Why Geologists should be licensed in New York State:
Public health and welfare:
Geologists routinely make decisions and offer opinions that directly affect public health and welfare.
Legal responsibility:
Professional licensure provides a positive legal responsibility and accountability to the public in matters that involve geology.
Qualification assurance:
Licensure assures the governor, state legislature and state and local agencies that highly qualified geologists are available to work in the state. Licensure of geologists is an acknowledgment by the State of New York that, in the public interest, decisions regarding geologic issues be made by an appropriately qualified professional.
Consumer protection:
The public looks to geologists to solve problems relating to land use and management such as solid waste disposal, ground-water protection, contaminant investigations (e.g. Superfund sites), 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 flooding, 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 those capabilities.