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Geologist License Exam

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The ASBOG (National Association of State Boards of Geology) exam, your last geology hurdle getting you out of the geologist-in-training title. The information provided is subject to the state you are in and their specific requirements. Before becoming a licensed professional geologist, you usually have to gain 5 years of professional experience or at least 3 years and have taken the geologist-in-training exam. The two exam, usually offered in twice a year in March/October, cover topics ranging from environmental geology to engineering and petroleum geology. It’ll basically test you on everything you’ve learned and then some. 

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Fundamentals of Geology Exam (FG) - this exam covers basic core principals universal to all accredited geology programs. It's mostly focused on the basics of what you learn as a geology student.

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Geologist in Training (GIT) - once you pass the FG exam you are a GIT.

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Practice of Geology Exam (PG) - this is the exam for people who have been working in the field of geology for a specific number of years (varies from state to state) and focuses more on practical applications of geology that are used in the most common geology-related fields - the focus is primarily on applications in oil and gas exploration/ development, mining, and environmental/ hydrogeology applications.

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Professional Geologist (PG) - in some places referred to as Licensed Professional Geologist (LPG) or Registered Geologist (RG), likely to try to distinguish the acronym from the exam, which can be confusing; this is someone who has passed both the FG and the PG exam.

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The ASBOG provides a list of free textbook materials, link here and the REG review provides study questions, flash cards and courses.

 

Links to requirements for each state (only 32 require a license): (under construction)

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Alabama 
Alaska 
Arizona 
Arkansas 
California 
Connecticut 
Delaware 
Florida 
Georgia 
Idaho 
Illinois

Indiana 
Kansas 
Kentucky 
Louisiana 
Maine 
Massachusetts 
Minnesota 
Mississippi 
Missouri 

Nebraska 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey
New York 
North Carolina 
Oregon 
Pennsylvania

South Carolina 
Tennessee 
Texas 
Utah  
Virginia 
Washington 
Wisconsin 
Wyoming

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