Current through August 26, 2024
(1) REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS. All applicants for
initial licensure as a professional soil scientist shall pass examinations for
the professional practice of soil science approved by the professional soil
scientist section. Required examinations shall include a fundamentals
examination and a principles and practice examination.
(2) FUNDAMENTALS EXAMINATION. The
fundamentals examination requires an understanding of the physical and
mathematical sciences involved in the fundamentals of soil science. To be
eligible to take the fundamentals examination, an applicant shall have done one
of the following:
(a) Be of not less than
second semester senior standing in a bachelor of science program in soil
science meeting the requirements of s.
GHSS 4.04.
(b)
Have completed at least 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours of course credits
for the degree in soil science meeting the requirements of s.
GHSS 4.04.
(c)
Have at least 4 years of experience which is determined by the professional
soil scientist section to be equivalent to the requirements of s.
GHSS 4.04.
(3) PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE EXAMINATION. The
principles and practice examination requires the ability to apply soil science
principles and judgment to problems in the practice of professional soil
science.
(a) To be eligible to take the
principles and practice examination, an applicant under s.
470.04(4) (c) 1, Stats., shall have done the following:
1. Met the requirements under s.
470.04(4) (a),
Stats.
2. Met the requirement under
s. 470.04(4) (b),
Stats., or have at least 5 years of professional experience in addition to the
qualifying experience under subd. 3., which is determined by the professional
soil scientist section to be equivalent to the requirement under s.
470.04(4) (b),
Stats.
3. Completed at least 4
years of professional experience in soil science work of a character
satisfactory to the professional soil scientist section, or completed at least
3 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character
satisfactory to the section if the applicant has one or more advanced degrees
relevant to the practice of professional soil science, demonstrating that the
applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science work. At
least one year of the qualifying professional experience under this subdivision
must have been performed under the supervision of one or more of the following:
a. A person who is at the time of application
licensed as a professional soil scientist under this chapter or who, during the
period of supervised experience, was licensed as a professional soil scientist
under ch., 1997 Stats.
b. A person
who, during the period of supervised experience, was licensed as a professional
soil scientist in another state, territory or possession of the United States
or in another country that has licensure requirements for professional soil
scientists that are not lower than the requirements for licensure under this
chapter.
c. A person who, during
the period of supervised experience, is deemed by the professional soil
scientist section to have been qualified to have responsible charge of soil
science work.
(b) To be eligible to take the principles and
practice examination, an applicant under s.
470.04(4) (c) 2, Stats., shall have done the following:
1. Met the requirements under s.
470.04(4) (a),
Stats.
2. Met the requirement under
s. 470.04(4) (b),
Stats., or have at least 5 years of professional experience in addition to the
qualifying experience under subd. 3., which is determined by the professional
soil scientist section to be equivalent to the requirement under s.
470.04(4) (b),
Stats.
3. Completed at least 6
years of professional experience in soil science work of a character
satisfactory to the professional soil scientist section, or completed at least
5 years of professional experience in soil science work of a character
satisfactory to the section if the applicant has one or more advanced degrees
relevant to the practice of professional soil science, demonstrating that the
applicant is qualified to assume responsible charge of soil science work. At
least one year of the qualifying professional experience under this subdivision
must have been performed under a peer review system approved by the
professional soil scientist section.
(3m) APPLICATION FOR EXAMINATION. An
applicant for initial licensure shall file an application for examination with
the professional soil scientist section not less than 2 months before the
scheduled date of the examination.
(4) AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT.
Otherwise qualified applicants with disabilities shall be provided with
reasonable accommodations.
(5)
EXAMINATION AND REFUND FEES. The fee for the examinations for professional soil
scientists and the requirements for refund of fees are specified in s.
440.05, Stats., and ch. SPS 4,
respectively.
(6) PLACE AND TIME OF
EXAMINATIONS. The examinations required by this section shall be held at sites
and on dates designated by the professional soil scientist section.
(7) PASSING SCORES.
(a) The passing scores set by the
professional soil scientist section represent the minimum competency required
to protect public health and safety.
(b) The fundamentals of soil science and the
principles and practice of soil science examinations are scored separately. An
applicant shall achieve a passing score on each of the required examinations to
qualify for licensure.
(c) The
professional soil scientist section may accept the recommendations of the
examination provider for the passing scores on the fundamentals of soil science
and the principles and practice of soil science examinations.
(8) CHEATING. The professional
soil scientist section may deny release of scores or issuance of a credential
if the board determines that the applicant violated rules of conduct of the
examination or otherwise acted dishonestly.
