(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:
(5) Verification may be in the form of:
(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.
(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:
(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