{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-2208.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-2208.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-2208.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-2208.2.html"}],"law_id":368094,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368094,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.2","catch_line":"Licensure; minimum qualifications; penalty","history":"1981, c. 132, \u00a7\u00a7 54-964, 54-965; 1984, c. 51; 1988, c. 765, \u00a7 54.1-1403; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2025, c. 722.","full_text":"A\n\nAny person practicing or offering to practice as a professional geologist or in a geological specialty in this Commonwealth may submit reasonable evidence to the Board that he is qualified to practice and to be licensed as provided in this article. The Board shall approve the application for licensure of any person who, in the opinion of the Board, has satisfactorily met the requirements of this article and who has paid any applicable fees fixed by the Board.\n\t\t\tLicenses shall expire at intervals as designated by the Board. A license may be renewed by the Board upon receipt of a formal request accompanied by any applicable fees.\n\nB\n\nTo be eligible for licensure as a professional geologist, an applicant shall meet each of the following minimum qualifications:\n\n1\n\nBe of ethical character.\n\n2\n\nHave a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education with either a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or related geological sciences; or have completed at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology.\n\n3\n\nHave at least seven years of geological work that shall include either a minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified or licensed professional geologist or a minimum of three years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. The adequacy of the position and the required supervision and experience shall be determined by the Board in accordance with standards set forth in its regulations. The following criteria of education and experience qualify toward the required seven years of geological work:\n\t\t\t\ta. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years, and each year of full-time graduate study shall count as a year of experience up to a maximum of three years. Credit for undergraduate and graduate study shall in no case exceed a total of four years toward meeting the requirements for at least seven years of geological work.\n\n\t\t\t\tb. The Board may consider, in lieu of the above-described geological work, the cumulative total of geological work or geological research of persons occupying research or post-graduate positions as well as those teaching geology courses at an institution of higher education, provided such work or research can be demonstrated to be of a sufficiently responsible nature to be equivalent to the geological work required in this section.\n\n4\n\nHave successfully passed an appropriate examination approved by the Board and designed to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skill to exercise the responsibilities of the public practice of geology.\n\t\t\t\tAt the discretion of the Board, separate examinations may be prepared for various subspecialities of geology; however, there will be no specialty licensure, only licensure as a professional geologist.\n\nC\n\nThe Board shall issue a license to practice as a geologist in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds an unexpired certification to practice as a geologist issued prior to July 1, 2025.\n\nD\n\nNo person shall represent himself as a licensed professional geologist unless he has been so licensed by the Board. Any person practicing or offering to practice geology within the meaning of this article who, through verbal claim, sign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a licensed professional geologist without holding such license from the Board is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1370176,"text":"Any person practicing or offering to practice as a professional geologist or in a geological specialty in this Commonwealth may submit reasonable evidence to the Board that he is qualified to practice and to be licensed as provided in this article. The Board shall approve the application for licensure of any person who, in the opinion of the Board, has satisfactorily met the requirements of this article and who has paid any applicable fees fixed by the Board.\n\t\t\tLicenses shall expire at intervals as designated by the Board. A license may be renewed by the Board upon receipt of a formal request accompanied by any applicable fees.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1370177,"text":"To be eligible for licensure as a professional geologist, an applicant shall meet each of the following minimum qualifications:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":1370178,"text":"Be of ethical character.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":1370179,"text":"Have a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education with either a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or related geological sciences; or have completed at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":1370180,"text":"Have at least seven years of geological work that shall include either a minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified or licensed professional geologist or a minimum of three years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. The adequacy of the position and the required supervision and experience shall be determined by the Board in accordance with standards set forth in its regulations. The following criteria of education and experience qualify toward the required seven years of geological work:\n\t\t\t\ta. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years, and each year of full-time graduate study shall count as a year of experience up to a maximum of three years. Credit for undergraduate and graduate study shall in no case exceed a total of four years toward meeting the requirements for at least seven years of geological work.\t\t\t\tb. The Board may consider, in lieu of the above-described geological work, the cumulative total of geological work or geological research of persons occupying research or post-graduate positions as well as those teaching geology courses at an institution of higher education, provided such work or research can be demonstrated to be of a sufficiently responsible nature to be equivalent to the geological work required in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":1370181,"text":"Have successfully passed an appropriate examination approved by the Board and designed to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skill to exercise the responsibilities of the public practice of geology.\n\t\t\t\tAt the discretion of the Board, separate examinations may be prepared for various subspecialities of geology; however, there will be no specialty licensure, only licensure as a professional geologist.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":1370182,"text":"The Board shall issue a license to practice as a geologist in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds an unexpired certification to practice as a geologist issued prior to July 1, 2025.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"D"},"7":{"id":1370183,"text":"No person shall represent himself as a licensed professional geologist unless he has been so licensed by the Board. Any person practicing or offering to practice geology within the meaning of this article who, through verbal claim, sign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a licensed professional geologist without holding such license from the Board is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52470,"edition_id":2,"name":"Geologists","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52467,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:59:15","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:59","permalink":{"id":1467207,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52470,"identifier":"3","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3","url":"\/54.1\/II\/22\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52467,"edition_id":2,"name":"Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists","identifier":"22","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":25,"parent_id":52439,"metadata":{"child_laws":17,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:59:14","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:58","permalink":{"id":1467149,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52467,"identifier":"22","token":"54.1\/II\/22","url":"\/54.1\/II\/22\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52439,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":392,"child_structures":60},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:52","permalink":{"id":1466417,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52439,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":368093,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.1","catch_line":"Purpose; exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2208.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.1","metadata":false},{"id":368094,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.2","catch_line":"Licensure; minimum qualifications; penalty","url":"\/54.1-2208.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.2","metadata":false},{"id":368095,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination","url":"\/54.1-2208.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.3","metadata":false},{"id":368096,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.4","catch_line":"Professional ethics and conduct","url":"\/54.1-2208.4\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":368093,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.1","catch_line":"Purpose; exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2208.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":368095,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination","url":"\/54.1-2208.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2208.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 132 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1984, chapter 51; in 1988, chapter 765; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 722<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":368095,"section_number":"54.1-2208.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2208.3\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1467213,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368094,"identifier":"54.1-2208.2","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.2","url":"\/54.1-2208.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2208.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Licensure; minimum qualifications; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2208.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any person practicing or offering to practice as a professional geologist<\/span> or in a geological specialty in this Commonwealth may submit reasonable evidence<\/span> to the Board<\/span> that he is qualified to practice and to be licensed as provided in this article. The Board<\/span> shall approve the application for licensure of any person who, in the opinion<\/span> of the Board<\/span>, has satisfactorily met the requirements of this article and who has paid any applicable fees fixed by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t\tLicenses shall expire at intervals as designated by the Board<\/span>. A license may be renewed by the Board<\/span> upon receipt of a formal request accompanied by any applicable fees. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> To be eligible for licensure as a professional geologist<\/span>, an applicant shall meet each of the following minimum qualifications: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Be of ethical character. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Have a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education with either a major in geology<\/span>, engineering geology<\/span>, geological engineering, or related geological sciences; or have completed at least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Have at least seven years of geological work that shall include either a minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified or licensed professional geologist<\/span> or a minimum of three years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. The adequacy of the position and the required supervision and experience shall be determined by the Board<\/span> in accordance with standards set forth in its regulations. The following criteria of education and experience qualify toward the required seven years of geological work:\n\t\t\t\ta. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years, and each year of full-time graduate study shall count as a year of experience up to a maximum of three years. Credit for undergraduate and graduate study shall in no case exceed a total of four years toward meeting the requirements for at least seven years of geological work.

\t\t\t\tb. The Board<\/span> may consider, in lieu of the above-described geological work, the cumulative total of geological work or geological research of persons occupying research or post-graduate positions as well as those teaching geology<\/span> courses at an institution of higher education, provided such work or research can be demonstrated to be of a sufficiently responsible nature to be equivalent to the geological work required in this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Have successfully passed an appropriate examination approved by the Board<\/span> and designed to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skill to exercise the responsibilities of the public practice of geology<\/span>.\n\t\t\t\tAt the discretion of the Board<\/span>, separate examinations may be prepared for various subspecialities of geology; however, there will be no specialty licensure, only licensure as a professional geologist<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall issue<\/span> a license to practice as a geologist<\/span> in the Commonwealth to any individual who holds an unexpired certification to practice as a geologist<\/span> issued prior to July 1, 2025. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> No person shall represent himself as a licensed professional geologist<\/span> unless he has been so licensed by the Board<\/span>. Any person practicing or offering to practice geology within the meaning of this article who, through verbal claim, sign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a licensed professional geologist<\/span> without holding such license from the Board<\/span> is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLICENSURE; MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS; PENALTY (\u00a7 54.1-2208.2)\n\nA. Any person practicing or offering to practice as a professional geologist or\nin a geological specialty in this Commonwealth may submit reasonable evidence to\nthe Board that he is qualified to practice and to be licensed as provided in\nthis article. The Board shall approve the application for licensure of any\nperson who, in the opinion of the Board, has satisfactorily met the requirements\nof this article and who has paid any applicable fees fixed by the Board.\n\t\t\tLicenses shall expire at intervals as designated by the Board. A license may\nbe renewed by the Board upon receipt of a formal request accompanied by any\napplicable fees.\n\nB. To be eligible for licensure as a professional geologist, an applicant shall\nmeet each of the following minimum qualifications:\n\n 1. Be of ethical character.\n\n 2. Have a baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of\n higher education with either a major in geology, engineering geology,\n geological engineering, or related geological sciences; or have completed at\n least 30 semester hours or the equivalent in geological science courses\n leading to a major in geology.\n\n 3. Have at least seven years of geological work that shall include either a\n minimum of three years of geological work under the supervision of a qualified\n or licensed professional geologist or a minimum of three years of experience\n in responsible charge of geological work. The adequacy of the position and the\n required supervision and experience shall be determined by the Board in\n accordance with standards set forth in its regulations. The following criteria\n of education and experience qualify toward the required seven years of\n geological work:\n \t\t\t\ta. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in the geological sciences\n shall count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years, and\n each year of full-time graduate study shall count as a year of experience up\n to a maximum of three years. Credit for undergraduate and graduate study shall\n in no case exceed a total of four years toward meeting the requirements for at\n least seven years of geological work.\t\t\t\tb. The Board may consider, in lieu of\n the above-described geological work, the cumulative total of geological work\n or geological research of persons occupying research or post-graduate\n positions as well as those teaching geology courses at an institution of\n higher education, provided such work or research can be demonstrated to be of\n a sufficiently responsible nature to be equivalent to the geological work\n required in this section.\n\n 4. Have successfully passed an appropriate examination approved by the Board\n and designed to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and\n skill to exercise the responsibilities of the public practice of geology.\n \t\t\t\tAt the discretion of the Board, separate examinations may be prepared for\n various subspecialities of geology; however, there will be no specialty\n licensure, only licensure as a professional geologist.\n\nC. The Board shall issue a license to practice as a geologist in the\nCommonwealth to any individual who holds an unexpired certification to practice\nas a geologist issued prior to July 1, 2025.\n\nD. No person shall represent himself as a licensed professional geologist unless\nhe has been so licensed by the Board. Any person practicing or offering to\npractice geology within the meaning of this article who, through verbal claim,\nsign, advertisement, or letterhead, represents himself as a licensed\nprofessional geologist without holding such license from the Board is guilty of\na Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 132, \u00a7\u00a7 54-964, 54-965; 1984, c. 51; 1988, c. 765, \u00a7\n54.1-1403; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2025, c. 722.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}