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Compliance and Ethics

Professional Licensure and Certification Boards- College of Arts and Sciences

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If you are in a program that you believe leads to licensure but you do not see it listed, please fill out the  Potential Professional Licensure/Certification Program Reporting Form by clicking on button below:

Potential Professional Licensure/Certification Program Reporting form


STUDENT ROLE IN PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

Students should read all the information regarding the program in which they are interested/are about to enroll to determine if the program leads to licensure in the location that the student is located at the time the student enrolls (i.e., during the first initial semester at the time at which they pay for courses) to verify that the program leads to licensure.  Pose questions regarding licensure to the program coordinator listed on the program page and contact the state licensing board, using the licensing information contained on the program licensure page.  Keep in mind licensure approval depends on the rules and regulations in effect at the time of your licensure application.  Said rules and regulations are overseen by the professional licensing board who oversees the profession. 

 
PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE DISCLOSURE

LICENSING DISCLOSURE INFORMATION

For all programs marketed or designed as leading to licensure or certification, the following federal regulations must be complied with by institutions of higher education:

For Online Programs

34 CFR 668.14(b)(32)

All programs that lead to licensure/certification must meet the educational requirements in each state and protectorate in which any of their students are located at the time of initial enrollment or in the state in which a student attests they intend to seek employment.  Students cannot be enrolled into programs if the educational requirements are not met unless they are moving to a state in which the requirements are met and execute an attestation confirming their future relocation. 

For Face-to-Face Programs

Regulation- 34 CFR 668.43(a)(5)(v)

All programs that lead to licensure/certification must disclose whether the program meets, does not meet or if a determination cannot be made as to whether the program meets the educational requirements in each state and protectorate. 

Since the program is a face-to-face program, students can be admitted even if the state in which they previously resided is a state in which the program does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification. 

DETERMINATIONS


Determinations made by our subject matter experts (program coordinators) are made based on state licensing board rules and regulations and/or reciprocity agreements.

For information on teaching reciprocity, please see the NASDTEC website- https://www.nasdtec.net/page/InterstateAgreements 

SCOPE OF PROGRAM ASSESSMENT

The information provided regarding USM programs represents an assessment of whether the educational program, if successfully completed, meets a state or protectorate’s educational requirements for licensure/certification. 
USM's analysis is limited to a determination as to whether their programs meet the educational requirements for licensure. 
Additional requirements may be required to obtain a license or state certification. For a list of potential additional requirements, see the Professional Licensure webpage- https://www.usm.edu/professional-licensure-certification-disclosures/index.php 

ROLE OF LICENSING/CERTIFICATION BOARD

Keep in mind that final eligibility determinations as to whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure are made by the state/protectorate licensing/certification boards.  

TIMEFRAME OF DISCLOSURES


The disclosure data is current as of July 1 of each year (starting with 2024) unless the institution is apprised of a change which requires an update prior to the July 1st annual update. Federal Law requires that if an institution discovers that a program no longer leads to licensure or certification, the institution must notify the students (both enrolled and prospective) of the change directly (individual disclosure) as well as updating the webpage.

APPROPRIATE USE OF DISCLOSURE DATA


Review the information about the licensure program and then consider discussing the information with the program coordinator as well as the state licensing board. 

 

LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS GENERALLY


Licensing boards require more than successful degree completion to obtain a license or certification and laws relating to licensure/certification may change at any time, which may affect the educational requirements for licensure/certification. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to educational requirements, the licensing boards for each of the states and the  protectorates (American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Puerto Rico, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Virgin Islands) may require applicants to meet other requirements including, but not limited to,  age, citizenship, examinations, clinical hours, criminal background checks, professional experience (which may require years of experience), residency, and specialized courses (not offered as part of any institutional curriculum) (i.e., History of the State, Ethics), etc.

MISSISSIPPI LICENSURE

All programs of The University of Southern Mississippi are designed to meet the licensure standards set by the Mississippi Department of Education and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in Mississippi. 

RECOMMENDATION

If you are considering a program at USM that leads to licensure or certification and you do not live in the State of Mississippi, it is our recommendation that you contact the appropriate state licensing agency in their state or the state where you intend to work

This will allow you to obtain the most up-to-date information about state licensure requirements before beginning any of our licensure/certification programs.

UPDATES


Due to the frequency at which requirements change, data on this page is only accurate as of the date listed below. The information contained on this page was last updated on 7/1/2024.
USM makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure/certification are updated:annually   

AND

when changes are discovered If USM discovers that a program no longer meets the licensure/certification requirements of any state or protectorate, this page will be updated. 
See the original Professional Licensure Disclosure in the catalog- https://catalog.usm.edu/content.php?catoid=35&navoid=2239 

 


GEOLOGY, BS

 

State/Protectorate Determination Determination Based on Reciprocity/State or Protectorate Requirements Board Contact Information
Alabama Yes State requirements Alabama Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists
2777 Zelda Road, Montgomery, Alabama 36106
(334) 420-7236
geology@alstateboard.com  
https://www.algeobd.alabama.gov/ 
Alaska Yes State requirements Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
P.O. Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811
(907)465-2691
ProfessionalGeologists@alaska.gov  
https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/ProfessionalLicensing/ProfessionalGeologists.aspx 
Arizona Yes State requirements Arizona Board of Technical Registration
1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 240, Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 364-4930
https://btr.az.gov/contact-us  
https://btr.az.gov/ 
Arkansas Yes State requirements Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Geologists
900 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 400, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-3108
(501) 683-0150
pgboard@arkansas.gov  
https://www.arpgboard.org/ 
California Yes State requirements California Department of Consumer Affairs
Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists
2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 300, Sacramento, California 95833-2944
(916) 999-3600
geology@dca.ca.gov  
https://www.bpelsg.ca.gov/ 
Colorado licensure not required N/A N/A
Connecticut

licensure not required

Yes-For Licensed Environmental Professional

State requirements N/A
Delaware Yes State requirements Delaware Division of Professional Regulation
861 Silver Lake Blvd., Cannon Building, Suite 203, Dover, Delaware 19904-2467
(302) 744-4500
customerservice.dpr@delaware.gov  
https://dpr.delaware.gov/ 
District of Columbia (D.C.) licensure not required N/A N/A
Florida Yes State requirements Florida Board of Professional Geologists
2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783
(850) 717-1411
lina.hurtado@myfloridalicense.com  
http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/geologists/ 
Georgia Yes State requirements Georgia Office of The Secretary of State
Professional Licensing Board Division
237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, Georgia 31217-3858
(404) 355-4509
walker@sos.ga.gov  
https://sos.ga.gov/ 
Hawaii licensure not required N/A N/A
Idaho Yes State requirements Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
11351 W. Chinden Blvd., Bldg. #6
Boise, Idaho 83714
(208) 334-3233
kim.aksamit@dopl.idaho.gov   
https://dopl.idaho.gov/DOPLPortal/Home.aspx  
Illinois Yes State requirements

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
320 West Washington Street, 3rd Floor, PSS, Springfield, Illinois 62786
(888) 473-4858


patrick.golembeck@illinois.gov

  
https://www.idfpr.com/ 

Indiana Yes State requirements

Indiana Board of Licensure for Professional Geologists
611 North Walnut Grove Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405-2208
(812) 855-7636


inblpg@indiana.edu   

https://igws.indiana.edu/LPG/         

Iowa

licensure not required for Geologist

 

YES For Certified Groundwater Professional

 

State requirements

 

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

6200 Park Avenue
Suite 200
Des Moines, IA 50321

515-725-8200 

opcertcustomersupport@dnr.iowa.gov 

https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Land-Quality/Underground-Storage-Tanks/Groundwater-Professionals 

Kansas Yes State requirements

Kansas State Board of Technical Professions 
Landon State Office Building
900 Southwest Jackson, Suite 507
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1257
United States
(785) 296-3053 


larry.g.karns@ks.gov  

 
https://www.ksbtp.ks.gov/  

Kentucky Yes State requirements

Kentucky Board of Registration for Professional Geologists
P.O. Box 1360,
Frankfort, KY 40602-1360
(502) 892-4261


tammyk.sharp@ky.gov  

https://bpg.ky.gov/ 

Louisiana Yes State requirements

Louisiana Board of Professional Geoscientists
9643 Brookline Avenue, Suite 101
Baton Rouge, LA  70809
(225) 505-3766


apply@lbopg.org    

http://www.lbopg.org/ 

Maine Yes State requirements

State Board of Licensure of Geologists and Soil ScientistsDepartment of Professional/Financial Regulation
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME  04333
(207) 624-8605


catherine.m.carroll@maine.gov  

https://www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/  

Maryland N/A N/A N/A
Massachusetts Yes for Licensed Site Professional State requirements N/A
Michigan Yes State requirements N/A
Minnesota Yes State requirements

Board of AELSLAGID
85 East 7th  Place, Suite 160
St. Paul, MN  55101
(651) 296-2388


https://www.mn.gov/aelslagid/staff.html  

https://www.mn.gov/aelslagid/  

Mississippi Yes State requirements

Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists
P. O. Box 22742
Jackson, MS  39225-2742 
(601) 354-6370


geology@msbrpg.ms.gov   

https://www.msbrpg.ms.gov/  

Missouri Yes State requirements

Board of Geologist Registration
P. O. Box 1335
Jefferson City, MO  65109-1335 
(573) 526-7625

 
pam.groose@pr.mo.gov 

 
https://www.pr.mo.gov/geologists.asp  

Montana licensure not required   N/A
Nebraska Yes State requirements

Nebraska Board of Geologists
P. O. Box 94844
Lincoln, NE  68509-4844
(402) 471-8383


nebog.board@nebraska.gov  

https://nebog.nebraska.gov/  

Nevada licensure not required   Bureau of Mines and Geology
1664 N Virginia Street
Reno, NV 86503
Phone: (775) 682-8751
Contact: jfaulds@unr.edu
New Hampshire Yes State requirements

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
7 Eagle Square
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 271-2152


CustomerSupport@oplc.nh.gov 


https://www.oplc.nh.gov/board-professional-geologists 

New Jersey YES (For Licensed Site Remediation Professional) State requirements  
New Mexico N/A N/A

New Mexico Bureau of Geology & Mineral Resources
801 Leroy Place
Socorro, NM 87801-4796
(575) 835-5783


nelia.dunbar@nmt.edu  
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu/  

New York Yes State requirements

NY State Education Department
Office of the Professions
89 Washington Avenue
Albany, New York 12234-1000
(518) 474-3817, Press 1


https://op-support.nysed.gov/hc/en-us/requests/new 

http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/geo/  

North Carolina Yes State requirements

The North Carolina Board for Licensing of Geologists
3733 Benson Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 850-9669


contact@ncblg.org  

 
https://www.ncblg.org 

North Dakota N/A N/A

Department of Mineral Resources
1016 East Calgary Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503
(701) 328-8020


https://www.dmr.nd.gov/dmr/contact  

https://www.dmr.nd.gov/  

Ohio N/A N/A

ODNR Division of Geological Survey
2045 Morse Rd., Bldg. C
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 265-6576


geo.survey@dnr.state.oh.us  

https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/geologic-survey  

Oklahoma N/A N/A

 Oklahoma Geological Survey
Sarkeys Energy Center
100 E. Boyd St., Suite N131
Norman, OK 73019
(405) 325-3031


ogs@ou.edu    

https://www.ou.edu/ogs 

 
https://asbog.org/state_boards.html   

Oregon Yes State requirements

Oregon State Board of Geologist Examiners
707 13th Street SE, Suite 114
Salem, Oregon 97301
(503) 566-2837


osbge.info@bgelab.oregon.gov  

https://www.oregon.gov/osbge/Pages/default.aspx  

Pennsylvania Yes State requirements

Pennsylvania Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs
Penn Center, 2601 N. 3rd Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
(717) 783-7049


ST-ENGINEER@pa.gov   

https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/EngineersLandSurveyorsandGeologists/Pages/default.aspx  

Rhode Island licensure not required N/A N/A
South Carolina Yes State requirements

South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
Synergy Business Park, Kingstreet Building
110 Centerview Drive
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
(803) 896-4300


https://www.llr.sc.gov/aboutus/contact.aspx 


https://www.llr.sc.gov/geo/pub.aspx  

South Dakota Licensure not required N/A

Geological Survey Program
414 East Clark Street
Akeley-Lawrence Science Center
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 677-5227


tim.cowman@usd.edu  

http://www.sdgs.usd.edu/  

Tennessee Yes State requirements

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0565
(615) 741-2241


Ask.TDCI@TN.Gov  

https://www.tn.gov/commerce/regboards/geologists.html  

Texas Yes State requirements

Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists
333 Guadalupe St.,#I-530
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 936-4408


licensing@tbpg.texas.gov  


https://tbpg.state.tx.us/   

Utah Yes State requirements

Utah Professional Geology 
160 East 300 South - 4th floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 530-6628


b5@utah.gov  

https://dopl.utah.gov/  

Vermont Licensure not required N/A Department of Environmental Conservation
Davis Building - 3rd Floor
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05620-3520
(802) 828-1556
N/A
https://dec.vermont.gov/geological-survey 
Virginia Yes   Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
9960 Mayland Drive
Suite 400
Richmond VA 23233-1485
(804) 367-8514
bpssandwp@dpor.virginia.gov 
https://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/SSWPG 
Washington Yes   Geologists Program
Business and Professions Division
Department of Licensing
405 Black Lake Blvd SW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 664-1497
geologist@dol.wa.gov 
https://www.dol.wa.gov/business/geologist/ 
West Virginia Yes  for Licensed  Remediation Specialist State requirements Department of Environmental Protection
601 57th Street SE
Charleston, WV 25304
(304) 926-0499
DEPLRSProgram@wv.gov 
https://dep.wv.gov/dlr/oer/brownfieldsection/LRS%20Program/Pages/default.aspx 
Wisconsin Yes State requirements Professional Geologist Section
DSPS
PO Box 8366
Madison, WI 53708-8366
(608) 266-2112
dsps@wi.gov 
https://dsps.wi.gov/Pages/BoardsCouncils/GHSS/Default.aspx 
Wyoming Yes State requirements Wyoming Board of Professional Geologists
2617 E. Lincolnway, Suite I, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82001
(307) 742-1118
prof.geo@wyo.gov 
https://wbpg.wyo.gov/ 

American Samoa

Licensure not required N/A N/A
Federated States of Micronesia Licensure not required N/A N/A
Guam Licensure not required N/A

Guam PEALS Office
ITC BUILDING, 590 S. MARINE CORPS DRIVE, SUITE 511, TAMUNING, GU 96913
(671) 646-3115


PEALS@guam.gov 

 
https://www.guam-peals.org/ 

Northern Mariana Islands Licensure not required N/A N/A
Republic of Palau Licensure not required N/A N/A
Puerto Rico Yes Protectorate requirements

Department of State

Assistant Secretary of Examination Boards

Board of Examiners of Geologists

P.O. Box 9023271

San Juan, PR 00902-3271

787-722-2122, Extension # 4308 or 4309

https://www.estado.pr.gov/en/geologists/ 

Republic of the Marshall Islands Licensure not required N/A N/A
Virgin Islands Licensure not required N/A N/A

 

 

 


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