We love Geology. And we love supporting our Community.

Our pass rate is 20-25% above average

REG REVIEW has been providing review courses and study manuals for geology licensing for more than 40 years. More than 18,000 customers have used our study materials or taken our course. We have been collecting data from our students for more than 20 years, and they consistently pass at 20-25% above the national ASBOG® passing average on both the Fundamentals (FG) and Practice (PG) of Geology exams.

85%-100% Pass Rates for those who have taken our course (yes! we have had seasons where 100% of our students passed the course)

About the Exams

Most states that license geologists use the two national ASBOG® exams: the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and the Practice of Geology (PG). Each is a 4-hour computer-based exam taken at a Prometric testing center, offered every spring and fall. Depending on the state, the license is called a PG (Professional Geologist), RG (Registered Geologist), or LG (Licensed Geologist). For a walkthrough of both exams, the licensing process, and how we suggest studying, watch our free overview video.

Watch the free video

Why REG REVIEW

REG REVIEW is a small business with two owners, so when you email us, you’ll hear back from Terri or Lauren. We publish the only comprehensive ASBOG® study manuals available, and our manuals and courses cover every topic in the ASBOG® Knowledge Bases. Our live weekend course (12-14 hours) is the only live ASBOG® review course where you can ask questions, and the FG & PG ASBOG® Study Manual and FG & PG Practice Tests are included in the course price. You get the recordings too, so you can review as much as you need. Every instructor passed these same exams and we update our course slides with student feedback after every exam.

See our courses

Free Study Resources

You don’t have to buy anything to get started. Watch our free overview video on the FG and PG exams, then use our study planning spreadsheet to divide your study hours across the ASBOG® exam topics based on how much time you have. We also strongly recommend studying with a partner, and our free Study Buddy sign-up can help you find one. The ASBOG® Candidate Handbook includes practice questions, and California’s board posts sample questions for the California Specific Exam. Below, on this page, you’ll find a ton of free resources and references to start from.

Find a study buddy

Applying for the Exam

A committee of experts writes the exams for ASBOG®, but you apply through your own state’s geology board. State deadlines are often 60 to 90 days before the exam date and sometimes longer, and an application that misses the deadline gets pushed to the next exam. APPLY EARLY so your transcripts and references have time to reach the board. If you’re already licensed in one state, many other states will license you without making you retake the ASBOG® exams (called reciprocity or comity).

Find your state board

State-Specific & Specialty Exams

California and Maine each require a state-specific exam on top of the ASBOG® exams. California’s is the California Specific Exam, a 4-hour computer-based exam on California geology and regulations. California, Oregon, and Washington also license specialists in engineering geology and hydrogeology (CEG and CHG in California), and those exams come after you’re already licensed as a geologist.

California exam info

Professional Societies

Passing the exam is a good time to join a professional society. They’re where you’ll find continuing education, field trips, and the people you’ll work with for the rest of your career. The Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists (AEG) has chapters across the country, the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) focuses on ethics and professional practice, and the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) serves the groundwater industry. The Geological Society of America (GSA) covers every field of geology, and the Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) supports women across the geosciences.

More societies

Exams & Licensing

Professional Societies

Agencies, Maps & Data

Going Deeper

Our ASBOG® study manual pulls together information from more than a dozen textbooks, professional guidance documents, and government publications from agencies like the USGS and EPA. If you need to go deeper on a particular topic, we recommend the following resources. You don’t need to buy all of them, and older editions are usually just as good for the exam. Pick the topics where you need help, then look for used copies or check a university library. Resources marked “free online” cost nothing to read.

General Geology & Geomorphology

  • Neuendorf, Mehl, and Jackson, Glossary of Geology (American Geosciences Institute)
  • Grotzinger and Jordan, Understanding Earth
  • Walker and Cohen, The Geoscience Handbook: AGI Data Sheets
  • USGS, Divisions of Geologic Time (free online)
  • USGS, Index Fossils (free online)
  • Thornbury, Principles of Geomorphology (out of print)
  • Ahnert, Introduction to Geomorphology

Structure, Maps & Tectonics

Field Methods & Geophysics

Hydrogeology

Economic Geology

Engineering Geology & Hazards

Laws, Regulations & Guidelines