                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LICENSE REQUIRED; APPLICATION; REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE; CONTINUING EDUCATION
(§ 54.1-2205)

A. No person shall engage in, or offer to engage in, the practice of soil
evaluation in the Commonwealth unless he has been licensed under the provisions
of this chapter.

B. In order to be licensed as a professional soil scientist, an applicant shall:

   1. Submit satisfactory evidence verified by affidavits that the applicant:
   				a. Is 18 years of age or older;
   				b. Is of good moral character; and
   				c. Has successfully completed such educational and experiential
   requirements as are required by this chapter and the regulations of the Board.

   2. Achieve a score acceptable to the Board on an examination in the principles
   and practice of soil evaluation and satisfy one of the following criteria:
   				a. Hold a bachelor&#8217;s degree from an accredited institution of higher
   education in a soils curriculum which has been approved by the Board and have
   at least four years of experience in soil evaluation, the quality of which
   demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a
   professional soil scientist; or
   				b. Hold a bachelor&#8217;s degree in one of the natural sciences and have
   at least five years of experience in soil evaluation, the quality of which
   demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent to practice as a
   professional soil scientist; or
   				c. Have a record of at least eight years of experience in soil evaluation,
   the quality of which demonstrates to the Board that the applicant is competent
   to practice as a professional soil scientist; or
   				d. Have at least four years of experience in soil science research or as a
   teacher of soils curriculum in an accredited institution of higher education
   which offers an approved four-year program in soils and at least two years of
   soil evaluation experience, the quality of which demonstrates to the Board
   that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist.

C. The Board shall establish by regulation requirements for continuing education
as a prerequisite to the maintenance and renewal of a license issued under this
chapter, not to exceed eight contact hours per year.

D. Individuals applying for a license as a professional soil scientist between
July 1, 2013, and July 1, 2015, who (i) have been certified as professional soil
scientists by the Board or (ii) have achieved a score set by the Board on the
examination required by this section shall be licensed by the Board if all other
requirements of this chapter or Board regulations have been met, unless an
applicant is found by the Board to have engaged in any act that would constitute
grounds for disciplinary action.

HISTORY: 1987, c. 626, § 54-975; 1988, c. 765; 1991, c. 181; 2011, cc. 777,
859.