IC 25-31.5-4
    Chapter 4. Requirements for Registration as a Professional SoilScientist or an Associate Soil Scientist

IC 25-31.5-4-1
Qualifications of professional soil scientists
    Sec. 1. To qualify for registration as a professional soil scientistunder this chapter, an applicant must:
        (1) satisfy the education requirement described in section 2 ofthis chapter;
        (2) pass the examinations described in section 3 of this chapter;
        (3) satisfy the work requirement described in section 4 of thischapter; and
        (4) pay the registration fee described in section 10 of thischapter.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-2
Educational requirements
    Sec. 2. (a) The education requirement for registration as aprofessional soil scientist consists of a bachelor's degree or advanceddegree in soil science or a closely allied field in which the curriculumincludes the following:
        (1) At least fifteen (15) semester hours of course work in thesoil sciences, including at least three (3) semester hours incourses that emphasize the field study of soils, such as soilgenesis, morphology, classification, interpretation, andmapping.
        (2) At least forty-five (45) semester hours of course work insupporting sciences, including biology, chemistry, crop science,engineering, geology, mathematics, physics, and statistics.
    (b) The board shall determine which courses fulfill therequirements set forth in subsection (a)(1).
    (c) The board shall specify the minimum number of credits ineach type of supporting science needed to satisfy the requirementdescribed in subsection (a)(2).
    (d) If course credits used by an applicant to qualify for registrationare in units other than semester hours, the board shall use the mostgenerally accepted factor to convert the units to semester hourequivalents.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-3
Examinations
    Sec. 3. The board shall require an applicant for registration as aprofessional soil scientist to pass:
        (1) a written examination designed to demonstrate whether theapplicant has the necessary knowledge and skill to exercise theresponsibilities of the public practice of soil science; and
        (2) an examination that evaluates field skills in soil morphology

and landscape analysis.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-4
Work requirement
    Sec. 4. (a) The work requirement for registration as a professionalsoil scientist consists of three (3) years of professional experience insoil science.
    (b) Experience obtained while working on an advanced degreedoes not qualify toward the satisfaction of the work requirement ofsubsection (a). However, the board may allow up to:
        (1) one (1) year of work credit for a master's degree; and
        (2) two (2) years of work credit for a doctorate.
    (c) The board shall:
        (1) evaluate all work experience claimed by an applicant tosatisfy the work requirement under this section; and
        (2) determine the amount of work credit to grant each applicant.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-5
Eligibility of associate soil scientists to become professional soilscientists
    Sec. 5. A registered associate soil scientist who satisfies the workrequirement of section 4 of this chapter is eligible to become aregistered professional soil scientist.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-6
Qualifications of associate soil scientists
    Sec. 6. (a) To qualify for registration as an associate soil scientistunder this chapter, an individual must:
        (1) satisfy the education requirement described in section 2 ofthis chapter;
        (2) pass the examinations described in section 3 of this chapter;and
        (3) pay the registration fee described in section 10 of thischapter.
    (b) An individual is not required to satisfy the work requirementdescribed in section 4 of this chapter in order to qualify forregistration as an associate soil scientist.
    (c) The board may establish a maximum period during which anindividual may be registered as an associate soil scientist.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-7
Documentation required
    Sec. 7. The board may require an applicant for registration underthis chapter to provide documentation of competency and integrity.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.
IC 25-31.5-4-8
Reciprocity
    Sec. 8. Upon application by the individual, the board may allowthe registration under this chapter of an individual who is registeredas a soil scientist in a state that, as determined by the board, hasstandards for registration at least equal to those of this chapter.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-9
Requests for administrative review
    Sec. 9. An individual who:
        (1) seeks registration under this chapter; and
        (2) is aggrieved by a determination of the board under thischapter;
may request administrative review under IC 25-31.5-9.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.

IC 25-31.5-4-10
Registration fees
    Sec. 10. (a) An individual applying for registration under thischapter must pay a nonrefundable registration fee in an amountestablished by rules adopted by the board under IC 4-22-2.
    (b) All registration fees collected under this section shall bedeposited in the soil scientist registration fund established byIC 25-31.5-3-9.
As added by P.L.244-2001, SEC.1.