Qualifications for certification. Applicants for certification shall meet the education, eligibility, experience and examination requirements specified in Chapter 22 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. Qualification for examination. An applicant shall satisfy one of the following criteria in order to qualify for the examination: 1. Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a soil science curriculum (see 18 VAC 145-20-91) 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 2. Hold a bachelor'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 3. 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 4. Have at least four years of experience in soil science research or as a teacher of soil science 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. Qualifying experience in soil evaluation. An applicant shall demonstrate experience in two or more of the following areas: 1. Soil mapping. Compiling of soil maps representing at least 5,000 acres as a part of a soil survey or surveys with a formal mapping legend under the direct guidance of an experienced technical supervisor. Acceptable maps shall be maps in a published report, a report scheduled to be published or a report of a publishable quality; 2. Soil evaluation. Conducting at least 20 soil evaluations for specific land uses under the direct guidance of an experienced technical supervisor. Examples of such uses include, but are not limited to, on-site wastewater disposal, residential and commercial development, sanitary landfill sites, forestry or agriculture production, soil erosion and sediment control, shrink-swell or hydric soils. The finished product shall have been submitted to a client or government agency (e.g., Health Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Conservation and Recreation, local planning commission); 3. Field/Laboratory studies. Conducting at least 10 detailed field or laboratory studies under the direct guidance of an experienced technical supervisor. The field or laboratory study shall have resulted in a soil evaluation report that was accepted by the client or government agency; 4. Research/Teaching. Conducting at least one research project as part of a thesis or publication or teaching at least one full time course in a soil science curriculum at an accredited institution of higher education the quality of which demonstrates to the board that the applicant is competent to practice as a professional soil scientist; 5. Consulting (public/private). Assembling or compiling soil information either with existing data or field studies, and evaluating data for a specific land use. The work may be either done independently or under supervision. At least three written reports shall have been submitted to the client or government agency; or 6. Education. Each year of full-time undergraduate study in a soils curriculum or related natural science may count as one-half year of experience up to a maximum of two years. Each year of full-time graduate study in a soils curriculum may count as one year of experience up to a maximum of two years. With a passing grade, 30 semester credit hours or 45 quarter credit hours is considered to be one year. Credits used to meet education requirements may not be used to meet experience requirements. Core course requirements. A. At least 15 semester hours selected from the identified courses below or the equivalent are required for course work or a degree core to be considered a soil science degree or a soil science related degree. Intro to Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Aluminum Chemistry in the Soil System Soil Evaluation Soil Physics or Physical Properties Soils Soil Genesis/Classification Soils Lab Soil Fertility/Management Man and Environment Soil Fertility/Management Lab Soil Survey/Taxonomy Soil/Groundwater Pollution Soil Microbiology Soils for Waste Disposal Soil Resource Management Soil Microbiology Lab Soil Chemistry Forest Soils/Hydrology Topics in Soil Genesis Clay Mineralogy Soil Seminar Soil Interpretations Special Studies(Soils Based) Advanced Concepts in Soil Genesis Field Studies (Soils Based) Independent Studies (Soil Based) Soils and Land Use Soil Biochemistry Soil Physical and Colloidal Chemistry Soil Geomorphology Soil - Plant Relations Soil Conservation Soil - Plant - Animal Interrelationships in Grasslands B. An applicant may petition the board in writing to review the syllabus and other supporting documents of a course not listed in subsection A of this section for academic credit. The course shall contain content to enhance the knowledge of the applicant in the study of soils. The applicant must demonstrate course equivalency in order to receive academic credit. Examination. A. A board-approved examination shall be administered at least twice a year, at a time designated by the department. B. An applicant must meet all eligibility requirements as of the date the application is filed with the department. C. A candidate who is unable to take the examination at the time scheduled must notify the department in writing prior to the date of the examination; such a candidate will be rescheduled for the next examination without additional fee. Failure to so notify the department will result in forfeiture of the examination or reexamination fee. D. A candidate approved to take an examination shall do so within one year of the date of approval or submit a new application and fee in accordance with these regulations. E. Candidates will be notified of passing or failing the examination. F. Upon payment of the reexamination fee, a candidate who fails the examination or any part thereof shall be allowed to retake the failed examination or any part thereof within one year of the date of initial failure notification. After the one-year period has elapsed, an applicant shall be required to submit a new application and fee in accordance with this chapter in order to take the examination. Waiver from examination through reciprocity. An applicant qualified to take the examination may be granted a Virginia certificate without written examination, provided that the applicant holds an unexpired professional soil scientist certificate or equivalent issued on the basis of equivalent requirements for certification in Virginia, by a regulatory body of another state, territory or possession of the United States and is not the subject of any disciplinary proceeding before such regulatory body that could result in the suspension or revocation of his certificate, and such other regulatory body recognizes the certificates issued by this board.
