Protecting public health, safety, and welfare through professional standards
This section contains key resources regarding the licensure of geologists and answers to questions often raised by candidates in states where professional registration is required.
ASBOG does not license or register geologists. ASBOG provides the standardized examination materials used by individual State Licensing Boards. You must apply for licensure directly to the regulatory board in the state or jurisdiction where you practice.
Unqualified geologists place an undue risk on the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Redundant or incompetent geological work introduces critical liabilities:
High risk of catastrophic errors on public infrastructure and building sites.
Increased costs due to repeating incorrect work and failed project scopes.
Elevated oversight and auditing requirements for unqualified personnel.
Suboptimal cost-to-benefit ratios on engineering and environmental projects.
ASBOG examinations are carefully designed and routinely updated using a rigorous psychometric process. The foundation of each exam is a nationwide Task Analysis Survey conducted with thousands of practicing geologists to define:
The exact percentage of professional time devoted to specific geological tasks.
The critical importance of each task in protecting public health, safety, and welfare.
The exact level of competency expected of a newly licensed, entry-level geologist.
This blueprint serves as the exam template, ensuring ASBOG testing reflects current professional practice standards.
Some claim examinations are unnecessary, but history shows that a 4-year degree and peer recommendations vary widely. ASBOG examinations uniformly test minimum competency necessary for the protection of public health and safety.
Prepared by: The Committee on Professional Licensure of AEG
Updated by: The Executive Committee of ASBOG
Geologists provide essential services, from resource development to evaluating foundation stability for infrastructure.
"Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice."
Professional geologists apply sound geologic knowledge that directly avoids endangerment of the public and the environment. Without formal registration, there is no legal standard to prevent unqualified individuals from signing off on high-impact geological assessments.
Professional licensure regulates geology across many high-responsibility sectors, including:
Focus on the interpretation of earth materials, processes, and historical geologic structures to predict potential subterranean hazards or resource distribution.
Focus on the design and construction of structural facilities, utilizing physical properties and parameters to design safe buildings and infrastructure.
Currently, 30 states and Puerto Rico require professional licensing or registration for geologists: