Published: 2015-07-08
Key Benefits:
This chapter of the Business and Professions Code constitutes the chapter on geologists and geophysicists. It may be cited as the Geologist and Geophysicist Act.
(Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1396.)
(a) “Board,” as used in this chapter, means the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists established under Section 6710. Any reference in any law or regulation to the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists or the State Board of Registration for Geologists and Geophysicists shall be deemed to refer to the Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists.
(b) The board shall succeed to, and is vested with, all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction previously vested in the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists.
(c) The board shall receive two personnel years that were previously allocated to the Board for Geologists and Geophysicists for the performance of the board’s responsibilities under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 696, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2011.)
“Geology,” as used in this chapter, refers to that science which treats of the earth in general; investigation of the earth’s crust and the rocks and other materials which compose it; and the applied science of utilizing knowledge of the earth and its constituent rocks, minerals, liquids, gases and other materials for the benefit of mankind.
(Added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 942.)
“Geophysics,” as used in this chapter, refers to that science which involves study of the physical earth by means of measuring its natural and induced fields of force, including, but not limited to, electric, gravity, and magnetic, and its responses to natural and induced energy and the interpreting of these measurements and the relating of them to the physics of the earth.
(Amended by Stats. 1973, Ch. 873.)
“Geologist,” as used in this chapter, refers to a person engaged in the practice of geology.
(Added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 942.)
“Geophysicist,” as used in this chapter, refers to a person engaged in the practice of geophysics.
(Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1396.)
Only a person registered as a geologist under the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to take and use the title “professional geologist.” Only a person registered as a geologist and certified under the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to take and use the title of a registered certified specialty geologist.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 865, Sec. 18. Effective January 1, 2005.)
Only a person registered as a geophysicist under the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to take and use the title “professional geophysicist.” Only a person registered as a geophysicist and certified under the provisions of this chapter shall be entitled to take and use the title of a registered certified specialty geophysicist.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 657, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2006.)
The term “responsible charge of work” means the independent control and direction by the use of initiative, skill and independent judgment of geological or geophysical work or the supervision of such work.
(Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1396.)
A subordinate is any person who assists a professional geologist or professional geophysicist in the practice of geology or geophysics without assuming the responsible charge of work.
(Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 657, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2006.)
A qualified geologist is a person who possesses all the qualifications specified in Section 7841 for registration except that he is not registered.
(Added by Stats. 1968, Ch. 942.)
A qualified geophysicist is a person who possesses all the qualifications specified in Section 7841.1 for registration except that he is not registered.
(Added by Stats. 1972, Ch. 1396.)