§ 89F-10. (For grandfather provision, see editor's note) Minimum qualifications. - North Carolina Statutes

§89F‑10.  (For grandfather provision, see editor's note) Minimumqualifications.

(a)        To be eligible fora license as a soil scientist in this State, an applicant shall satisfy thefollowing minimum qualifications:

(1)        Be of good moral andethical character as attested to by (i) four letters of reference, two of whichshall be written by licensed soil scientists or persons who are eligible forlicensure under this Chapter, and (ii) an agreement signed by the applicant toadhere to the Code of Professional Conduct adopted pursuant to G.S. 89F‑17.For purposes of this requirement, "good moral and ethical character"means character that tends to ensure faithful discharge of the duties of alicensed soil scientist.

(2)        Hold at least abachelor of science degree from an accredited college or university with aminimum of 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in agricultural, biological,physical, or earth sciences and at least 15 semester hours or an equivalentnumber of quarter hours in soil science. The Board may adopt rules specifyingcombinations of education and experience that an applicant may substitute for abachelor of science degree.

(3)        Successfully pass anexamination established by the Board. The examination shall be designed todemonstrate whether the applicant has the necessary knowledge and requisiteskill to exercise the responsibilities of the practice of soil science.

(4)        Subject tosubsection (b) of this section, have at least three years of professional workexperience as a soil scientist under the supervision of a licensed soilscientist, or a soil scientist who is eligible for licensure, under thisChapter, or a minimum of three cumulative years of professional work experienceas a soil scientist in responsible charge of work satisfactory to the Board andin accordance with standards established by the Board by rule.

(b)        An applicant maysubstitute an advanced degree in soil science for a portion of the professionalwork experience requirement. The Board, in its discretion, may allow anapplicant to substitute a masters degree in soil science for one year ofprofessional work experience and to substitute a doctoral degree in soilscience for two years of professional work experience. The Board, in itsdiscretion, may allow an applicant to substitute experience gained throughteaching upper level soil science courses at the college or university level orresearch in soil science for all or any portion of the professional workexperience requirement if the Board finds the teaching or research to be equivalentto the responsible charge of work by a soil scientist.

(c)        The Board shalldesignate an applicant who meets all the requirements for a license under thisChapter except the professional work experience requirement as a soil scientist‑in‑training.A soil scientist‑in‑training may apply for a license uponcompletion of the professional work experience requirement. (1995,c. 414, s. 1.)