Geologist-in-Training, Professional Geologist, and Professional Geophysicist Application and Examination Information

General Information:
The following instructions summarize the requirements for certification as a Geologist-in-Training, or licensure as a Professional Geologist, Certified Engineering Geologist, Certified Hydrogeologist, or Professional Geophysicist, but they are not intended to apply to every situation. The applicant is responsible for complying with the current requirements of the Geologist and Geophysicist Act and the Regulations Relating to the Practices of Geology and Geophysics.  If conflicts arise, the Geologist and Geophysicist Act will take precedence.


Neither U.S. Citizenship nor California residency is required for licensure; however, disclosure of your Social Security Number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is mandatory. Your application will not be processed without it.  Additional information is located on the Information Collection, Access and Disclosure page.

 

Eligibility and Experience Requirements:
Review the pertinent sections of the FAQs Regarding Geology and Geophysics Licensure Requirements for licensure/certification eligibility and experience requirements.  Review all applicable laws and regulations to confirm that you meet the qualifying experience requirements before you submit an application to the Board. 

It is the applicant's responsibility to submit a complete application.  A partial application will not be evaluated. The application must demonstrate that an applicant is fully qualified for licensure.

 

Application and Application Filing Process for Geologist-in-Training (GIT) and Professional Geologist (PG) Applicants:

Application Filing for GIT and PG Applicants-
Applicants must use BPELSG Connect to submit an application for licensure/certification.
Check the Exam Schedule for exam dates.  A complete application must be submitted 100 days prior to the scheduled exam date (Title 16, California Code of Regulations section 3021(b)).  A complete PG application is defined as an application that includes a minimum of three (3) references with a response from each professional reference, all relevant transcripts, a passing score on the Laws and Rules exam, and verification of ASBOG exams passed outside of California (if applicable).  PG applicants are encouraged to submit their application well in advance of the 100 days in order to allow sufficient time for each professional reference to complete their response to the reference, for the applicant to submit all of their relevant transcripts, complete and pass the Laws and Rules exam, and request a verification of ASBOG exams passed outside of California (if applicable).  GIT applicants do not submit transcripts or references with their application; however, GIT applicants are also encouraged to submit their application well in advance of the 100 days.

Applicants are required to supply the Board with a full set of fingerprints upon submittal of an application for licensure/certification.  If a GIT or PG applicant has submitted fingerprints with a previous application to the Board, resubmittal with a subsequent application is required if it has been 24 months or more since the last submittal of fingerprints. Please view the Fingerprinting FAQs for detailed information.

For detailed instructions on how to submit an application through BPELSG Connect, application requirements, and eligibility and experience requirements, read the pertinent sections of the FAQs Regarding Geology and Geophysics Licensure Requirements.


Application Status in BPELSG Connect-
Once you submit your application through BPELSG Connect, you will be able to login to your user profile to monitor the status of the application review and address any deficiencies.

Do not contact the Board for status updates; login to your BPELSG Connect account and refer to your dashboard for status updates.  View the Application Status Definitions for detailed information.

 

New Applicants Taking the ASBOG Examination(s)-
The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) exams are administered in a computer-based testing (CBT) format. 

Please be aware that you will not be able to request to take your ASBOG exams through BPELSG Connect once your application is approved; you will only be able to request to take your Professional Geologist California Specific Exam (CSE) through BPELSG Connect (see the CSE section below for additional information).     

All approved applicants will pay exam fees and seat fees directly to ASBOG’s exam vendor Prometric/Iso-Quality Testing (IQT) and sign up for the exam(s) through Prometric/IQT upon email notification.  Prometric/IQT will send an email to all eligible exam candidates in early February for the spring exam and in late August for the fall exam (from the following email address: registrations@isoqualitytesting.com).  Please do not contact ASBOG or Prometric/IQT regarding your eligibility; wait for your email notification.  If you believe that you are eligible, but you do not receive your email notification in the timeframe described above, you may contact the Exam Unit at (916) 999-3644 or BOEXAM@dca.ca.gov.  Be sure to check your SPAM and junk email boxes before contacting the Board.  For additional information about the exams, please read ASBOG’s Candidate Handbook, and continue to monitor ASBOG's website for updated information; however, please do not contact ASBOG. 

The Board does not handle ASBOG exam postponements.  Review ASBOG’s Candidate Handbook for ASBOG’s exam reschedule/postponement policy.

 

New Applicants Taking the Professional Geologist California Specific Exam (CSE)-
Once your application is exam eligible you will need to login to BPELSG Connect to pay for and request to take the CSE.  You will have a choice between the spring or fall exam dates.  Applicants who have yet to schedule and pay their exam fee in BPELSG Connect by January 27th for the spring exam, or August 27th for the fall exam, will need to choose the next exam date. For example, if it is past the current fall date, choose spring; otherwise, you will be scheduled for the fall of the following year.  After payment, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice via email with instructions on how and when to schedule your exam with Prometric.  Contact the Board if you do not receive your ATT after payment is made (check your SPAM and junk email boxes before contacting the Board).  It is recommended that you schedule your exam as soon as you receive the ATT notice to increase your chances of obtaining your preferred testing location and time.

 

Re-taking the ASBOG Examination(s)-
The ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology (FG) and Practice of Geology (PG) exams are administered in a computer-based testing (CBT) format. 

Please be aware that you will not be able to request to take your ASBOG exams through BPELSG Connect; you will only be able to request to take your Professional Geologist California Specific Exam (CSE) through BPELSG Connect (see the CSE section below for additional information). 

Applicants previously approved to take the ASBOG FG and/or PG exam(s) do not need to submit a Re-Exam Application to the Board, create a BPELSG Connect account (only applicants that need to re-take the CSE must create a BPELSG Connect account), or contact the Board in any way to retake the exam(s) that they were previously approved for.  Applicants will pay exam fees and seat fees directly to ASBOG’s exam vendor Prometric/Iso-Quality Testing (IQT) and sign up for the exam(s) through PrometricPrometric/IQT upon email notification.  Prometric/IQT will send an email to all eligible exam candidates in early February for the spring exam and in late August for the fall exam (from the following email address: registrations@isoqualitytesting.com).  Please do not contact ASBOG or Prometric/IQT regarding your eligibility; wait for your email notification.  If you believe that you are eligible, but you do not receive your email notification in the timeframe described above, you may contact the Exam Unit at (916) 999-3644 or BOEXAM@dca.ca.gov.  Be sure to check your SPAM and junk email boxes before contacting the Board.  For additional information about the exams, please read ASBOG’s Candidate Handbook, and continue to monitor ASBOG's website for updated information; however, please do not contact ASBOG.  

The Board does not handle ASBOG exam postponements.  Review ASBOG’s Candidate Handbook for ASBOG’s exam reschedule/postponement policy.

 

Re-taking the Professional Geologist California Specific Exam (CSE)-
If you need to retake the CSE, you must use BPELSG Connect to request the exam and pay the exam fee prior to being authorized by the Board to schedule the exam.   Visit the Re-Exam Information page for details on how to submit the request depending on if you are a legacy applicant (an applicant who has not submitted an initial application or a past exam request in BPELSG Connect) or an applicant who has submitted an initial or past request to take an exam in BPELSG Connect. There is no final filing date.  You will have a choice between the spring or fall exam dates.  Applicants who have yet to schedule and pay their exam fee in BPELSG Connect by January 27th for the spring exam, or August 27th for the fall exam, will need to choose the next exam date. For example, if it is past the current fall date, choose spring; otherwise, you will be scheduled for the fall of the following year.  After payment, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice via email with instructions on how and when to schedule your exam with Prometric.  Contact the Board if you do not receive your ATT after payment is made (check your SPAM and junk email boxes before contacting the Board).  It is recommended that you schedule your exam as soon as you receive the ATT notice to increase your chances of obtaining your preferred testing location and time. 

You are encouraged to request the exam as soon as you receive your exam results indicating a failed result, but please be aware that you will not be able to submit an exam request until after you have received your exam results.

 

Application and Application Filing Process for Certified Engineering Geologist (CEG), Certified Hydrogeologist (CHG), and Professional Geophysicist (PGP) Applicants:
Applicants must submit a paper application for licensure/certification by the final filing date located on the Examination Schedule.

Applicants are required to supply the Board with a full set of fingerprints upon submittal of an application for licensure/certification.  If a CEG, CHG, or PGP applicant has submitted fingerprints with a previous application to the Board, resubmittal with a subsequent application is not needed. Please view the Fingerprinting FAQs for detailed information.

For detailed information on application requirements, and eligibility and experience requirements, read the pertinent sections of the FAQs Regarding Geology and Geophysics Licensure Requirements.

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