(a) Unless registered with the TBPG or exempt from Firm registration requirements under TOC §1002.351, an individual, firm, or corporation may not represent to the public that the individual, firm, or corporation is a licensed geoscientist or able to perform geoscience services or prepare a geoscientific report, document, or other record that requires the seal of a Professional Geoscientist.
(b) The Appointed Board may revoke a certificate of registration that was obtained in violation of the Act and/or TBPG rules including, but not limited to, fraudulent or misleading information submitted in the application.
(c) A business entity or sole practitioner that is not registered with the TBPG may not represent to the public by way of letters, signs, or symbols as a part of any sign, directory, listing, contract, document, pamphlet, stationery, advertisement, signature, or business name that it is engaged in the public practice of geoscience by using the terms:
  (1) "Professional Geoscientist;"
  (2) "licensed geoscientist;"
  (3) "registered geoscientist;"
  (4) "licensed Professional Geoscientist;"
  (5) "registered Professional Geoscientist;" or
  (6) any abbreviation or variation of those terms listed in paragraphs (1) - (5) of this subsection, or directly or indirectly use or cause to be used any of those terms in combination with other words.
(d) The Appointed Board may revoke or suspend a Firm's registration, place on probation a Firm whose registration has been suspended, reprimand a Geoscience Firm, or assess an administrative penalty against a Geoscience Firm for a violation of any provision of TBPG rules or the Act by the Firm or any employee of the Firm. The Appointed Board also may take action against an Applicant pursuant to §851.110 of this chapter.

Source Note: The provisions of this §851.152 adopted to be effective December 15, 2010, 35 TexReg 10695; amended to be effective November 1, 2012, 37 TexReg 8019; amended to be effective June 1, 2013, 38 TexReg 3352; amended to be effective December 11, 2014, 39 TexReg 9539; amended to be effective March 18, 2015, 40 TexReg 1384; amended to be effective March 15, 2016, 41 TexReg 1843; amended to be effective March 6, 2022, 47 TexReg 947