470.04 Licensure requirements.

(1) The professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist section may not grant a license under this chapter unless an applicant does each of the following:

(a) Submits an application for the license to the department on a form provided by the department.

(b) Pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1).

(c) Passes an examination under s. 470.05.

(d) Submits to the department letters of recommendation from 5 persons. At least 3 letters shall be from individuals who have personal knowledge of the individual's experience in, depending on the license for which an application is made, geologic, hydrologic or soil science work. At least one letter of recommendation shall be from an individual who, depending on the license for which an application is made, is licensed as a professional geologist, hydrologist or soil scientist under this chapter.

(2) The professional geologist section shall grant a professional geologist license to a person who satisfies the requirements under sub. (1) and who submits evidence satisfactory to the section of all of the following:

(a) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, that he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of professional geology.

(b) Subject to sub. (7), that he or she has a bachelor's degree with course credits in geology of a variety and nature sufficient to constitute a geology major from a college or university approved by the examining board.

(c) That he or she has completed one of the following:

1. Subject to sub. (5), at least 5 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of geologic work. At least 2 years of the geologic work required under this subdivision must have been performed under the supervision of any of the following:

a. A person who is licensed as a professional geologist under this chapter or, for work performed before January 1, 1999, who was registered as a professional geologist under ch. 443, 1995 stats.

b. A person who is licensed as a professional geologist in another state or territory or possession of the United States or in another country that has licensure requirements for professional geologists that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure under this chapter.

c. Any other person whom the section determines is qualified to have responsible charge of geologic work.

2. Subject to sub. (6), at least 7 years of professional experience in geologic work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of geologic work, with a satisfactory evaluation of the last 2 years of the professional experience under a peer review system approved by the section.

(3) The professional hydrologist section shall grant a professional hydrologist license to a person who satisfies the requirements under sub. (1) and who submits evidence satisfactory to the section of all of the following:

(a) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, that he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of professional hydrology.

(b) Subject to sub. (7), that he or she has a bachelor's degree with course credits in hydrology or water resources of a variety and nature sufficient to constitute a hydrology or water resources major from a college or university approved by the examining board.

(c) That he or she has completed one of the following:

1. Subject to sub. (5), at least 5 years of professional experience in hydrologic work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of hydrologic work. At least 2 years of the hydrologic work required under this subdivision must have been performed under the supervision of any of the following:

a. A person who is licensed as a professional hydrologist under this chapter or, for work performed before January 1, 1999, who was registered as a professional geologist under ch. 443, 1995 stats.

b. A person who is licensed as a professional hydrologist in another state or territory or possession of the United States or in another country that has licensure requirements for professional hydrologists that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure under this chapter.

c. Any other person who the section determines is qualified to have responsible charge of hydrologic work.

2. Subject to sub. (6), at least 7 years of professional experience in hydrologic work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of hydrologic work, with a satisfactory evaluation of the last 2 years of the professional experience under a peer review system approved by the section.

(4) The professional soil scientist section shall grant a professional soil scientist license to a person who satisfies the requirements under sub. (1) and who submits evidence satisfactory to the section of all of the following:

(a) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, that he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of professional soil science.

(b) Subject to sub. (7), that he or she has a bachelor's degree with course credits in soil science of a variety and nature sufficient to constitute a soil science major from a college or university approved by the examining board.

(c) That he or she has completed one of the following:

1. Subject to sub. (5), at least 5 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science work. At least 2 years of the soil science work required under this subdivision must have been performed under the supervision of any of the following:

a. A person who is licensed as a professional soil scientist under this chapter or, for work performed before January 1, 1999, who was registered as a professional geologist under ch. 443, 1995 stats.

b. A person who is licensed as a professional soil scientist in another state or territory or possession of the United States or in another country that has licensure requirements for professional soil scientists that are substantially equivalent to the requirements for licensure under this chapter.

c. Any other person who the section determines is qualified to have responsible charge of soil science work.

2. Subject to sub. (6), at least 7 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character satisfactory to the section which demonstrates that the applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science work, with a satisfactory evaluation of the last 2 years of the professional experience under a peer review system approved by the section.

(5) The appropriate section of the examining board shall reduce the 5-year-experience requirement under sub. (2) (c) 1., (3) (c) 1. or (4) (c) 1. to 4 years if an applicant for a license has one or more advanced degrees, approved by the section, in geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology, engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, soil science or a related science.

(6) The appropriate section of the examining board shall reduce the 7-year-experience requirement under sub. (2) (c) 2., (3) (c) 2. or (4) (c) 2. to 6 years if an applicant for a license has one or more advanced degrees, approved by the section, in hydrology, geology, geophysics, geochemistry, engineering geology, geotechnical engineering, soil science or a related science.

(7) The appropriate section of the examining board may waive a requirement specified in sub. (2) (b), (3) (b) or (4) (b) if an applicant for a license has professional experience in excess of 5 years that the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the section is substantially equivalent to the requirement.

History: 1997 a. 300 ss. 20, 22, 62; 1999 a. 32.