BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 7840-7855
7840. An application for registration as a geologist or for
registration as a geophysicist shall be made to the board on a form
prescribed by it and shall be accompanied by the application fee
fixed by this chapter.
7841. An applicant for registration as a geologist shall have all
the following qualifications:
(a) Not have committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
(b) Meet one of the following educational requirements fulfilled
at a school or university whose geological curricula meet criteria
established by rules of the board:
(1) Graduation with a major in geology.
(2) Completion of 30 semester units in geological science courses
leading to a major in geology, of which at least 24 units are in the
third or fourth year, or graduate courses.
(c) Have at least seven years of professional geological work
which shall include either a minimum of three years of professional
geological work under the supervision of a registered geologist or a
registered civil or petroleum engineer, except that prior to July 1,
1970, professional geological work shall qualify under this
subdivision if it is under the supervision of a qualified geologist
or a registered civil or petroleum engineer, or a minimum of five
years' experience in responsible charge of professional geological
work. Professional geological work does not include routine
sampling, laboratory work, or geological drafting.
Each year of undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall
count as one-half year of training up to a maximum of two years, and
each year of graduate study or research counts as a year of training.
Teaching in the geological sciences at college level shall be
credited year for year toward meeting the requirement in this
category, provided that the total teaching experience includes six
semester units per semester, or equivalent if on the quarter system,
of third or fourth year or graduate courses.
Credit for undergraduate study, graduate study, and teaching,
individually, or in any combination thereof, shall in no case exceed
a total of four years towards meeting the requirement for at least
seven years of professional geological work as set forth above.
The ability of the applicant shall have been demonstrated by the
applicant having performed the work in a responsible position, as the
term "responsible position" is defined in regulations adopted by the
board. The adequacy of the required supervision and experience shall
be determined by the board in accordance with standards set forth in
regulations adopted by it.
(d) Successfully pass a written examination that incorporates a
national examination for geologists created by a nationally
recognized entity approved by the board, and a supplemental
California specific examination. The California specific examination
shall test the applicant's knowledge of state laws, rules and
regulations, and of seismicity and geology unique to practice within
this state. The board shall use the national examination on or
before June 30, 2000.
7841.1. An applicant for registration as a geophysicist shall have
all of the following qualifications. This section shall not apply to
applicants for registration as geologists.
(a) Not have committed any acts or crimes constituting grounds for
denial of licensure under Section 480.
(b) Meet one of the following educational requirements fulfilled
at a school or university whose curricula meet criteria established
by rules of the board.
(1) Graduation with a major in a geophysical science or any other
discipline which in the opinion of the board is relevant to
geophysics.
(2) Completion of a combination of at least 30 semester hours, in
courses which in the opinion of the board are relevant to geophysics.
At least 24 semester hours, or the equivalent, shall be in the third
or fourth year, or graduate courses.
(c) Have at least seven years of professional geophysical work
which shall include either a minimum of three years of professional
geophysical work under the supervision of a registered geophysicist,
except that prior to July 1, 1973, professional geophysical work
shall qualify under this subdivision if it is under the supervision
of a qualified geophysicist, or a minimum of five years' experience
in responsible charge of professional geophysical work. Professional
geophysical work does not include the routine maintenance or
operation of geophysical instruments, or, even if carried out under
the responsible supervision of a professional geophysicist, the
routine reduction or plotting of geophysical observations.
Each year of undergraduate study in the geophysical sciences
referred to in this section shall count as one-half year of training
up to a maximum of two years, and each year of graduate study or
research counts as a year of training.
Teaching in the geophysical sciences referred to in this section
at a college level shall be credited year for year toward meeting the
requirement in this category, provided that the total teaching
experience includes six semester units per semester, or equivalent if
on the quarter system, of third or fourth year or graduate courses.
Credit for undergraduate study, graduate study, and teaching,
individually, or in any combination thereof, shall in no case exceed
a total of four years towards meeting the requirements for at least
seven years of professional geophysical work as set forth above.
The ability of the applicant shall have been demonstrated by his
having performed the work in a responsible position, as the term
"responsible position" is defined in regulations adopted by the
board. The adequacy of the required supervision and experience shall
be determined by the board in accordance with standards set forth in
regulations adopted by it.
(d) Successfully pass a written examination.
7842. An applicant for certification in a specialty in geology
shall meet all of the requirements of Section 7841 and, in addition,
his seven years of professional geological work shall include one of
the following:
(a) A minimum of three years performed under the supervision of a
geologist certified in the specialty for which he is seeking
certification or under the supervision of a registered civil engineer
if the applicant is seeking certification as an engineering
geologist or under the supervision of a registered petroleum engineer
if the applicant is seeking certification as a petroleum geologist,
except that prior to July 1, 1970, professional geological work shall
qualify under this subdivision if it is performed under the
supervision of a geologist qualified in the specialty for which the
applicant is seeking certification or under the supervision of a
registered civil engineer if the applicant is seeking certification
as an engineering geologist or under the supervision of a registered
petroleum engineer if the applicant is seeking certification as a
petroleum geologist.
(b) A minimum of five years' experience in responsible charge of
professional geological work in the specialty for which the applicant
is seeking certification.
7842.1. An applicant for certification in a specialty in geophysics
shall meet all of the requirements of Section 7841.1 and in
addition, his seven years of professional geophysical work shall
include one of the following:
(a) A minimum of three years performed under the supervision of a
geophysicist, certified in the specialty for which he is seeking
certification.
(b) A minimum of five years' experience in responsible charge of
professional geophysical work in the specialty for which the
applicant is seeking certification.
7844. Examination for registration shall be held at the times and
places within the state as the board shall determine. The scope of
examinations and the methods of procedure may be prescribed by rule
of the board.
7845. Examinations for registration as a geologist or registered
certified specialty geologist shall test the applicant's knowledge of
geology and of any established specialty for which he applies and
his ability to apply that knowledge and to assume responsible charge
in the professional practice of geology or a certified specialty
geology, or both geology and a certified specialty geology.
7845.1. Examinations for registration as a geophysicist or
registered certified specialty geophysicist shall test the applicant'
s knowledge basic to geophysics and his ability to apply that
knowledge and to assume responsible charge in the professional
practice of geophysics or a certified specialty geophysics, or both
geophysics and a certified specialty geophysics.
7846. An applicant failing in an examination may be examined again
upon filing a new application and the payment of the application fee
fixed by this chapter.
7847. The board, upon application therefor, on its prescribed form,
and upon the payment of the application and registration fees fixed
by this chapter, which fees shall be retained by the board, may issue
a certificate of registration as a geologist or as a geophysicist,
without written examination, to any person holding an equivalent
certificate of registration as a geologist or as a geophysicist,
issued to him by any state or country when the applicant's
qualifications meet the other requirements of this chapter and the
rules established by the board.
7848. A temporary authorization for the practice of geology or a
certified specialty geology, or both geology and a certified
specialty geology, may be granted, for a specific project, upon
application and payment of the fee prescribed in Section 7887 for a
period not to exceed 60 consecutive days in any calendar year if the
applicant complies with all of the following:
(a) The applicant maintains no office for the practice of geology
or a certified specialty geology, or both geology and a certified
specialty geology, other than for the authorized project, in this
state.
(b) The applicant is qualified to practice geology or a certified
specialty geology, or both geology and a certified specialty geology
for others, and is not legally prohibited from so doing, in the state
or country where he or she maintains an office for that practice.
(c) The applicant demonstrates by means of an individual
appearance before the board, or before a committee appointed by the
board for that purpose, satisfactory evidence of adequate knowledge
in that phase of geology for which the applicant proposes to practice
under the temporary authorization.
If the applicant can satisfy the board that the completion of the
specific project for which the authorization is granted will require
more than 60 consecutive calendar days, the board may extend the
authorization to a period not to exceed a total of 120 days.
Upon completion of these requirements as necessary, the executive
officer on direction of the board shall issue a temporary
authorization to the applicant.
7848.1. A temporary authorization for the practice of geophysics or
a certified specialty geophysics, or both geophysics and a certified
specialty geophysics, may be granted, for a specific project, upon
application and payment of the fee prescribed in Section 7887 for a
period not to exceed 60 consecutive days in any calendar year if the
applicant complies with all of the following:
(a) The applicant maintains no office for the practice of
geophysics or a certified specialty geophysics, or both geophysics
and a certified specialty geophysics, other than for the authorized
project, in this state.
(b) The applicant is qualified to practice geophysics or a
certified specialty geophysics, or both geophysics and a certified
specialty geophysics for others, and is not legally prohibited from
so doing, in the state or country where he or she maintains an office
for that practice.
(c) The applicant demonstrates by means of an individual
appearance before the board, or before a committee appointed by the
board for that purpose, satisfactory evidence or adequate knowledge
in that phase of geophysics for which the applicant proposes to
practice under the temporary authorization.
If the applicant can satisfy the board that the completion of the
specific project for which the authorization is granted will require
more than 60 consecutive calendar days, the board may extend the
authorization to a period not to exceed a total of 120 days.
Upon completion of these requirements as necessary, the executive
officer on direction of the board shall issue a temporary
authorization to the applicant.
7849. In determining the qualifications of an applicant for
registration, certification, or temporary authorization, a majority
vote of the board is required.
7850. Any applicant who has passed the examination and has
otherwise qualified hereunder as a geologist, upon payment of the
registration fee fixed by this chapter shall have a certificate of
registration issued to him as a geologist.
7850.1. Any applicant who has passed the examination and has
otherwise qualified hereunder as a geophysicist, upon payment of the
registration fee fixed by this chapter shall have a certificate of
registration issued to him as a geophysicist.
7850.5. An applicant who has passed the examination for a certified
specialty geologist and has otherwise qualified under this chapter
in the specialty, upon payment of the fee fixed by this chapter shall
have a certificate issued to him or her as a certified specialty
geologist.
A certificate of certified specialty geologist shall be signed by
the president and executive officer and issued under the seal of the
board.
7850.6. An applicant who has passed the examination for a certified
specialty geophysicist and has otherwise qualified under this
chapter in the specialty, upon payment of the fee fixed by this
chapter shall have a certificate issued to him or her as a certified
specialty geophysicist. A certificate of certified specialty
geophysicist shall be signed by the president and executive officer
and issued under the seal of the board.
7852. (a) Each geologist registered under this chapter may, upon
registration, obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board
bearing the registrant's name, number of his certificate, and the
legend "registered geologist."
(b) Each specialty geologist certified under this chapter may,
upon certification, obtain a seal of the design authorized by the
board bearing the registrant's name, number of his certificate and
the legend "certified specialty geologist. "
7852.1. (a) Each geophysicist registered under this chapter may,
upon registration, obtain a seal of the design authorized by the
board bearing the registrant's name, number of his certificate, and
the legend "Registered Geophysicist."
(b) Each specialty geophysicist certified under this chapter may,
upon certification, obtain a seal of the design authorized by the
board bearing the registrant's name, number of his certificate and
the legend "Certified Specialty Geophysicist."
7853. A duplicate certificate of registration to replace one lost,
destroyed, or mutilated may be issued subject to the rules and
regulations of the board. The duplicate certificate fee fixed by
this chapter shall be charged.
7854. An unsuspended, unrevoked and unexpired certificate and
endorsement of registry made under this chapter is presumptive
evidence in all courts and places that the person named therein is
legally registered.
7855. Any applicant who is denied registration or authorization
shall, in writing, be so notified and informed of the reason
therefor. Within 30 days after receipt of notice, such applicant may
make written request to the board for a hearing which, if granted,
shall be conducted as specified in Section 7861.