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STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONAL UPDATE
Professional Geologist

Licensure Requirements Webinar

Jazzy Graham-Davis passed the FG exam, so take that into consideration when deciding
when and where to apply.
GSA offered a webinar about professional geologist requirements There are cases where ASBOG exams may need to be retaken.
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on 14 April. It quickly filled, and numerous questions were generated. Letting geology certificates and licenses expire may result in scores
For those of you who are interested in the Fundamentals of Geology being invalid. Geology licenses and some GIT certificates need to be
(FG) exam, go to GSA’s Webinar Library to view the webinar and its renewed; the length of validity varies by state. You may retake the FG
PowerPoint slides (https://www.geosociety.org/webinars). Also, exam as many times as needed until you pass, but you may need to
here is a summary of the information to earn the Geologist in wait to reapply until you receive your exam results. This may result in
Training (GIT; Fig. 1) certificate, which should be considered once only being able to sit for one exam a year.
you have taken all your required geology coursework. Many students Taking the FG exam and getting a GIT certificate is not needed for
take this exam after graduating with a bachelor of science in geology. every geoscience career, but having it can open opportunities and
increase pay. Taking the FG exam as soon as possible after education
will make the study process much easier. The FG exam contains 140
multiple choice questions over four hours. Ensure you are mentally
able to study and take an exam of that length. For the one exam, you
will need to prepare for one to six months; one month of studying
would be a full-time job, whereas six months would be easier while
working or in school. Exam accommodations for disabilities can be
requested with your state board. There are limited dates and locations
to take the exams, so have all application documents ready early and
utilize checklists to ensure your application is complete.
There are free and purchasable study materials available for
ASBOG exams. The ASBOG website has an examination blue-
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In the United States, geologist licensure and certification avail- print breaking down the exams by topics, and a “Candidate Study
ability and requirements differ by state. Many states use exams Handbook” of free textbooks, pdfs, and web resources. Geology text-
written by the National Association of State Boards of Geologists books, online lectures, and ASBOG -provided material are excellent
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(ASBOG ), offered twice a year in March and October. The first resources that you may already have or are free. Flashcards are cheap
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exam is the FG, which may be used to get a GIT certificate; second and writing down terms and definitions increase memory retention.
is the Practice of Geology (PG) that is taken after working under Reg Review Inc. (Fig. 2) sells study manuals (US$140), practice
a licensed geologist for a specified amount of time to become quizzes (US$55), flashcards (US$32), and courses (US$560) for
licensed. To take either of the ASBOG exams, you need to need to both ASBOG exams and the California-specific exam (prices for
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apply to the board overseeing geology licensure in the state in which the exams not included). All Reg Review material except the quiz-
you will take the exam. zes do not differentiate between the FG and PG topics, but it has
Some states offer the option to take the FG exam upon or near com- many positive reviews. FG topics are definitions and geologic con-
pletion of your geology education, for example during the final year cepts, and PG topics are more specific to industry practice and are
or after completing a bachelor’s degree in geology or necessary geol- mathematically based.
ogy courses. States may also offer a GIT certificate for passing the
FG exam. As each state varies on the exact requirements it is essential
that you check with your state. Typically, to take the FG exam, you
need to submit official transcripts from all colleges you attended,
including international, the application, and fees (~$100-$300+).
States may require additional documents; California applicants must
also supply fingerprints. It may take months to hear back from the
state board regarding applications.
Not every state offers GIT certificates, allows the FG exam to be Regardless of study materials, you should practice with the non-
taken before acquiring geology work experience, or has geology programmable calculator, protractor, and other allowed tools that
licensure. If it’s not offered in your state, it may be beneficial to take you will use in the exam. Check the rules published by your state
the exam in a nearby state; residency isn’t required to take the FG to ensure you have items that are allowed and that you are dressed
exam and get a GIT certificate. If you stay in good standing with your appropriately but comfortable. Make a bag the night before your
state’s board and pass the FG exam you usually do not need to take it exam with your flashcards, calculator and tools, exam entrance
again for another state that utilizes ASBOG exams. Some states may ticket, and any other items you wish to bring. Eat breakfast even
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have other requirements and exams that do not transfer as easily. You if you’re not hungry and get a good night’s rest to set you up for a
will have to pay fees to every state you apply, even if you have already positive testing experience.

42 GSA Today | July 2021