(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:
    (A) Verification that the license is current or was held in the past ten years from the date of application; and
    (B) Verification of the specific requirements that were met to become licensed.
  (5) Verification may be in the form of:
    (A) A document signed by an authorized agent of the jurisdiction indicating the specific qualifications that were met to become licensed; and/or
    (B) Copies of specific documents that were submitted to the licensing authority to document having met a specific requirement.
  (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.
    (A) Licensure by reciprocity agreement is the process whereby an applicant for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist in Texas who is currently licensed as a Professional Geoscientist (or equivalent license) in another United States jurisdiction (state, commonwealth or territory, including the District of Columbia) or another country becomes licensed in Texas and the process whereby an applicant currently licensed as a Professional Geoscientist in Texas applying for licensure as a Professional Geoscientist (or equivalent license) in the other jurisdiction becomes licensed in the other jurisdiction under the terms of a formal reciprocity agreement between the two jurisdictions.
    (B) An applicant who holds a current license in a jurisdiction with which the TBPG has a reciprocity agreement may apply for licensure under the terms of the specific reciprocity agreement between the two jurisdictions.
    (C) The TBPG shall maintain a list of each jurisdiction in which the requirements and qualifications for licensure or registration are comparable to those established in this state and with which a reciprocity agreement exists.
  (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:
    (A) Verification of a valid licensure in the other jurisdiction. The applicant requesting licensure under this subsection must be in good standing with the jurisdiction in which that individual holds their current license as a professional geologist or geoscientist;
    (B) Verification of at least five (5) years of responsible professional geoscience work experience since the date of their initial licensure;
    (C) Verification that licensure was maintained continuously (including sequential licensure, if a license was held in more than one jurisdiction) during the five (5) years prior to application with the TBPG;
    (D) Verification of having met the education requirement for licensure; and
    (E) Verification that no complaint is pending against the applicant, that no complaint against the applicant has been substantiated, and no disciplinary action has ever been taken against the applicant.
  (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