| (a) Endorsement.
(1) Endorsement is the process whereby TBPG, based
on review of evidence of having completed a requirement for licensure
for an equivalent license in another jurisdiction, determines that
the applicant has met a requirement for licensure as a Professional
Geoscientist.
(2) An applicant for a Professional Geoscientist license
who is currently or has been licensed or registered in the last ten
years to practice a discipline of geoscience in Texas or another United
States jurisdiction (state, commonwealth, or territory, including
the District of Columbia) or another country may be eligible to demonstrate
having met all or some of the qualifications for licensure through
endorsement.
(3) The Board staff will only consider documentation
provided to the TBPG directly from a licensing authority that has
issued a license to the applicant. It is the responsibility of the
applicant to ensure that the licensing authority provides information
to the TBPG and pays any associated costs.
(4) For the Board staff to consider evidence supporting
the endorsement of a licensing qualification, the applicant must ensure
that his or her licensing authority provides:
(A) Verification that the license is current or was
held in the past ten years from the date of application; and
(B) Verification of the specific requirements that
were met to become licensed.
(5) Verification may be in the form of:
(A) A document signed by an authorized agent of the
jurisdiction indicating the specific qualifications that were met
to become licensed; and/or
(B) Copies of specific documents that were submitted
to the licensing authority to document having met a specific requirement.
(6) The TBPG may accept, deny or grant partial credit
for requirements completed in a different jurisdiction.
(b) Reciprocal Licensure.
(1) Licensure by reciprocity agreement.
(A) Licensure by reciprocity agreement is the process
whereby an applicant for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist
in Texas who is currently licensed as a Professional Geoscientist
(or equivalent license) in another United States jurisdiction (state,
commonwealth or territory, including the District of Columbia) or
another country becomes licensed in Texas and the process whereby
an applicant currently licensed as a Professional Geoscientist in
Texas applying for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist (or equivalent
license) in the other jurisdiction becomes licensed in the other jurisdiction
under the terms of a formal reciprocity agreement between the two
jurisdictions.
(B) An applicant who holds a current license in a jurisdiction
with which the TBPG has a reciprocity agreement may apply for licensure
under the terms of the specific reciprocity agreement between the
two jurisdictions.
(C) The TBPG shall maintain a list of each jurisdiction
in which the requirements and qualifications for licensure or registration
are comparable to those established in this state and with which a
reciprocity agreement exists.
(2) Licensure by similar examination. An individual
who is licensed or registered to practice a discipline of geoscience
in another United States jurisdiction (state, commonwealth, or territory,
including the District of Columbia) or another country who has applied
for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist under this subsection
may meet the licensing examination requirement by submitting proof
of passage of examination(s) that is/are substantially similar to
the applicable examination(s) as specified in §851.21 of this
chapter.
(3) Licensure by recognition of licensed experience
in another jurisdiction. An applicant for a Professional Geoscientist
license who is currently licensed or registered to practice a discipline
of geoscience in another United States jurisdiction (state, commonwealth,
or territory, including the District of Columbia) or another country
who was licensed without examination, i.e. "grandfathered" shall be
deemed to have met the examination requirement upon verification of
the following:
(A) Verification of a valid licensure in the other
jurisdiction. The applicant requesting licensure under this subsection
must be in good standing with the jurisdiction in which that individual
holds their current license as a professional geologist or geoscientist;
(B) Verification of at least five (5) years of responsible
professional geoscience work experience since the date of their initial
licensure;
(C) Verification that licensure was maintained continuously
(including sequential licensure, if a license was held in more than
one jurisdiction) during the five (5) years prior to application with
the TBPG;
(D) Verification of having met the education requirement
for licensure; and
(E) Verification that no complaint is pending against
the applicant, that no complaint against the applicant has been substantiated,
and no disciplinary action has ever been taken against the applicant.
(4) The applicant seeking licensure under this subsection
shall be responsible for contacting the jurisdiction(s) in which the
applicant is currently licensed and all jurisdictions in which the
applicant has ever been licensed and cause to have verification of
information in subparagraphs (A) - (E) of paragraph (3) of this subsection
submitted to TBPG.
|
| Source Note: The provisions of this §851.29 adopted to be effective December 15, 2010, 35 TexReg 10695; amended to be effective July 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 4596; amended to be effective December 11, 2014, 39 TexReg 9539; amended to be effective November 24, 2016, 41 TexReg 9138; amended to be effective October 31, 2018, 43 TexReg 7140; amended to be effective March 6, 2022, 47 TexReg 947 |
