for certification may be permitted to take the FG examination within the final year of an appropriate, accredited, bachelor's degree program if he has completed or is registered for the geologic course work required to qualify as a geologist.
(c) When the Board is satisfied that an application is complete and in the proper form and that the applicant is eligible in all other aspects to be certified, it shall certify the applicant as eligible to take the FG examination.
(d) If for any reason the Board is not satisfied that an applicant is eligible in all respects for examination or certification as required by the Act or these rules, it may deny the individual's application or it may require additional data concerning the applicant's qualifications for certification.
(e) Before certification, an applicant shall have passed the FG examination.
(f) Trainees may use 'G.I.T.' or 'Geologist-in-training' as a title after their name, providing these designations are not used in conjunction with their file number or preceded by the word 'licensed' or any other words that might lead someone to believe they are licensed as a professional geologist.
(a) The FG and PG examinations will be given at times and places determined by the Board. Completed application forms for licensure or certification shall be filed with the Board at least ninety (90) calendar days prior to examination dates.
(b) If the Board has not approved an application by the cutoff date for an examination, the application will be processed for the following examination date.
(c) The Board may deny admittance to an examination for any of the following reasons:
(i) The examination or reexamination fee is not received by the Board on or before the date specified by the Board;
(ii) An applicant fails to submit a completed notice of intent form at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the examination date; or
(iii) The applicant does not present an acceptable form of photo identification such as a current state issued driver's license, passport, or other type of governmental identification.
(d) The Board or its designee(s) shall notify examinees of the results of the examination within ten (10) working days after the day that the Board or its designee(s) receives the results.
(e) An applicant who fails an examination may retake the examination after paying the appropriate fee(s). An applicant who fails either the FG or PG examination will only have to retake the failed examination(s).
(f) An applicant may withdraw his application for licensure or certification by written request to the Board. An application withdrawn in this manner shall be considered withdrawn without prejudice.
Section 7. Admission to the PG Examination for Applicants with Out-of-state Geologist-in-training Status. If an applicant for licensure has passed a geologist-in-training examination in another jurisdiction and that examination is deemed by the Board as comparable to the FG examination, he may be admitted to take the PG examination. Proof of geologist-in-training status shall be forwarded directly to the Board from the authority which administered the original examination. An applicant shall further comply with all the educational and experience requirements set forth in W.S. 33-41-111, except (a)(iii).
(a) An applicant who holds a valid license to practice geology in another state, jurisdiction, territory, or country may be granted licensure without examination, provided:
(i) The applicant has passed an examination or examinations deemed by the Board as comparable to the FG and PG examinations and has submitted acceptable evidence that the requirements under which he was licensed in the original jurisdiction were substantially identical to or more stringent than current requirements in the State of Wyoming; or
(ii) The applicant, if licensed under the grandfather provisions of the state in which he currently holds registration or licensure, submits acceptable evidence that the requirements under which he was licensed in the original jurisdiction were substantially identical to or more stringent than current requirements in the State of Wyoming, and submits evidence acceptable to the Board that he has:
(A) At least five (5) years of professional geologic work experience subsequent to the date of his registration or licensure in that state; and (B) Held that registration or license continuously for a minimum of five (5) years.
(b) An applicant who does not hold a valid license to practice geology in another state, jurisdiction, territory, or country may be granted licensure without examination if he has passed an examination or examinations deemed by the Board as comparable to the FG and PG examinations and has submitted acceptable evidence that he meets the statutory requirements for education and experience in the State of Wyoming.
(c) 'Acceptable evidence' means a completed application as described in these rules and verification of registration or licensure on forms prescribed by the Board. Such documentation of licensure shall contain information concerning the method of licensure including examination results, cutoff scores, the date of the original licensure, and the current status of the applicant's license.
(a) A request for transfer to retired licensee status shall be made in writing at the time of license renewal and, if approved, will become effective the first day of January following the request.
(b) To be granted retired status, a licensee shall:
(i) Have been licensed continuously for ten years in Wyoming prior to requesting retired licensee status;
(ii) Not practice geology before the public in any jurisdiction;
(iii) Pay the annual renewal fee for a retired professional geologist;
(iv) Submit a signed statement with each annual renewal affirming that he is not currently practicing and has not practiced geology before the public in any jurisdiction while retired.
To return to a professional geologist license and be licensed to practice geology before the public, a retired licensee shall notify the Board in writing of the desire to return to a professional geologist license, pay the re-activation fee, and the annual renewal fee for licensure.