How will regulations help identify qualified practitioners?
The public looks to geologists to solve problems relating to land use and management such as solid waste disposal, ground-water protection, hazardous waste site remediation, sea-level rise, potable water supply development, and public works projects to name just a few. Licensure is particularly important for a regulatory- or service-driven industry where there may be few tangible factors to evaluate. Geologists evaluate natural resources such as oil and gas, and natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides and subsidence, erosion, and flood, all of which have documented occurrence in New York State and have financial impacts of tens of millions of dollars. Professional licensure is a credential by which New York State and the public can recognize a practitioner’s capabilities in advance of the performance of services. Licensure is a mechanism to make the individual practitioner responsible for the results of services.
