MISSISSIPPI STATE
BOARD OF REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL GEOLOGISTS
NEW PHYSICAL ADDRESS:
777 HARRIS STREET, SUITE 103
JACKSON, MS 39202
MAILING ADDRESS:
P.O. BOX 22742
JACKSON, MS 39225-2742
Phone: 601/354-6370
geology@msbrpg.state.ms.us
Rick L. Ericksen,
RPG, CPG
Executive Director
Introduction
The Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997 is enacted legislation requiring the registration of geologists practicing within Mississippi. The Act contains the requirements for registration, definitions of terms, as well as a description of the governing board. This legislation was passed during the 1997 Legislative session and was effective July 1, 1997. This legislation was revised during the 2006 Legislative session. The resulting legislation, that was effective on July 1, 2006, no longer has a repealer (sunset) provision, changes the renewal period from biennial (every two years) to annually (each year), changes fees (please see "New Fees" for important information), and contains some minor revisons related to ethics.
Application
Package
All forms and the required reading of the Rules of the Board, including the codified Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997, may be downloaded from this site. The entire application package is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader software, it is available free from Adobe. To download, click on the following, Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once there, follow the instructions to download the software. After downloading the Adobe Acrobat Reader, click on the following to download the application package - APPLICATION . All of the required forms and instructions for filling out the application are contained therein.
You must have a completed Geologist-In-Training (GIT) or Registered Professional Geologist (RPG) Application per above on file with the Board prior being allowed to take either the ASBOG Fundamentals of Geology or the Practices of Geology Examinations. You may take only one exam per exam offering. Also note that you will be considered for registration as a RPG only after the successful passage of both ASBOG examinations.
The application and reference forms may be filled out on screen. After completing the required forms you only then need to print them utilizing your printer. It is suggested that you print each page immediately after it is completed in case you have computer or printer problems, as the Application cannot be saved.
Members of the Board of Registered Professional Geologists
Everett J. Ferris, Earth Consulting Group, representing government sector (Term: July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2013).
Darrel W. Schmitz, Ph.D., President, Mississippi State University; representing academia (Term: July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2013).
Mike Wright, Vice President MDOT, representing at large sector (Term: July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012).
Ken Ruckstuhl,Environmental Management Services, representing geotechnical/environmental industrial sector (Term: July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2012).
Maurice N. Birdwell, Consulting Geologist; representing mining/extraction sector (Term: July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2015);
Important News plus
Dates of Upcoming Meetings and ASBOG Examinations
IMPORTANT - BOARD ON THE MOVE! Effective March 19, 2012 the Board's offices will be relocated to 777 Harris Street, located just off of I-55 and High Street,
near downtown Jackson (Please see location map and photo of building below). The Board is very pleased with this new location and building and hopes that it will increase its
accessibility in serving its registrants, enrollees, and the public.
Board Meetings - The next regularly scheduled
meeting of the Board is Tuesday, June 19, 2012 starting at 5:30 PM at the
Board's Office, Suite 103 located at 777 Harris Street, Jackson, MS 39202. The public is welcome, invited, and
encouraged to attend. If you need traveling directions or have an agenda item
that you wish to address before the Board, please contact the Board's Executive
Director at 601/354-6370 or e-mail at: geology@msbrpg.state.ms.us.
Credit/Debit Card Renewal Payments Rules and Regulations of the Board DISCIPLINARY
ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MSBRPG IMPORTANT NEW EXAMINATION ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS: RECEIPT OF PROCTORING FORM AND FEE, AUGUST 7, 2012;
ASBOG RECEIPT OF AUTHORIATION FORM AND EXAM PAYMENT, AUGUST 21, 2012 FOR THE OCTOBER 5, 5, 2012 EXAMS: Assessment/Exit ExaminationsRENEWALS - The MSBRPG is concluding its renewal period for calendar year 2012. If you have
not received your payment receipt letter yet it may because you have not returned your questionnaire/demographic
form. Please return your form as soon as possible. If you have not yet paid you may do so by making a secure
payment by clicking the following link (note that you should use Internet Explorer as other browsers are NOT supported):
MSBRPG revised Rules and Regulations Adopted - The Board has submitted its compilation of revised Rules and Regulations to the
Mississippi Secretary of State's Office and they were subsequently adopted after receiving no comments.
The MSBRPG has contacted Dr. M.B. Kumar, Acting Chairman for the yet to be formed Louisiana Board and has formally requested that all Mississippi RPGs be considered for licensure in Louisiana via its
current time frame for grandfathering. This was done to ensure that all Mississippi RPGs that may want to become licensed there will not be disallowed from doing so. The current grandfathering period
for Louisiana ends at midnight, December 31, 2011. It is expected that a new grandfathering period will be initiated when legislative amendments are proposed during the anticipated March, 2012
convening of the Louisiana Legislature. Our actions will ensure all Mississippi RPGs the ability to obtain a license if the grandfathering time frame is not altered.
MSBRPG PRESS RELEASE - June 14, 2011 - The MSBRPG Elects
New Officers for FY 2012MSBRPG PRESS RELEASE - November 2, 2010 - The ASBOG Foundation Elects
New Officers. Jackson, MS - The ASBOG Foundation, formed in 2007 to support the Association of State Boards of Geology,
has elected Dr. Darrel Schmitz (MSBRPG Board member, current Board President) as the Foundation's new President.
Rick Ericksen, the Board's Executive Director was also nominated to serve on the Foundation's Board of Directors
and was subsequently elected as the Foundation's Treasurer. For more information about the ASBOG Foundation and how
to become a Sponsor, please go to www.asbogfoundation.org for more details.MSBRPG SIGNS COMITY/RECIPROCITY
AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL GEOSCIENTISTS - The MSBRPG has
signed an agreement with the Texas Board effective September 1, 2008. Please
scroll down to the section titled Comity Agreements for a copy of that
agreement as well as those with Arkansas, Alabama, and GeorgiaNOTICE: COMPLIANCE REVIEWS OF STATE AGENCIES - The MSBRPG
has been reviewing geoscience reports that are being generated in and being
submitted to state agencies over the past several months to ensure that they
are being properly signed and stamped by RPGs, that those who are submitting
such documents are registered to practice, etc. as required pursuant to the
Geologist Practice Act of 1997, as amended, and the Rules of the Board (please
see those documents as well as RPG Guidance Document 2007-01, below, and other
documents on this web site for additional information concerning the public
practice of geology in the State of Mississippi)DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS OF THE BOARD - PLEASE CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR A
LISTING OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY TAKEN BY THE MSBRPGSTAMPING/SEALING AND SIGNING
REQUIREMENTSASBOG EXAMINATION SCHEDULE -
Fundamentals of Geology and Practice of Geology Examinations
For those taking either the Fundamentals of Geology (FG) or the Practice of Geology (PG) examination you must submit the following proctoring form along with payment of a $25.00 proctoring fee to the MSBRPG no later than August 7, 2012. Once this form and payment have been received we will send you an ASBOG Authorization form that you must complete and mail with the examination payment directly to ASBOG. Remember that you must have prior authorization from this Board to sit for the examination, no exceptions. Further, ASBOG must receive the form (Authorization/Examination Order Form ) and examination fee payment no later that August 21, 2012. If ASBOG does not physically receive that form and fee payment by 5:00 pm, August 21, 2012 you will not be allowed to order the exam and you will forfeit your fee paid that accompanied your Proctoring/Verification Form sent to us. YOU CANNOT ORDER THE EXAM WITHOUT THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF THIS BOARD
GIT AND RPG EXAM AUTHORIZATION FORM The Board will audit
those involved in the program periodically to assure that those registrants who
have elected to be involved in the program are: 1) in ethical compliance
pursuant to Board Rules and the RPG Act of 1997; and 2) also in compliance with
the terms and conditions as set forth in the continuing education and
professional development program. Click the following
link to view the Official Guidelines adopted by the Board for its Voluntary
Continuing Education and Professional Development Program (requires Adobe
Acrobat, downloadable for the link at the top of this page. PROGRAM GUIDELINES Click the following
link for the participation letter required to enroll in this program (requires
Adobe Acrobat, downloadable from the link at the top of this page) - the form
letter is designed to be filled out on screen and then printed and mailed to
the Board at the PO Box address at the top of this page. PARTICIPATION LETTER RPG
Guidance Document No. 2000-01, Is a RPG required to acquire well samples on
site for analysis or can the work of sample collection be done by a qualified
technician? RPG
Guidance Document No. 2000-02, Guide for sealing/stamping of geologic
documents by state government employees RPG
Guidance Document No. 2002-01, Must an RPG sign and stamp/seal geologic
reports, maps, lithologic logs, X-sections, or other geologic information,
documents, or literature research documents upon which geologic inferences
and/or conclusions are made relative to geologic or geohydrologic
conditions/settings/environments of an area, or any other investigations of
geologic or geohydrologic nature which are submitted or required to be
submitted to public agencies and/or their contractors/subcontractors of the
state of Mississippi? RPG
Guidance Document No. 2007-01, Detailed Guidance Document for
sealing/stamping and signing geologic documents, maps, etc. by all Registered
Professional Geologists Further
Information
For
additional information regarding registration in Mississippi, please contact
the Board. BOARD'S
NEW OFFICE LOCATION -
BUILDING PHOTO
Registered
Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997 Rules
of the Board (requires Adobe Acrobat) Listing
of Registered Professional Geologists - As of 03/12/12 Listing
of Geologists-In-Training - As of 03/01/12 Complaint Form (Adobe Acrobat Format) Order form for stamp and/or embosser (Adobe Acrobat
Format) - Registrants must order these items from the Board in accordance
with the Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997. Verification form (Adobe Acrobat Format) To be used
when appling with the MSBRPG for licensure/registration for the state(s) in
which you currently hold a license or registration. Send to the state(s) where
you are licensed and have them send this form directly from that board to the
Mississippi Board. Special Edition of the the RPG News - 2004 Association of State Boards of Geology web site Useful Geoscience Web Resources Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional
Geologists Disclaimer The Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists,
last changed: 5:38 pm, 2012ASBOG
AUTHORIZATION FORMNEW REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT RENEWAL DATE AND NEW FEE
SCHEDULE - As a result of the changes put into place during the 2006
Legislative session, there has been a change in renewal/enrollment payment due
dates. Instead of these payments being on a quarterly basis they will be due
annually on or before January 1 of each year. There has also been important
changes concerning fees. Please review the following two links concerning the
new fee schedule now in place and your pro-rated renewal or enrollment fee
payment due (see "Your Renewal Fee Calculation and Amount Due below).Announcement - The ASBOG Foundation. In the effort to secure additional
funds, for example funds to help defray travel/lodging costs for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)
who semi-annually attend workshops at various locations in the U.S., the ASBOG Foundation was
formed. The Foundation is a 501 c(6), not for profit organization. Those interested in becoming
a Sponsor should visit the Foundation's web site at: www.asbogfoundation.orgFACTOIDS, LEGISLATION, AND TRIVIA - CHECK IT OUT!!!
Requires Adobe Reader available at the top of this page. FACTOIDSUST REGULATION REVISIONS ADOPTED BY THE MISSISSIPPI
COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY - The MCEQ at its March 25, 2004 adopted in
unamity the revisions related to Underground Storage Tank work and after the
withdrawal of an Evidentiary Hearing request by the Board for Registration of
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors the regulations are now in full force
and effect. As adopted an "Environmental Response Action Contractor"
may be a geologist or engineer. The scope of each professions work
activities is subject to the laws governing each. The MSBRPG initiated
discussions with the MDEQ some 3 1/2 years ago concerning these regulations to
bring them into compliance with the MS RPG law which has been in place since
July 1, 1997.Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of
Registered Professional Geologists and the Board of Registration for
Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors - The following document is the
Memorandum of Understanding which became effective on October 5, 1999. Please
click on the following to view this agreement Memorandum of
UnderstandingVOLUNTARY CONTINUING EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - The Board has formally adopted guidelines related to its'
Voluntary Continuing Education and Professional Development Program. Those that
wish to participate in the program must first contact the Board requesting
their inclusion. Once enrolled you, the registrant, are required to keep
records of the continuing education courses, seminars, college course work,
presentations, published articles, etc. which you have attended or
authored/co-authored. The registrant's participation in this program will be
indicated on the official roster of the Board maintained at the Board's office
and also on this web site.Do you have a matter (an issue, concern, or opinion) that
you would like to discuss or share with a Board member or the Board? Please
send an e-mail with your comments as feedback to the Board member or the Board.
All such correspondence will be treated confidentially, just click on the
following to communicate your issue, concern, or opinion - it will be directed
to the Board member to which you wish to contact. geology@msbrpg.state.ms.us COMITY AGREEMENTS - Due to the increased number of
questions concerning these agreements, please click on the following links to
determine whether or not you qualify. Note that we now have an agreement with
Texas, effective September 1, 2008 (Adobe Acrobat Reader required). If you use one of the
existing agreements please note that we still require the following: Completed Parts A, B,
and C of the MSBRPG Application Package (found at the top of this page); One (1) completed reference
from the time you were registered/licensed in the state whose agreement you are applying for comity/reciprocity
with covering the time frame of your registration/licensure there up until current; and certified copies of your
file on file with that board.Mississippi/Alabama Comity Agreement - Mississippi/Georgia
Comity Agreement - Mississippi/Arkansas Comity Agreement
- Mississippi/Texas Comity Agreement Board Guidance Documents -The following documents are
provided by the MSBRPG for guidance purposes. Should you have any questions
concerning these documents or wish the Board to address other questions related
to geologic practice in Mississippi please contact the Board.Attorney General Opinion -The following opinion was
issued on August 11, 2000 in response to a request by the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality. This opinion was issued in response to
questions concerning stamping-embossing and signing of geologic reports etc.
Board Opinion No. 2000-02 also addresses this issue and the Board's Opinion and
Attorney General's Opinion are in agreement. This document may also be accessed
from the Attorney General's web site, http://www.ago.state.ms.us. Should you
have any questions concerning these documents please contact the Board. Click
on the following to review this document August 11, 2000
Attorney General's Opinion
geology@msbrpg.state.ms.us - or by
phone at 601/354-6370 or write to: Rick Ericksen,
Executive Director, Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional
Geologists, P.O. Box 22742, Jackson, MS 39225-2742. Please note: The Board has
entered into reciprocity/comity agreements with Alabama, Georgia and recently
with Arkansas whereby registrants of those boards may apply to the MSBRPG by
completing sections A - C of the Application Package available above. Before
applying for registration by reciprocity/comity please contact your respective
board or read the appropriate agreement posted herein to determine whether you
qualify. If you determine that you qualify please have your respective board
(Alabama, Georgia, Texas, or Arkansas) send directly to this Board the following
information:
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS, FORMS, AND
ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS
ARCHIVED RPG NEWSLETTERS ETC. Note: All documents in this section
require Adobe Acrobat Reader available by clicking on the Adobe icon at the top
of this page. RELATED LINKS
