ORS 672.565: Certification in specialty; rules; professional affairs committees.

(1) In addition to registering as a geologist, qualified persons also may be eligible for certification in a specialty. A specialty may be created by the State Board of Geologist Examiners by rule, with the rules to contain any required additional qualifications. Only a registered geologist is eligible for certification in a specialty. Application may be submitted for both registration as a geologist and for certification in a specialty at the same time, but the applicant must be approved for registration as a geologist before being considered for certification in a specialty. (2) An applicant for certification in a specialty shall meet all of the requirements of a registered geologist and any special requirements as the board may establish by rule, including a written examination. (3) The board may establish professional affairs committees, as needed, to represent each of the specialties into which the board determines certification of registration may be divided. Membership of each committee shall include geologists certified or qualified in the particular specialty involved. Each committee may: (a) Establish qualifications for certification in its specialty; (b) Establish a description of the practice of that specialty, subject to approval of the board; and (c) Advise the board on professional affairs in which the committee is concerned. (4) Engineering geology shall be one of the specialties requiring certification. (5) The board may establish by rule criteria for exempting persons applying for a certification in a specialty from a written examination requirement. [1977 c.612 §8; 1981 c.295 §3; 2005 c.9 §2; 2019 c.277 §2] Sec. 3. The amendments to ORS 672.565 by section 2 of this 2019 Act apply to applications for certifications in a specialty received by the State Board of Geologist Examiners on or after the effective date of this 2019 Act [January 1, 2020]. Applications received before the effective date of this 2019 Act shall continue to be governed by the law applicable to applications for certifications in a specialty in effect immediately before the effective date of this 2019 Act. [2019 c.277 §3]