Geology Licensing Rules by State

Every state writes its own rules for who can sit the ASBOG® exams and what it takes to get licensed. They also have different titles (RG for Registered Geologist, PG for Professional Geologist, LG for licensed Geologist). Below, you’ll find the questions we hear most from our students about state board rules, but if you don’t have what you need there each state’s rules can be found by clicking on your state in the map. You will also find links to each state’s own law, rules, and board pages. Your state board always makes the final call, so check with them if you have any other questions.

Questions we hear most from our students

  • 31 states and Puerto Rico license geologists: AL, AR, AZ, CA, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NY, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, and WY.
  • Some states call it registration instead of licensure (AR, AZ, KY, MO, and MS), and Louisiana and Texas license “Professional Geoscientists.”
  • Virginia is the newest. Licensure there has been required since July 1, 2025.
  • The following states don’t currently license geologists: CO, CT, DC, HI, IA, MA, MD, MI, MT, ND, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, RI, SD, VT, and WV, but some of them have an environmental credential that geologists can hold: Connecticut (Licensed Environmental Professional), Iowa (Certified Groundwater Professional), Massachusetts (Licensed Site Professional), New Jersey (Licensed Site Remediation Professional), Nevada (Certified Environmental Manager), and West Virginia (Licensed Remediation Specialist).
  • Alaska certifies geologists who hold the AIPG Certified Professional Geologist credential, with no state exam.
  • If your work might occur into a state that does license geologists, you need that state’s license to practice there.
  • A passed FG exam helps your job application stand out, even where no license is required.
  • You apply to take the ASBOG® exams through your state board, ASBOG® doesn’t take applications directly. Pick the state where you’re most likely to work, since each board has its own education and experience rules.
  • In general, it can help to have your Professional Geologist licensure even if you aren’t based in a state with licensure. It helps win RFPs, gives you a baseline of knowledge with the certification to prove it, and makes you valuable to almost anyone hiring geologists.

In most states, yes. We recommend getting the FG done before you leave school, while the coursework is fresh.

  • In your final year: AZ, FL (with 30 semester hours of geology), KS (senior status), LA, ME (with 30 geology credits), NE (as a senior, with 30 semester hours of geology), NY (within 20 credits of graduating), TX, VA (within 12 months of finishing your degree), and WY (with board permission).
  • In your final semester/quarter: DE, KY, UT, and WI (with 24 semester hours of geology).
  • Once you’ve finished a set number of geology hours, with or without the degree:
    • AR, NC, and TN: 30 semester hours (NC also requires 24 of them upper-level).
    • CA and ID: 30 semester hours, 24 of them upper-division.
    • MN: 20 semester credits of geology, while enrolled in a board-approved program.
    • OR: 45 quarter hours, 36 of them upper-division.
    • PA: after 2 years of your program, while enrolled, with board approval.
  • Probably yes, but the rules conflict: SC. The law allows the FG before you finish your studies, but the board’s regulation asks for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Probably not: IL. A 2025 law lets the state create a student process, but it hasn’t adopted one yet.
  • No: WA. You need the degree, or an equivalent the board approves, first.
  • The rules don’t say, so ask the board: AL, GA, IN, NH, and PR.
  • University exit exams: Missouri and Mississippi also let students take the FG as a university “exit exam.” In Missouri, seniors get one try, with their department head’s approval. In Mississippi, it’s offered in the final semester at three Mississippi universities, with the department chair’s signature.
  • We offer significant discounts to groups of students taking the exam. Please reach out to Terri at admin@regreview.com to get details.
  • ASBOG® gives the exams on the third Thursday and Friday in March and the first Thursday and Friday in October.
  • Most states let you take both in the same season, either back to back on the same day or one on each day.
  • These states require you to pass the FG before you take the PG: DE, LA, MO, MS, and PA. MN allows both only if your FG result arrives before the PG date, which in practice means a later season.
  • Probably yes, but not clear: TX and UT. Each has wording that suggests the FG comes first, and neither says so outright.
  • Some states let you apply for both only once you meet the PG experience requirement: NE, WA, and WY. SC allows both if the board authorizes it.
  • At REG REVIEW we highly recommend taking the two exams on different days. But if you’re going for the PG and haven’t passed the FG yet, taking both in the same season can actually help. The subjects overlap so much that we teach the FG and PG together in the same course.

Almost every state accepts some non-geology degrees. Alabama and Mississippi are the exceptions: they accept only geology and engineering geology degrees.

  • Any bachelor’s degree, if you have enough geology coursework:
    • CA: 30 semester hours, 24 upper-division, with set core courses. Engineering courses count for at most 3 of the hours.
    • DE: 30 credit hours, 24 of them third-year or higher.
    • ID: 30 semester hours, 24 upper-division, with geology as the main subject of each course.
    • ME: 30 credits in geological sciences.
    • MN: 30 semester credits across at least 5 listed areas. A program the board hasn’t approved means 5 years of experience for the PG instead of 4.
    • MO: 30 semester hours in a course of study in geology, wherever it’s housed.
    • NE: 30 semester hours for the FG. The PG still needs a geology degree.
    • OR: 45 quarter hours, 36 upper-division.
    • TN: 30 semester hours in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, or engineering geology.
    • TX: 30 semester hours of geoscience, 20 upper-level.
    • VA: 30 semester hours, including 12 in 4 of 7 core subjects.
    • WI: 30 semester hours, with credits in at least 4 of 8 listed areas.
    • WY: 30 semester hours, 24 of them in at least 5 of 14 listed areas.
  • Specific engineering degrees:
    • AR: geological engineering, engineering geology, or an earth-science-related major the board approves.
    • IN: geological or geotechnical engineering, plus 30 semester hours of geology.
    • KY: at the board’s discretion, 30 semester hours of geology with a degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological/geotechnical engineering. Applied courses from other departments may count.
    • NC, OR, and VA: engineering geology or geological engineering. Other degrees use the coursework route.
    • PA: engineering geology. Other degrees qualify with 30 semester hours only if your school had no geology major.
    • PR: geological engineering (“geología aplicada a la ingeniería”).
  • The board decides case by case:
    • AZ: earth science degrees qualify. Other degrees earn partial credit toward the PG.
    • FL: any science degree with “a reasonable and rational nexus to a degree in geology,” plus 30 semester hours of geology.
    • GA: degrees in “a comparable earth or environmental science or engineering focused discipline,” or 45 quarter hours of geology.
    • IL: the law allows “a related science, as defined by rule.”
    • KS: the board reviews your course content, not your degree title. See the Kansas section for the coursework.
    • LA: the board can accept “other equivalent educational requirements.”
    • NH: a related field with 30 semester hours of geology.
    • SC: the law names only an approved geologic curriculum, and it excludes engineering from the definition of geology.
    • UT: a geosciences degree with 24 upper-level semester hours of geology.
    • WA: a related degree, if the board finds the coursework equivalent, plus 24 upper-division semester hours.
  • Needs a graduate degree: NY accepts a non-geology bachelor’s only with a master’s or PhD in geological sciences.
  • 1 year: AL, AZ, IL, IN, KS, NY, PA, SC, and WI. KY gives 1 year each for a master’s and a doctorate, and the ASBOG® state sheet says 1 year maximum, so confirm with the board.
  • 1 year for each year of graduate study:
    • Up to 2 years: AR, LA, NH, OR, TN, TX, and WA.
    • Up to 3 years: VA.
    • Within a 4-year cap on all education credit: GA, ID, and NC.
    • Within a 3-year cap on all education credit: CA.
  • More for a PhD: MS and NE give 1 year for a master’s and 2 for a PhD. UT lowers the experience requirement from 5 years to 3 with a master’s and to 1 with a doctorate.
  • Half a year for each year of graduate study: ME, within a 2-year cap.
  • Board’s choice, up to 2 years: PR.
  • No credit: WY, and none is stated in DE, FL, MN, or MO. In MN, a geology doctorate instead lets the board waive the FG on request.
  • Yes:
    • AZ: 12 years of experience after graduating from an approved school.
    • NE: 15 years in an exempted field, or 15 years licensed in another state.
    • TX: 15 years with a bachelor’s, 13 with a master’s, or 10 with a PhD, by a two-thirds vote of the board.
    • UT: principal for 5 of the last 7 years, plus a passed PG.
  • Case by case: MS and LA boards can waive requirements for good cause.
  • Everywhere else, we found no experience waiver. The early “grandfathering” windows have closed. If you’re already licensed in another state, see the next question.
  • Usually not. Most states license you without new exams if your original license was based on education, experience, and exams comparable to theirs. States call this comity, reciprocity, or endorsement.
  • Written agreements:
  • Extra steps:
    • CA: you apply as a new applicant and pass the California Specific Exam and the Laws and Rules exam. CA accepts ASBOG® exams passed after November 1, 1996.
    • FL: licensure by endorsement includes Florida’s laws and rules portion of the exam. There’s also a route for people licensed elsewhere for 10 or more years.
    • NY: you must meet New York’s own education and experience requirements.
    • DE: you need 2 years of practice after licensure in your original state.
    • PA: you need 2 of the last 5 years in practice, or 24 professional development hours.
  • Universal license recognition (licensed elsewhere, now living or working here): AZ and VA.
  • California:
    • The California Specific Exam (CSE), a 3-hour computer-based exam at Prometric, given on its own dates in spring and fall.
    • An online Laws and Rules exam, which appears on your application dashboard once you apply. You must pass it before the board reviews your application.
    • Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG) and Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG) titles, each with its own California exam.
  • Maine: a local knowledge exam on Northern New England geology (40 multiple-choice questions), scheduled any time after the board approves you.
  • Oregon: a Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG) title, with its own 4-hour exam given in Salem.
  • Washington: Engineering Geologist and Hydrogeologist licenses, with state exams given on the ASBOG® dates in Tumwater.
  • We also offer study manuals for the California Specific Exam, engineering geology, and hydrogeology.

Click your state to get more specific information and links

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Licenses geologistsNo geologist license

State-by-state rules

Board: Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists

  • License: Alabama licenses Professional Geologists. The law was signed in 1995.
  • Education: You need a degree in geology, engineering geology, or a related geological science, plus at least 30 semester hours of geology courses. The rules name engineering geology but no other engineering degree. The rules don’t say if a degree such as civil engineering counts. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: The rules don’t say. Ask the board. They define a Geologist-in-Training as someone with a degree who passed the FG, so you probably can’t take it early.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of full-time professional geological work after your bachelor’s degree. The board may give up to 1 year of credit for each graduate degree in geology or a related science, with no overall cap stated.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Email the board your name, your email address, and whether you want the FG or PG. The board uploads you to Prometric, which emails you about 45 days before the exam to pay and schedule. The board’s 2026 letter sets deadlines of January 23 for the March exam and August 21 for the October exam. Your application stays valid for 5 years or until 3 failed or missed attempts, whichever comes first.
  • Licensed in another state: The board decides case by case. Your license must be current, and the other state’s requirements must be substantially the same or more stringent. Alabama has written agreements with Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Sources: Alabama statute, Code of Ala. 1975 § 34-41 · Alabama rules, Ala. Admin. Code r. 364-X · Board letter on computer-based ASBOG testing, April 2026 · Board website
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Board: Arizona Board of Technical Registration

  • License: Arizona calls it registration, not licensure. You register as a geologist with the Board of Technical Registration. The board’s registration act dates to 1956, and the first geologist ASBOG® exam was in October 1992.
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in geology or earth sciences counts for 48 months toward the 8 years of combined education and experience you need. Other degrees, including engineering, probably get no degree-level credit. Geology-equivalent courses in any degree earn partial credit, where 30 semester hours (45 quarter) equal 12 months.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG in the final year of a four-year degree with a major in geology or earth science. The board may also admit final-year students in other degree programs if your dean or faculty advisor endorses the application.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 8 years of combined education and experience, so a geology bachelor’s (48 months of credit) leaves 4 years of work. A master’s or doctorate in geology or earth sciences counts 60 months, and a PhD earns no more than a master’s. Education credit is capped at 5 years total.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. Arizona’s rules let you take the FG on the same date as the PG.
  • FG waiver for experience: Yes. The board exempts you from the FG if you graduated from a board-approved school and have 12 years of experience after graduation. It also waives the FG if you already passed it in another jurisdiction.
  • How to apply: If you hold a degree recognized by ASBOG, or you are a final-year FG candidate, the rules let you apply directly to ASBOG. Everyone else applies to the board for authorization, and then Prometric sends your admission email. The rules don’t define which degrees count, so ask the board which route fits you. The rules set no per-exam deadline, but board review can take up to 120 days. Once approved, you must pass an exam or 1 division within 1 year or submit a new application.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. The exam is waived in 3 cases. You hold a registration from another state with substantially identical requirements. Or you have 10 of the last 15 years of practice as a registrant in good standing. Or you hold a national bureau certificate. ASBOG also lists Universal Recognition for Arizona residents who have been licensed elsewhere for 1 or more years in good standing.

Sources: Arizona Administrative Code, Title 4, chapter 30 (Board of Technical Registration rules) · Arizona statute, A.R.S. 32-126 · Arizona statute, A.R.S. 32-122.01 · Board page for geologist applicants
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Board: Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists

  • License: Arkansas calls it registration. The title is Registered Professional Geologist. The stamping and title rules apply after July 1, 1988.
  • Education: You need a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or an earth science major the board approves. The Geologist-in-Training rule asks for 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of geology courses. For the PG, the rules don’t say how many hours.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. Arkansas accepts you for the FG once you have completed 30 semester hours of geology. You do not need the degree first.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of professional geological work, and education can supply up to 4. Each year of graduate study counts as 1 year, up to 2 years. A PhD earns no more than a master’s.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • FG waiver for experience: There is no general waiver. The board may consider, case by case, applicants who were grandfathered in a state that has a comity agreement with Arkansas.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board, which sits in the Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing. Contact the board office for the ASBOG Examination Candidate Request Form. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts or the deadline, which ASBOG says is typically 60 to 90 days before the exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Arkansas has no reciprocity with any state. It does have an Understanding of Comity Agreement with Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana. The statute also allows registration without further exam if the other state’s requirements are similar to Arkansas’s.

Sources: Board website · Arkansas statutes, A.C.A. 17-32 (2021 printing) · Board rules (July 2022) · Board FAQs · Board registration and renewal page
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Board: California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists

  • License: California licenses Professional Geologists (PG). The licensing board dates to 1969.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s degree or higher in geology or a related geological science from an ABET-accredited program. Without one, you need 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of relevant coursework. At least 24 must be upper division or graduate, and 15 must be core courses. The rules name no engineering-degree route. Engineering geology and similar coursework counts for at most 3 semester hours.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, once you meet the education requirement, either the ABET degree or the 30 semester hours. The board doesn’t check. You attest that you are eligible.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of combined education and work. Education can supply at most 3, so you need at least 2 years of work. Graduate study earns 1 year of credit per full-time year in the geological sciences, within that 3-year cap.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. Once the board approves you, you can take the exams one at a time, all at once, or in any combination. You don’t need to pass the FG before you apply for the PG.
  • Extra exams and specialty licenses: You must also pass the California Specific Exam, a separate exam on its own date, and an online Laws and Rules exam. The Certified Engineering Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist titles sit on top of the PG license, each with its own application and exam.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board online. After the board approves you, Prometric/Iso-Quality Testing emails you, and you sign up for the ASBOG® exams with them. Submit a complete application at least 100 days before the exam. You must finish your assigned exams within 2 years of filing, and ASBOG retakes need no new application.
  • Licensed in another state: California has no automatic comity. You apply as a new applicant, meet California education and experience, and pass the California Specific Exam and the Laws and Rules exam. ASBOG passes after November 1, 1996 are accepted.

Sources: Board FAQ for geologist applicants · California rules, 16 CCR 3022 (education and experience) · California rules, 16 CCR 3024 (application validity) · Board exam schedule and filing dates · Board re-examination information
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Board: Delaware Board of Geologists

  • License: Delaware licenses geologists through the Board of Geologists in the Division of Professional Regulation. The law dates to 1972.
  • Education: You need a degree with a major in geology from an accredited school. Or you need 30 credit hours of geology or its subdisciplines, with 24 of them in third or fourth year or graduate courses. The rules don’t name engineering degrees. An engineering degree qualifies only through the 30-hour route.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG in your final semester of an accredited geosciences degree program. You must already meet the 30-credit-hour requirement and submit a letter from school officials. Your results are released after your official transcript arrives.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of experience, with at least 3 in responsible charge. Experience counts only after you meet the academic requirements. For graduate-degree credit, the rules don’t say. Ask the board.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No. You must have already passed the FG to request approval for the PG. You also need 5 years of experience and a full licensure application for the PG.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board online: a service request for the FG or a full licensure application for the PG. After approval, the board pre-registers you with ASBOG®, which emails you to register and pay. Deadlines are January 31, 2027 for the March 2027 exam and August 31, 2027 for the fall 2027 exam. Approval lasts up to 2 years.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You must hold a current license, have practiced at least 2 years after licensure in that jurisdiction, and have 5 years of experience. You also need passing ASBOG exams, with scores of 70 if you were first licensed after June 17, 1998.

Sources: Delaware law, 24 Del. C. Chapter 36 · Delaware rules, 24 Del. Admin. Code 3600 · Board exam information page · Board website
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Board: Florida Board of Professional Geologists

  • License: Florida licenses Professional Geologists. The licensing law dates to about 1987. Sources differ between 1987 and 1988.
  • Education: You need a degree with a major in geology or a related science the board accepts, plus 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of geology. The board decides case by case whether a degree has a reasonable and rational nexus to geology. Engineering degrees are not named.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, once you have 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of geology coursework. If you are still enrolled, include a letter of good academic standing. The board’s Hot Topics page also says you must be in your final year or have graduated.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of verified professional geological work. Credit is month for month, part-time work is pro-rated, and undergraduate time earns none. The rules don’t say whether graduate study earns credit.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and the board approves you. The initial application is due 90 days before the exam, and a reexamination application is due 60 days before. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts, and the FAQ predates computer-based testing, so confirm the deadline.
  • Licensed in another state: Florida does not offer reciprocity. You can apply by endorsement with an active license elsewhere, an equivalent exam score at least Florida’s, and a Florida laws and rules portion. Or apply after 10 or more years licensed elsewhere.

Sources: Board website · Board FAQs · Florida statutes, chapter 492 · Florida rules, r. 61G16-5.001 · Florida rules, r. 61G16-6.001
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Board: Georgia Department of Registered Professional Geologists (Secretary of State)

  • License: Georgia calls it registration. You hold a certificate of registration as a professional geologist, and registration began in 1975. Under a law that took effect July 1, 2026, the Secretary of State issues the certificates.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s degree or higher in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a comparable earth or environmental science or engineering focused discipline. Without such a degree, 45 quarter hours (about 30 semester) of geology courses can qualify. At least 36 quarter hours must be third-year, fourth-year, or graduate courses. The rules don’t say whether civil engineering counts. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: The rules don’t say. Ask the board. The board’s older exam form says you can take the FG once the education requirement is complete. That may mean the 45 quarter hours rather than graduation.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of professional geological work. At least 3 years must be under a registered professional geologist, a registered civil engineer, or another person legally authorized to practice geology. Study can count toward the 7 years, up to 4 years total, with each year of graduate study counting as 1 year. Undergraduate geology study counts half a year per year, up to 2 years, and a PhD isn’t treated separately.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the Georgia Secretary of State through the GOALS online portal. Paper applications are no longer accepted. The deadline for each exam is the date printed on the board’s current application. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts. Ask the board, and confirm whether you must also preregister with Prometric.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. If you are registered elsewhere on comparable licensing requirements, you apply to the board. The Secretary of State decides whether you otherwise meet Georgia’s requirements on verified evidence, and if so you are registered without further examination.

Sources: Board page, Georgia Department of Registered Professional Geologists · Georgia statute, O.C.G.A. 43-19-6 · Georgia statute, O.C.G.A. 43-19-7 · Georgia rules, chapter 265-4
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Board: Idaho State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists

  • License: Idaho registers Professional Geologists (PG). Registration began in 1971.
  • Education: You need 30 semester units of geological science courses, at least 24 of them upper division or graduate. The statute names no degree. Board guidelines say geology must be the primary subject of each course. The rules don’t say whether an engineering degree counts. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, once you complete the 30-semester-unit education requirement. You can take the exam before you graduate.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of professional geological work, including at least 3 years under a registered geologist. Graduate study counts 1 year per year. Education and teaching credit together cap at 4 years.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply online through the state licensing division. The board approves you at a meeting, and the division adds you to the testing vendor’s roster. The vendor then emails scheduling details. The rule says to give notice at least 90 days before the exam. The board FAQ says 3 weeks before the board meeting that precedes the exam. Check the meeting date.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. If you are registered elsewhere and meet Idaho’s requirements, you can apply for registration without further examination.

Sources: Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, geologist board · Idaho Code 54-2812 (requirements) · Idaho rules, IDAPA 24.04.01 · Board FAQ
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Board: Illinois Board of Licensing for Professional Geologists (IDFPR)

  • License: Illinois issues the Licensed Professional Geologist license. The law took effect in 1996.
  • Education: You need a degree in geology with 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of geology, 24 semester (36 quarter) of them upper level. The law also allows a related science as defined by rule, but the rule names only geology. The rules don’t say if an engineering degree counts. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: You probably can’t. A recent law lets the state set up a student intern process by rule, but no such rule has been found. Confirm with the board.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years of professional experience after you finish the education requirements, counted at 1500 hours per year. The board credits up to 1 year for a graduate degree in geology, and a master’s and PhD probably don’t add. Full-time faculty who teach upper level geology courses can get a separate maximum of 1 year. The rules don’t say if you can combine the two.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board at least 90 days before the exam date, and wait for board approval. ASBOG’s September 2026 handbook also lists Illinois as needing preregistration through the Prometric portal, and the rules don’t say in which order. Ask the board. Your application stays valid for 3 years from the date it is received.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, by endorsement. You need an active, valid license from a U.S. jurisdiction whose requirements are substantially equivalent to or more stringent than Illinois. You must also certify that you passed the exam or its equivalent.

Sources: Illinois statute, Professional Geologist Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 745 · Illinois rules, 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1252 · Licensure qualifications for Professional Geologist (IDFPR) · Board website
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Board: Indiana Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists

  • License: Indiana licenses professional geologists through the Indiana Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists, run from the Indiana Geological and Water Survey. Licensing began in 1998. The rows don’t give the exact license title, so check the board.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s or advanced degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geological engineering, or geotechnical engineering. It must include 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of geology. The board may count applied geological science courses from other departments.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: The rules don’t say. Ask the board. The application asks for an official transcript.
  • Experience for the PG: The statute offers one of two options. You need 5 years of college teaching, college research, or geological work with a licensed PG, or 7 years of geological work the board accepts. The board may give 1 year of credit each for a master’s or doctorate in the listed fields.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board. Approved applications go to Prometric, which emails you registration instructions. Spring 2027 applications are due January 26, 2027, and Fall 2027 due August 10, 2027.
  • Licensed in another state: Possibly. The statute says the board may license someone licensed in a state with substantially equal requirements, as the board determines. It is discretionary.

Sources: Board website · Board exam information page · Indiana rules, 305 IAC 1-3-2 · Indiana Code 25-17.6-4-1, experience · Indiana Code 25-17.6-4-5, licensure from another state
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Board: Kansas State Board of Technical Professions

  • License: Kansas licenses Professional Geologists. Licensure began July 1, 1997.
  • Education: The board reviews your coursework, not your degree title, so a geology, geoscience, earth science, or engineering degree can qualify if the courses match. The core courses are general geology, structural geology, stratigraphy or sedimentary geology, mineralogy, petrology, and field geology. Pick 3 electives from hydrology, economic geology, geophysics, historical geology, geomorphology, engineering geology, geochemistry, and paleontology. The board sets no fixed hour count for other degrees and evaluates your curriculum individually, so ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG with senior status in a geology curriculum, or after you complete the curriculum. The rules don’t define senior status, so ask the board how many credits you need.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years of geology experience of a character satisfactory to the board, and work before you graduate doesn’t count. A master’s in geology or a closely related specialty may earn 1 year of credit at the board’s discretion, which cuts 4 years to 3. The rules don’t say if a doctorate counts. Ask the board.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board, which reviews your application and then lets you sit. The rules don’t give a deadline. Ask the board. Pending applications stay on file for 1 calendar year, and then you need a new application. The rules don’t say how long approval to sit lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You must meet the Kansas regulations that were in place when you received your original license. The statute also lets the board exempt you from the exam if your other license meets a standard the board accepts.

Sources: Kansas statute, K.S.A. 74-7041a · Kansas rules, K.A.R. 66-11-4 · Kansas rules, K.A.R. 66-10-13 · Board education guidance for geologists
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Board: Kentucky Board of Registration for Professional Geologists

  • License: Kentucky calls it registration, not licensure. You become a Registered Geologist. Registration began July 14, 1992.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s or advanced degree in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, or geological/geotechnical engineering, with 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of geology. The board may count applied geological science courses from other departments. Whether a degree in another field plus 30 hours qualifies is at the board’s discretion. Whether a civil engineering degree qualifies isn’t stated. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, but not before your final semester or quarter. You need verification of your geology major.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of professional geologic work. Teaching, research, and government geological work can count. The board may give 1 year of credit each for a master’s and a doctoral degree in the same fields. The statute could allow 2 years total, but the ASBOG® state sheet says 1 year maximum. Confirm with the board.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. You must pass the FG before you can be registered. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Send the board an application with a letter of intent naming the exam date. After the board approves you, you pay exam fees directly to Prometric. Deadlines are set per exam, about 60 days before. The next two are January 15, 2027 for Spring 2027 and August 1, 2027 for Fall 2027. You must finish the application and exam process within 1 year of filing, or file again.
  • Licensed in another state: Kentucky has no automatic reciprocity but grants registration by comity. The other state’s standards must be at least equal to Kentucky’s.

Sources: Board exam and application page · Board FAQ
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Board: Louisiana Board of Professional Geoscientists

  • License: Louisiana licenses Professional Geoscientists (P.G.). The law took effect in 2011.
  • Education: You need a 4-year degree in a geoscience discipline the board accepts. It must include at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of geoscience, with at least 20 semester (30 quarter) upper level. Engineering geology counts. Other engineering degrees count only as equivalent education that the board decides case by case.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, if you are enrolled and within 2 regular semesters of finishing the qualifying degree.
  • Experience for the PG: You need at least 5 years of qualifying work experience that shows you can take responsible charge of geoscience work. Each year of full-time graduate study in geoscience counts as 1 year of experience, up to 2 years total. A master’s and a PhD don’t add past that cap.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No. You must pass the FG before you sit for the PG.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board with your transcripts and references. After the full board approves you, staff enter you in ASBOG®’s exam portal, and you register and pay through Prometric. There is no fixed day count, but your application must clear board review before ASBOG’s registration deadline, so file well ahead. Your application stays active for 1 year, and the rules don’t say how long exam approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. Louisiana has reciprocity agreements with Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi. You need 5 years licensed in that state and every other requirement except the exam. You still file the application, transcripts, and 3 references.

Sources: Louisiana statute, R.S. 37:711.15 · Louisiana statute, R.S. 37:711.16 · Louisiana rules, LAC 46:LXII.907 · Board ASBOG exam page · Board reciprocity page
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Board: Maine State Board of Licensure for Geologists and Soil Scientists

  • License: The title is licensed geologist. Maine enacted its geologist licensing law in 1973. The exact effective date isn’t stated in the section history.
  • Education: You need a degree with a major in geological sciences, or 30 credits in geological sciences at an accredited college. The statute keys on geology credits, not degree type, so engineering degrees are not named. Fewer than 30 credits may earn proportional work credit.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG in the final year of an accredited 4-year or graduate program, once you have completed 30 credits in geological sciences. The statute lets you take the Maine local knowledge exam at the same point.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of experience in responsible charge of geological work. A bachelor’s with 30 or more geology credits counts as 2 years, which leaves about 5 after the degree. Graduate study counts 1/2 year per year, up to 2 years of credit, and the statute isn’t clear whether that includes the bachelor’s.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • Extra exams and specialty licenses: Maine has its own local knowledge exam, called Northern New England Geology on the board FAQ. It has 40 multiple-choice questions and you schedule it through Prov after Maine approves you. I found no geology specialty license, and soil scientist is a separate license.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board for exam approval. Once approved, you schedule the ASBOG exam with Prometric at Portland, Auburn, or Bangor. The board page posted deadlines of March 1 and September 1 for 2025, so confirm current dates and approval length.
  • Licensed in another state: Possibly. The board may license you without a written exam if you hold a license in a jurisdiction with equivalent requirements. You must also meet all other requirements of the chapter.

Sources: Board website · Board examinations page · Maine statute, 32 MRSA 4909 · Maine statute, 32 MRSA 4902, definitions · Maine Geological Survey licensing FAQ
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Board: Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design

  • License: Minnesota licenses Professional Geologists. Licensure began in 1995.
  • Education: Any bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited school qualifies if it includes 30 semester (45 quarter) credits in geology. Those credits must span at least 5 listed areas of study, with a maximum of 9 semester credits from any 1 area. The rules don’t name engineering degrees, so ask the board. An engineering degree probably works with the 30 geology credits but would likely need 5 years of experience instead of 4.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can apply while enrolled in a board-approved geoscience curriculum with at least 20 semester (30 quarter) credits in geology done. Apply with an unofficial transcript. The board needs your final transcript before it releases your geologist-in-training number.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years of qualifying experience if your curriculum is board-approved, or 5 years if it isn’t. A year means at least 12 months and 2,000 hours. Experience before graduation counts at 50%, up to 2 years. The current rule gives no experience credit for a master’s or doctorate, though a geology doctorate lets you ask the board to waive the FG.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No, unless the FG is waived. You must pass the FG first, with confirmation of your pass in hand by the PG exam date. Taking both in 1 season works only if your FG result is confirmed before the PG date.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board first. Once it approves you, it mails instructions to pre-register or register with Prometric. Each exam date has 1 deadline for both the FG and PG, such as January 21, 2027 for the March 2027 exam. An approved application covers 1 exam, so a no-show, cancellation, or failure to register needs a new application.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You can be licensed if you hold an unexpired license from another state, territory, or country whose requirements were substantially equivalent when it was issued. You must meet the Minnesota requirements in effect when you were first licensed elsewhere.

Sources: Board geology page · Minnesota rules, chapter 1800 · Minnesota statute 326.10
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Board: Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists

  • License: Mississippi calls it registration. The title is Registered Professional Geologist (RPG), and the law took effect in 1997.
  • Education: You need a degree with a major in geology or a geological specialty, with at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of board-approved geology courses. Your GPA in those courses must be 2.0 or higher. Engineering geology counts. A civil engineering route expired in 1998, so other engineering degrees have no current route.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, as a university exit exam in your final semester. The board’s page names Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Mississippi. Students at other schools should ask the board.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years of qualifying experience after you finish the academic requirements. A master’s degree counts as 1 year and a doctorate as 2 years. The board gives no more than 2 years for all graduate degrees, and a degree used for the education requirement can’t also count as experience.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No. You can sit for only 1 exam on any exam date. You must also pass the FG before you sit for the PG.
  • FG waiver for experience: The board has no set policy, but it may waive any registration requirement case by case. Ask the board.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board, then submit the exam authorization form by the deadline. The board approves you, and Prometric emails you a link to schedule and pay. The deadline for the March 18 and 19, 2027 exams is March 8, 2027. Registration as a Geologist-in-Training is valid for 10 years, and the rules don’t say how long exam approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. If you hold a valid registration elsewhere, you can register without taking the exam. The board’s reciprocity applications list Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.

Sources: Mississippi statute, Miss. Code § 73-63-27 · Board rules and regulations, amended 2023 · Board exams page · Board RPG and GIT application
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Board: Missouri Board of Geologist Registration

  • License: Missouri says registration, not license. You become a Registered Geologist. The registration law passed in 1994.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution. The course of study must include at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of geology. The statute doesn’t require a geology degree, so an engineering degree can qualify if it includes those hours.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, as a one-attempt exit exam. Undergraduates need senior status and department head approval. Graduate students in a geology program with a non-geology undergraduate degree can also take it. So can applicants with 30 semester hours who are enrolled in an advanced geology degree program.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 3 years of post-baccalaureate experience in the practice of geology. Finish it before you apply, and be in responsible charge. The rules don’t say whether a graduate degree earns credit. Ask the board.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No, not on one application. You must pass the FG before you can sit the PG. Each application covers one exam portion.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board. After approval, you get an email from the testing vendor to register, pay, and schedule. The board must receive all documents by the exam deadline, about 3 months before. Upcoming deadlines are January 1, 2027 for March 2027 and July 1, 2027 for the fall 2027 exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, by reciprocity if the other state’s requirements are substantially similar. You must show your original requirements, including the exam, were equal or more stringent.

Sources: Missouri statute, RSMo 256.468 · Board rule book, 20 CSR 2145 · Missouri rules, 20 CSR 2145-2 · Board ASBOG application instructions with exam dates
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Board: Nebraska Board of Geologists

  • License: Nebraska licenses professional geologists under its Geologist Regulation Act. Licensure began January 1, 1999.
  • Education: For the PG, you need a bachelor’s or advanced degree in geology or a geologic specialty. It must include 30 semester hours of geology and 5 of 7 core courses. For the FG, you need only 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of geology, with or without a geology degree. The rules don’t name engineering degrees or define a geologic specialty. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can apply as a senior in a geology or geologic-specialty program recognized by the board, once you have 30 semester hours of geology.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years of progressive experience after you finish the education requirements, down from 5 years since September 3, 2025. Some board pages may still say 5. A master’s in geology or a geologic specialty counts for 1 year, and a doctorate counts for 2 years even without a master’s. Advanced degrees earn at most 2 years total, and you can’t claim degree credit and full-time work for the same period.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. The statute requires you to pass the FG before the PG. The board still lets you take both in the same administration if you meet the PG education and experience requirements. If you pass both together, you get no Geologist-Intern certificate.
  • FG waiver for experience: Yes. With 15 years in an exempted field, the FG and PG are waived. With 15 years continuously licensed elsewhere in good standing, the board may waive the exams, the education requirement, or both.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board. After it approves you, it uploads your approval to Prometric, which emails your login so you can register and pay. The board sets a deadline for each exam, but its schedule table is inconsistent, so confirm the date with the board. The rules give you 72 months to retake the same exam, while the board’s page says 5 years or 3 attempts, whichever comes first.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You can apply if you hold a valid license from another jurisdiction and meet Nebraska’s education, exam, and 4-year experience requirements. With 15 years licensed in good standing, the board may waive the exam, the education, or both.

Sources: Board initial licensure page · Nebraska rules, Title 171 NAC (2025 revisions) · Nebraska statute 81-3543 · Nebraska statute 81-3539 · Nebraska statute 81-3545
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Board: New Hampshire Board of Professional Geologists

  • License: New Hampshire licenses Professional Geologists. Licensure began August 20, 2000.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s degree in geology. Or you need a bachelor’s in a related field with 30 credit hours (45 quarter) of geology from an accredited 4-year college. A master’s or doctorate in geology from an accredited graduate program also qualifies. An engineering degree probably counts only as a related field with those geology hours. Confirm with the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: The rules don’t say. Ask the board. The rules require education and experience before you can sit an exam, which suggests you probably can’t.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of experience in the practice of geology, with at least 3 under a licensed professional geologist. Routine sampling, lab work, and drafting don’t count. A completed year of graduate study counts as 1 year, up to 2 years, but not also toward education.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply online through the state licensing office’s application portal. The board page gives no exam scheduling steps. Ask the board how to schedule.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, by reciprocity with no exam, if the other state’s requirements are substantially equivalent to or more stringent than New Hampshire’s.

Sources: New Hampshire statute, RSA 310-A:125 · New Hampshire rules, Geo 303.03 (reciprocity) · New Hampshire rules, Geo 302.01 (education and experience) · Board applications page
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Board: New York State Board for Engineering, Land Surveying and Geology

  • License: New York licenses Professional Geologists. The law took effect on November 21, 2016.
  • Education: You need a BA or BS in geological sciences from a program registered as leading to licensure, or a substantially equivalent program. It must include 6 semester hours of math beyond college algebra and trigonometry. It also needs 15 hours in two of physics, chemistry, and biology, and 30 in geological sciences. A bachelor’s degree in a related science or engineering works only if you also hold a master’s or doctorate in geological sciences.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You must be within 20 credits of graduating from a licensure-registered geological sciences bachelor’s program. If your bachelor’s is in a related science or engineering, you can take it in the last semester of your graduate program.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years after a qualifying bachelor’s degree, or 4 years with a qualifying master’s or doctorate. The state credits up to 1 year for an advanced degree. A master’s and a PhD don’t add.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the State Education Department’s Office of the Professions with your transcripts and experience endorsements. Once the board approves you, you register, schedule, and pay with Prometric. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts. If you fail, you are reinstated on the Prometric portal within 3 months, so approval probably carries over to retakes.
  • Licensed in another state: New York has no reciprocity agreement with any jurisdiction. You can apply by endorsement. You need another license, passing FG and PG scores, and New York’s education and experience.

Sources: New York license requirements page · New York rules, 8 NYCRR Part 68 · New York Education Law, Article 145 · Geology practice FAQ
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Board: North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists

  • License: North Carolina licenses geologists under the Geologists Licensing Act, G.S. 89E. The ASBOG sheet gives an effective date of 1984, but the statute history shows 1983.
  • Education: You need a degree with a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science. The other route is 30 semester hours of geology courses leading to a geology major, at least 24 of them upper-level. Other engineering degrees probably have to use the 30-hour route.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG once you have 30 semester hours of geology, 24 of them upper-level, with official transcripts. You do not need the degree first.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of professional geological work. That includes at least 3 years under a licensed geologist or 3 cumulative years in responsible charge. Graduate study counts 1 year per year, and all study credit together is capped at 4 years, with undergraduate credit alone capped at 2.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board, which reviews applications at quarterly meetings. Your application must arrive at least 2 weeks before a meeting. After approval, the board invites you to register with Prometric, and you don’t reapply for each exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, case by case. The board grants a license without further exam if you are licensed elsewhere and meet equivalent education, experience, and exam requirements. If you were grandfathered elsewhere without an exam, you must take the ASBOG exam.

Sources: Board website · Board exam page
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Board: Oregon State Board of Geologist Examiners

  • License: Oregon calls it registration. The title is Registered Geologist (RG). Registration began in 1977.
  • Education: The statute asks for a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science the board approves. Without a geology degree, you need 45 quarter hours (30 semester hours) of geology, with 36 quarter hours upper division. Other engineering degrees probably need that coursework, and the rules and board page list the degrees slightly differently.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can take the FG once you have finished 45 quarter hours of geology, including 36 upper division. You do not need the degree first, and no final-semester window is stated.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of geology experience, and at least 2 of them are education credit. The board gives 1 year of credit per year of post-baccalaureate study, up to 2 years. All education credit together, undergraduate and graduate, is capped at 4 years, so a PhD adds nothing beyond that.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes, even on the same day. You don’t need to pass the FG first, but you must have passed it or be approved to take it with the PG. ASBOG® also offers two exam days.
  • Extra exams and specialty licenses: The RG needs only the two ASBOG sections. Oregon also has the Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG) specialty. It requires the RG and a 4-hour Engineering Geology exam proctored by the board in Salem. It also needs 3 to 5 years of qualifying experience, depending on your route.
  • How to apply: Apply through the board’s online Applicant Portal. After approval you register with Prometric. The deadline is 100 calendar days before the exam, or 75 for resubmittals and the Engineering Geology exam. Approval covers one exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. Oregon offers cooperative registration if you hold a registration from another state earned by passing the ASBOG exam. You must also meet Oregon’s 7-year experience and education rules.

Sources: Oregon Revised Statutes, chapter 672 · Oregon rules, OAR 809-030-0015 · Oregon rules, OAR 809-040-0001 · Board exam qualification page · Board exam dates page
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Board: State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists

  • License: Pennsylvania licenses Professional Geologists. Licensure began February 16, 1993.
  • Education: You need a degree majoring in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, or engineering geology, with 30 semester (45 quarter) hours in the major. Coursework must include field geology and structural geology. If your school offers none of those majors, any degree works with 30 semester hours of geological education. At least 24 must be third-year, fourth-year, or graduate courses. Civil and other engineering degrees aren’t named, so ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, with board approval. You must have completed 2 years of the program and stay enrolled. You won’t be certified as a geologist-in-training until you provide proof of graduation.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of geological work in a position that requires independent judgment, competence, and accountability, gained before you submit your exam application. Alternatives are 5 years including 3 under a professional geologist or 5 years of progressive full-time teaching. Graduate degrees in those fields earn 1 year for a master’s and 1 year for a doctorate, up to 2 years total.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No. Pennsylvania doesn’t admit you to the PG until you pass the FG. You can apply for both at once.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board at least 120 days before the exam registration deadline set by ASBOG®. After approval, you register with ASBOG as the rule requires. An approved application lets you take the exam once, and the rules don’t say how long approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You can be licensed by endorsement without retesting. You need a current license in good standing from a jurisdiction whose standards are substantially equivalent or higher. You also need 2 of the last 5 years in practice or 24 professional development hours.

Sources: Pennsylvania Code, Title 49, chapter 37 · Board website · ASBOG state sheet for Pennsylvania
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Board: Junta Examinadora de Geologos de Puerto Rico

  • License: Puerto Rico licenses geologists (geologo licenciado, P.G.) under a law from August 23, 1996. The board was not operating in March 2023, and its current status is unconfirmed. Confirm before you apply.
  • Education: You need a degree from an accredited institution the board recognizes, with a concentration in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, geology applied to engineering, or environmental geology. The concentration must include at least 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of geology. General engineering degrees aren’t named.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: The rules don’t say. Ask the board. The law requires a degree for the geologist-in-training certificate, which suggests you probably can’t.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 2 years under a licensed geologist, or 3 years as the person in charge of geologic work, certified by a licensed geologist. Routine work like sampling and lab work doesn’t count. The board may give up to 2 years of credit for graduate study.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply online through the Departamento de Estado licensing site for exams and licenses. The board sets each exam deadline and publishes it in two newspapers. No fixed lead time was found, and current deadlines weren’t found.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. A license from a state, territory, or country with similar requirements can qualify, if that place allows reciprocal registration of Puerto Rico geologists.

Sources: Puerto Rico law, Ley 163-1996 · Puerto Rico law, Ley 51-2023 · Former exam contractor’s geologist page
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Board: South Carolina State Board of Registration for Geologists

  • License: South Carolina calls it registration, and the law dates to 1986.
  • Education: You need to have graduated from an approved geologic curriculum of 4 or more years. It must include at least 30 semester or 45 quarter hours in geology or geophysics, from a school the board approves. The law names only that curriculum, and it excludes engineering from its definition of geology. An engineering degree is neither ruled in nor out. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: You probably can. The statute lets you take it before you finish your studies. But a board regulation says a Geologist-in-Training applicant must already hold a bachelor’s degree, so the two conflict. Ask the board.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of full-time professional geological work. The board page says 4 years with a master’s degree in geology. It is 8 years if your degree is from a school the board has not approved. The board may credit up to 1 year for each graduate degree in geology, with no overall cap stated. The rules don’t say how a PhD counts. Ask the board.
  • FG and PG in the same season: No rule requires you to pass the FG first. The board may authorize you to take both on the same day, so ask the board about it.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board online or by form. If approved, the board pre-registers you with Prometric, which emails you instructions. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. South Carolina has reciprocity with North Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, with no exam but extra experience after registration. That is 5 years of responsible work for Georgia and North Carolina and 7 for Virginia. Other states go through endorsement.

Sources: South Carolina statute, S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 77 · South Carolina regulations, Chapter 131 · Board licensure page · Board website
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Board: Tennessee Professional Geologists Licensing Program, Department of Commerce and Insurance

  • License: Tennessee licenses Professional Geologists. The licensing program took effect January 1, 2008. It is run by the Department of Commerce and Insurance, Division of Regulatory Boards.
  • Education: You need a degree from an accredited college or university. It must include 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of coursework in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, engineering geology, or their subdivisions. No specific major is named, so an engineering degree works if it includes those hours.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. The board states FG eligibility as completing 30 semester hours (45 quarter hours) of geology coursework, with no degree mentioned. The license itself requires graduation.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of geological education and professional experience, and education counts toward the 5. Each year of graduate study counts as 1 year. Graduate study and graduate courses together are capped at 2 years.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply through the state’s online licensing portal. Once approved, you are pre-registered with Prometric and emailed about 6 weeks before the exam to register. There is no application deadline, and seating is first come, first served.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. You can apply if you hold a like, unexpired license from another state or territory, and its requirements are at least equivalent to Tennessee’s. You must show proof of an active license.

Sources: Board website · Board exam information page · Board how to get a license page · Tennessee Code 62-36-109
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Board: Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists

  • License: Texas licenses Professional Geoscientists (P.G.), and geology is 1 of 3 disciplines alongside geophysics and soil science. The Texas Geoscience Practice Act took effect September 1, 2001. A license became required on September 1, 2003.
  • Education: A four-year degree in geology, geophysics, or soil science qualifies if it includes 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of geoscience. Geology sub-disciplines such as engineering geology, petroleum geology, hydrogeology, and environmental geology count. Any other four-year degree, including engineering, works with the same 30 hours, and at least 20 semester hours (30 quarter) must be upper-level.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can apply if you are currently enrolled and within 2 regular semesters of finishing the qualifying degree.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of qualifying work experience that shows you can take responsible charge of geoscience services, and the board will not waive it. Full-time graduate study in geoscience earns 1 year of credit per year, up to 2 years total. A doctorate earns no extra credit.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Probably yes, but it isn’t clear. The board page says the PG application is designed for people who already passed the FG, and no rule says so outright. Ask the board.
  • FG waiver for experience: Yes, the board can waive the ASBOG® FG exam. You need a B.S. and 15 years, an M.S. and 13 years, or a Ph.D. and 10 years of qualifying experience, with no failed attempt at the FG in the last 5 years. The waiver takes a two-thirds vote of the full board.
  • How to apply: Send the board an Exam Request Form E with your transcripts. The board approves and pre-registers you, then Prometric emails your login so you can pay and schedule. The board posts a deadline for each exam date. Your application stays active 1 year, but the rules don’t say how long exam approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. Texas has reciprocity agreements with Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Wyoming. Otherwise you pass substantially similar exams, or you have 5 or more years licensed if you were grandfathered elsewhere. Endorsement is open for licenses held in the last 10 years.

Sources: Board exam information page · Texas rules, 22 TAC 851.20 · Texas rules, 22 TAC 851.22 · Texas rules, 22 TAC 851.25 · Board reciprocal licensure page
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Board: Utah Professional Geologist Licensing Board

  • License: Utah licenses Professional Geologists. A license has been required since January 1, 2003.
  • Education: The statute asks for a bachelor’s degree in the geosciences with 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of geoscience coursework. The rule accepts a geology bachelor’s or master’s, or a geosciences degree with 24 semester hours of upper-level or graduate geology in listed subject areas. The state licensing division’s application uses 24. Confirm with the board. The rules don’t say whether an engineering degree counts. Ask the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You can register for the FG in the final semester of an approved program.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of professional geological work with a bachelor’s, 3 with a master’s, or 1 with a doctorate. One year is 2,000 hours, counted after you finish the minimum education.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Probably yes, but it isn’t clear. The rule says you must pass the FG before the PG. The division says to register for both exams at once, even for different testing windows. Ask the board.
  • FG waiver for experience: Yes, in some cases. You must have practiced as a principal for 5 of the last 7 years before applying. You must also have passed the PG and not been required to pass the FG for your first license. Waiving both exams takes 5 of the last 7 years as principal plus 10 years licensed.
  • How to apply: Complete the ASBOG® exam registration application on the division’s exam page, and the division emails further instructions. Select both exams at your first registration, because you can’t add one later. Before you register for the FG, you need the education or final-semester status.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, by endorsement. You must have held a PG license for at least 1 year. You must be in good standing in a jurisdiction the division designates as equivalent to Utah.

Sources: Utah Code Title 58 Chapter 76 · Utah rules, R156-76-302b (education) · Utah rules, R156-76-302d (exams) · Division geology exam information
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Board: Virginia Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists

  • License: Virginia moved from voluntary certification to mandatory licensure for professional geologists on July 1, 2025.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s or higher degree with a major in geology, engineering geology, geological engineering, or a related geological science. The board’s information sheet also asks for 30 semester hours of geological science courses, with at least 12 hours in 4 of 7 core subjects. Other engineering degrees aren’t named, so they probably need the 30-hour route. Confirm with the board.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. Undergraduates can take it within 12 months of completing degree requirements. Graduate students can take it within 6 months. You need no experience for the FG, and the board requires an official transcript.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 7 years of geological work, including at least 3 years under a licensed or qualified professional geologist or 3 years in responsible charge. Each full-time year of graduate study counts as 1 year, up to 3 years. Study credit from undergraduate and graduate work together can’t exceed 4 years.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board before you register with Prometric. Approved applicants get an email from Prometric about 6 weeks before the exam to pay and schedule. Deadlines are December 19, 2026 for the spring 2027 exam and July 3, 2027 for the fall 2027 exam. The rules don’t say how long approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. The board may waive the exam if you hold an unexpired license issued on comparable requirements. Virginia also has Universal Licensing Recognition, which the ASBOG sheet describes as 3 years licensed elsewhere.

Sources: Board website and geologist exam page · Virginia bill history for HB 1835 (2025)
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Board: Washington Geologist Licensing Board

  • License: Washington licenses geologists through the Geologist Licensing Board at the Department of Licensing. Licensing began in 2001. The licensed titles are geologist, engineering geologist, and hydrogeologist.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s degree in geology, engineering geology, hydrogeology, or geological sciences, including board-approved core classes. You also need 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) of upper-division geology, with 14 semester hours from the core list. A related degree, such as engineering, counts only if the board finds the coursework equivalent in content and rigor.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: No. You need a bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent the board approves, before you apply for the FG.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of experience after you meet the education requirements, including 3 years under a state-licensed geologist. You can’t take the PG until the 5 years are done. The board gives up to 2 years of credit for full-time graduate study, and a master’s and PhD do not add.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes, if you already have the 5 years of experience. ASBOG® lets you take both in the same season, either back to back on one day or one on each exam day. Otherwise you can take only the FG, so it usually comes first.
  • Extra exams and specialty licenses: Washington has Engineering Geologist and Hydrogeologist specialty licenses. You need a Washington geologist license, a state specialty exam, and advanced study such as 18 semester hours. You also need 5 years of specialty experience, 3 under a licensed specialist.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board. After approval, the board sends an ASBOG Examination Candidate Request form for you to send to ASBOG. The rule says apply at least 90 calendar days before the exam, but the board posts a due date per exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. Washington licenses you without an exam if you hold an active geologist license in good standing in a jurisdiction the board recognizes. You must also meet Washington’s education, experience, and exam requirements.

Sources: Board website · Washington rules, WAC 308-15 · Washington statute, RCW 18.220 · Board education requirements page · Board how to get your license page
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Board: Examining Board of Professional Geologists, Hydrologists and Soil Scientists (Geologist Section)

  • License: Wisconsin has licensed professional geologists since the late 1990s. The board sits within the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS).
  • Education: A bachelor’s degree in geology qualifies. So does any degree with at least 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of geology that add up to a geology major. Those hours need credits in at least 4 of 8 areas, such as mineralogy, petrology, stratigraphy or sedimentology, and structural geology. Wisconsin has no engineering-specific route, so an engineering degree counts only if its coursework equals a geology major.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes. You need at least 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of geology and at least second-semester senior standing in a qualifying bachelor program. Four years of experience can replace the senior standing.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 5 years of geologic work, or 7 years with peer review of the last 2. To sit the PG exam you need 4 years, and at least 1 year must be supervised. Advanced degrees in geology or a related science cut each requirement by 1 year, and a PhD adds nothing beyond a master’s.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. You can take both in the same season, back to back on one day or one on each exam day. We recommend different days if you haven’t passed the FG yet.
  • How to apply: Apply to DSPS in the LicensE portal under Licensure by Examination, and DSPS must pre-approve you before you can schedule the exam. File at least 2 months before the exam date. An incomplete application lapses after 1 year without a response, and the rules don’t say how long exam approval lasts.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes. The board may issue a reciprocal license if the other state’s requirements are substantially equivalent. DSPS says you must have passed an exam for the other state and hold a current license there.

Sources: Wisconsin statute, chapter 470 · Wisconsin Administrative Code, GHSS 2 · DSPS licensure by examination page · Board page
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Board: Wyoming Board of Professional Geologists

  • License: Wyoming licenses Professional Geologists (PG). The full practice act took effect July 1, 1997, and the original act July 1, 1991.
  • Education: You need a bachelor’s degree in geology from an accredited institution the board approves. Any other four-year degree also works with 30 semester hours (45 quarter) of geology. At least 24 of those hours must come from at least 5 of 14 listed subject areas. Engineering degrees aren’t named.
  • Taking the FG before you graduate: Yes, with board permission. You must be within the final year of a geology bachelor’s program or registered for the required geology coursework. Confirm with the board before you plan around it.
  • Experience for the PG: You need 4 years (48 months) of supervised professional practice. Don’t apply until you finish all 4 years. Wyoming gives no credit for post-baccalaureate degrees.
  • FG and PG in the same season: Yes. A combined FG and PG application is for candidates who want to sit both exams on the same day. It needs the full PG file. You must pass the FG before or concurrent with your PG application.
  • How to apply: Apply to the board by postal mail. After approval, the board office sends steps to register, schedule, and pay for computer-based testing. File at least 90 calendar days before the exam. An application not approved by the cutoff moves to the next exam.
  • Licensed in another state: Yes, you can be licensed without an exam if your exams were comparable and the original requirements were substantially identical or stricter. Grandfathered licensees also need 48 months of professional work after registration and 4 years of continuous licensure.

Sources: Wyoming rules, Board of Professional Geologists (ch. 1-6) · Wyoming Statutes Title 33 (ch. 41) · Board applications and forms · ASBOG state sheet for Wyoming
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These don’t license geologists: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia.

Some of them have a credential geologists can hold:

  • Alaska: Alaska doesn’t license geologists through an exam. The state certifies geologists who already hold the AIPG Certified Professional Geologist credential, and there is no state or ASBOG® exam. Alaska Professional Geologists page
  • Connecticut: The state licenses Licensed Environmental Professionals (LEP), a title geologists can hold. Connecticut LEP law
  • Iowa: The Iowa DNR certifies Groundwater Professionals for leaking underground storage tank sites, and certified geologists can qualify. Iowa DNR Groundwater Professionals
  • Massachusetts: The state licenses Licensed Site Professionals (LSP) for hazardous waste site cleanup, a title geologists can hold. The LSP exam is the board’s own, not ASBOG. Massachusetts LSP board
  • Nevada: To consult for a fee on hazardous-substance work, you need Nevada’s Certified Environmental Manager (CEM) certification, which geologists can hold. Nevada CEM certification
  • New Jersey: The state licenses Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRP), a title geologists can hold. The LSRP exam is the board’s own, not ASBOG. New Jersey LSRP board
  • West Virginia: The state licenses Licensed Remediation Specialists (LRS) through its Department of Environmental Protection, a title geologists can hold. West Virginia LRS program

If your work takes you into a state that does, you’ll need that state’s license. See Should I get licensed anyway?
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Still have questions?

Call or email your state board directly. Many boards have someone whose job is to help applicants through the process, and the board’s answer is the one that counts. You can find links to your state above.

Last checked: Fall 2026