Professional Registration for Geologists

by Ken Ruckstuhl, R. P.G., Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.

The Mississippi Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997 requires the registration of anyone wishing to practice geology before the public.   Grandfather Period for Licensure in Mississippi ENDS December 31, 1998.

Geologists have joined the tanks of other professionals including doctors, lawyers, and engineers whose work requirements, ethics, responsibilities and professional standards are held accountable by a board of peers.  The Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists advises that anyone engaged in the practice of geology in the state of Mississippi must be a licensed "Registered Professional Geologist" or supervised by same.

A practicing geologist is one who practices any branch of geology, presents himself/herself by any means orally or in writing as a "geologist", who performs or claims to be qualified to perform any geological service, and/or who makes any geologic determinations or evaluations which may affect the public's physical health and safety as well as its financial welfare.  Employees of state and federal government are not exempted from registration.

An applicant must be a graduate of an accredited, 4-year college or university with at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of credit in the study of geology or a geological specialty and have a minimum of 4 years qualifying experience in geology or a geological specialty.  In addition, applicants are required to take and pass a written examination administered by the Board.

A "grandfather period" was established for those geologists practicing at the time the law went into effect.  December 31, 1998 is the deadline set, ending this grandfather period.  During the "grandfather period", geologists meeting the minimum statutory requirements stated above may apply for registration without taking any examinations.  Geologists who meet the educational requirement but lack the required experience may apply for certification as geologists-in-training without an examination.

Registration is granted for a period of two years, subject to renewal every two years, and includes the issuance of an official seal, with name, registration and inspection of "Professional" designations, to be used on all geological reports and documents.

Applications for registration may be downloaded from the Board's web site or requested by mail or phone at: http://geology.deq.state.ms.us/geologyreg; or MS Board of Registered Professional Geologists, P. O., Box 22742, Jackson, MS 39225-2742, (601) 961-5507.

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MSTA Conference

The public education committee once again exhibited at the Mississippi Science Teachers Association Conference in support of the WEFs coalition with the NSTA.  Our association, represented by Jean Longo, Zoe Bretzius-Bowers, and Nick Gatian spent a day and a half discussing water issues with teachers from around the state.  We also offered a full compliment of public education brochures and examples of the Water Environment Curriculum promoted by WEF.

The teachers continue to be impressed with the Water Sourcebook as an excellent resource with ready to use activities.  Two versions (Grades 3-5 and 9-12) are now available through the WEF. We challenge each member to consider purchasing a copy and donating it to a school in your district.  A 9-12 Sourcebook was given as a door prize to Jackie Passbach of Cathedral High School in Natchez.

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Advertiser Support

If your business would like to support the Mississippi Water Environment Association and gain exposure to engineers, scientists, utility managers, plant operators and others, here is your opportunity.  For only $40 an issue, your business card or equivalent size and will be printed in this quarterly newsletter.  If you would like to participate, please contact Chuck Henderson at (601) 545-4630.

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Vice-President's Message

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for allowing me to serve as your Vice-President for this year.  It is a privilege to get to work with many of you who know so much about our business.  So far, it has been a tremendous learning experience.

It is time to start making plans for next year's annual conference.  We are very excited about the upcoming conference.  It will be held at the newly renovated Jackson Hilton and Convention Center on East County Line Road.  This should be an excellent facility and a great setting for this conference.  The area has many attractions and this would be a great time and place to include your spouse in an aspect of your profession.

I would like to encourage each of you to consider attending the conference and workshops.   Please encourage your vendors to participate.  We are considering having a short Vendor Presentation Session this year to allow vendors to introduce themselves and their products.  Networking with our colleagues, vendors, and other professionals in our business always proves to be beneficial.  Also, if you know someone who is not a member of the association, encourage them to join.  I would like to take this opportunity to encourage each of you to become active in the association.  We are always looking for volunteers to help with projects.  The more input we have from you as members, the more we can do to "preserve and enhance the water environment".

If you have access to the Internet, be looking for our new web site.  We are pleased to be able to use the Internet as a tool and would like to hear suggestions from you.   The site is still in its infancy and we are open for suggestions to make it an asset to the organization.  We would like to thank Rusty Lyon's wife for her diligent work in helping make this task a reality.

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