State of Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing
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Secretary Celia Jackson
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Professional Geologist - Practice FAQ

The following are answers to some frequently asked questions received by the Department of Regulation and Licensing. These questions and answers are general in nature and are provided as a public service. Licensees and applicants with specific questions should refer to the Wisconsin statutes and administrative code provisions which govern their profession. In any instance in which an answer may differ from the provisions of the statutes and administrative code provisions, the latter will govern.

PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGIST

 

PROFESSIONAL HYDROLOGIST

 

PROFESSIONAL SOIL SCIENCE

 

 

 

Professional Geologist

Q. What is "Geology"?

 

A. A science that involves the study of the earth and the earth's origin, composition, structure and physical history, including the study of the natural agents, forces and processes that cause changes in the earth and the investigation and collection of data concerning the crust and the interior of the earth and the surface and underground gases, solids and fluids that make up the earth.
 

Q. What is the "Practice of professional geology"?

 

A. The performance of or offer to perform any geologic service or work in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health, environment or property is concerned or involved.  "Practice of professional geology" includes the collection of geological data, consultation, investigation, evaluation, interpretation, planning or inspection relating to a service or work that applies geology.
 
Q. Is a license required to work as a professional geologist?

 

A. Yes. No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of professional geology, designate himself or herself as a professional geologist, use or assume the title "professional geologist" or any other title, letters or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a professional geologist unless the person is licensed by the professional geologist section of the examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists.

Q. Are there exceptions to the requirement for the need for licensure?

 

A. Yes. No license is needed in the following instances:

 

1. A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.
 
2. An officer or employee of the federal government while engaged within this state in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science for the federal government.
 
3. A public service company or its regular employees acting in its behalf that engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively in connection with the facilities of the company that are subject to regulation, supervision or control by a commission of this state or the federal government.
 
4. A person who engages in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively as a regular employee of a private company or corporation, by rendering to the company or corporation geological, hydrological or soil science services in connection with its operations, so long as the person is actually and exclusively so employed and no longer, if the company or corporation has at least one professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter in responsible charge of the company's or corporation's professional geological, hydrological or soil science work in this state.
 
5. A contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier who performs or undertakes activities that historically and customarily have been performed by a contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier in his or her respective trade or specialty, including the preparation and use of drawings, specifications or layouts within a construction firm or in construction operations, superintending of construction, installation and alteration of equipment, cost estimating, consultation with professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or owners concerning materials, equipment, methods and techniques, and investigations or consultation with respect to construction sites, provided all such activities are performed solely with respect to the performance of the contractor's, subcontractor's or supplier's work on buildings or with respect to supplies or materials furnished by him or her for buildings or structures or their appurtenances which are, or which are to be, erected, enlarged or materially altered in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or by a person specified in numbers 1 to 4 above.
 
6. A person employed by a county or this state who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stat., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65 and who is certified under Wis. Stat ., s. 92.18.

7. A registered land surveyor registered who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stat., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65.

 

8. A person engaged solely in teaching geology, hydrology or soil science or a related physical or natural science, or a person engaged solely in geological, hydrological or soil science research as an employee of an educational or research institution or a governmental agency.

 

9. A well driller who is engaged in well drilling.

 

10. A registered professional engineer who, while engaged in the practice of professional engineering, collects, investigates, interprets or evaluates data relating to soil, rock, groundwater, surface water, gases or other earth conditions, or uses that data for analysis, consultation, planning, design or construction.

11. A professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed to engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science in another state or country and is providing a consultation or demonstration with a professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter.
 
12. A person engaged within this state in the practice of a profession, other than professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, including archaeology, aquatic biology, bacteriology, fish management, forestry, horticulture, limnology, mycology, plant pathology, stream ecology, wetland science, or wildlife management, where the practice of the profession by the person involves knowledge within the range of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, if the person meets all of the following conditions:
 
(a)  The practice of the profession by the person involves only the incidental practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science.  For purposes of this paragraph, a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is incidental to the practice of another profession if professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is related to, but not the main purpose of, the other profession, or if a person engages in a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science while primarily engaged in the practice of the other profession.

(b)  The person does not designate himself or herself as a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist or use any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent that the person is a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist.

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Professional Hydrologist

 

Q. What is "Hydrology"?

 

A. A science that involves the study of the waters of the earth, including the study of the occurrence, circulation, distribution, chemistry or quality of water or its role as a natural agent that causes changes in the earth, and the investigation and collection of data concerning waters in the atmosphere or on the surface or in the interior of the earth, including data regarding the interaction of water with other gases, solids or fluids.
 
Q. What is the "Practice of professional hydrology"?

 

A. The performance of or offer to perform any hydrologic service or work in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health, environment or property is concerned or involved.  "Practice of professional hydrology" includes the collection of hydrological data, consultation, investigation, evaluation, interpretation, planning or inspection relating to a service or work that applies hydrology.
 

Q. Is a license required to work as a professional hydrologist?

 

A. Yes. No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of professional hydrology, designate himself or herself as a professional hydrologist, use or assume the title "professional hydrologist" or any other title, letters or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a professional hydrologist unless the person is licensed by the professional hydrologist section of the examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists.

Q. Are there exceptions to the requirement for the need for licensure?

 

A. Yes. No license is needed in the following instances:

 

1. A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.
 
2. An officer or employee of the federal government while engaged within this state in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science for the federal government.
 
3. A public service company or its regular employees acting in its behalf that engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively in connection with the facilities of the company that are subject to regulation, supervision or control by a commission of this state or the federal government.
 
4. A person who engages in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively as a regular employee of a private company or corporation, by rendering to the company or corporation geological, hydrological or soil science services in connection with its operations, so long as the person is actually and exclusively so employed and no longer, if the company or corporation has at least one professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter in responsible charge of the company's or corporation's professional geological, hydrological or soil science work in this state.
 
5. A contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier who performs or undertakes activities that historically and customarily have been performed by a contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier in his or her respective trade or specialty, including the preparation and use of drawings, specifications or layouts within a construction firm or in construction operations, superintending of construction, installation and alteration of equipment, cost estimating, consultation with professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or owners concerning materials, equipment, methods and techniques, and investigations or consultation with respect to construction sites, provided all such activities are performed solely with respect to the performance of the contractor's, subcontractor's or supplier's work on buildings or with respect to supplies or materials furnished by him or her for buildings or structures or their appurtenances which are, or which are to be, erected, enlarged or materially altered in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or by a person specified in numbers 1 to 4 above.
 
6. A person employed by a county or this state who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stats., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65 and who is certified under Wis. Stats ., section 92.18.

7. A registered land surveyor registered who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stats., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65.

 

8. A person engaged solely in teaching geology, hydrology or soil science or a related physical or natural science, or a person engaged solely in geological, hydrological or soil science research as an employee of an educational or research institution or a governmental agency.

 

9. A well driller who is engaged in well drilling.

 

10. A registered professional engineer who, while engaged in the practice of professional engineering, collects, investigates, interprets or evaluates data relating to soil, rock, groundwater, surface water, gases or other earth conditions, or uses that data for analysis, consultation, planning, design or construction.

11. A professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed to engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science in another state or country and is providing a consultation or demonstration with a professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter.
 
12. A person engaged within this state in the practice of a profession, other than professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, including archaeology, aquatic biology, bacteriology, fish management, forestry, horticulture, limnology, mycology, plant pathology, stream ecology, wetland science, or wildlife management, where the practice of the profession by the person involves knowledge within the range of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, if the person meets all of the following conditions:
 
(a)  The practice of the profession by the person involves only the incidental practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science.  For purposes of this paragraph, a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is incidental to the practice of another profession if professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is related to, but not the main purpose of, the other profession, or if a person engages in a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science while primarily engaged in the practice of the other profession.

(b)  The person does not designate himself or herself as a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist or use any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent that the person is a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist.

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Professional Soil Science

 

Q. What is "Soil science"?

 

A. A science that involves the study of soils between the surface of the earth and bedrock, including the study of natural or human processes or forces that occur in soils, and the investigation and collection of data concerning soils, including data regarding the interaction of soils with other gases, solids or fluids or living organisms.

Q. What is the "Practice of professional soil science"?

 

A. The performance of or offer to perform any service or work related to soil science in which the public welfare or the safeguarding of life, health, environment or property is concerned or involved.  "Practice of professional soil science" includes the collection of soil data, consultation, investigation, evaluation, interpretation, planning or inspection relating to a service or work that applies soil science.
 
Q. Is a license required to work as a professional soil scientist?

 

A. Yes. No person may engage or offer to engage in the practice of professional soil science, designate himself or herself as a professional soil scientist, use or assume the title "professional soil scientist" or any other title, letters or designation which represents or may tend to represent the person as a professional soil scientist unless the person is licensed by the professional soil scientist section of the examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists and soil scientists.

Q. Are there exceptions to the requirement for the need for licensure?

 

A. Yes. No license is needed in the following instances:

 

1. A person lawfully practicing within the scope of a license, permit, registration or certification granted by this state or the federal government.
 
2. An officer or employee of the federal government while engaged within this state in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science for the federal government.
 
3. A public service company or its regular employees acting in its behalf that engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively in connection with the facilities of the company that are subject to regulation, supervision or control by a commission of this state or the federal government.
 
4. A person who engages in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science exclusively as a regular employee of a private company or corporation, by rendering to the company or corporation geological, hydrological or soil science services in connection with its operations, so long as the person is actually and exclusively so employed and no longer, if the company or corporation has at least one professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter in responsible charge of the company's or corporation's professional geological, hydrological or soil science work in this state.
 
5. A contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier who performs or undertakes activities that historically and customarily have been performed by a contractor, subcontractor or construction material or equipment supplier in his or her respective trade or specialty, including the preparation and use of drawings, specifications or layouts within a construction firm or in construction operations, superintending of construction, installation and alteration of equipment, cost estimating, consultation with professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or owners concerning materials, equipment, methods and techniques, and investigations or consultation with respect to construction sites, provided all such activities are performed solely with respect to the performance of the contractor's, subcontractor's or supplier's work on buildings or with respect to supplies or materials furnished by him or her for buildings or structures or their appurtenances which are, or which are to be, erected, enlarged or materially altered in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by professional geologists, hydrologists or soil scientists or by a person specified in numbers 1 to 4 above.
 
6. A person employed by a county or this state who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stats., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65 and who is certified under Wis. Stats., section 92.18.

7. A registered land surveyor registered who is engaged in the planning, design, installation or regulation of land and water conservation activities under Wis. Stats., Chapter 92 or Section 281.65.

 

8. A person engaged solely in teaching geology, hydrology or soil science or a related physical or natural science, or a person engaged solely in geological, hydrological or soil science research as an employee of an educational or research institution or a governmental agency.

 

9. A well driller who is engaged in well drilling.

 

10. A registered professional engineer who, while engaged in the practice of professional engineering, collects, investigates, interprets or evaluates data relating to soil, rock, groundwater, surface water, gases or other earth conditions, or uses that data for analysis, consultation, planning, design or construction.

11. A professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed to engage in the practice of professional geology, hydrology or soil science in another state or country and is providing a consultation or demonstration with a professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist who is licensed under this chapter.
 
12. A person engaged within this state in the practice of a profession, other than professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, including archaeology, aquatic biology, bacteriology, fish management, forestry, horticulture, limnology, mycology, plant pathology, stream ecology, wetland science, or wildlife management, where the practice of the profession by the person involves knowledge within the range of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, if the person meets all of the following conditions:
 
(a)  The practice of the profession by the person involves only the incidental practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science.  For purposes of this paragraph, a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is incidental to the practice of another profession if professional geology, hydrology, or soil science is related to, but not the main purpose of, the other profession, or if a person engages in a practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science while primarily engaged in the practice of the other profession.

(b)  The person does not designate himself or herself as a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist or use any other title, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to represent that the person is a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist.

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Last updated: Monday, April 6, 2009