TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
TITLE 18. PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING
BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL SOIL SCIENTISTS, WETLAND PROFESSIONALS, AND GEOLOGISTS
Final Regulation
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists is claiming an exemption from Article 2 of the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 4 a of the Code of Virginia, which excludes regulations that are necessary to conform to changes in Virginia statutory law or the appropriation act where no agency discretion is involved. The board will receive, consider, and respond to petitions by any interested person at any time with respect to reconsideration or revision.
Title of Regulation: 18VAC145-20. Professional Soil Scientists Regulations (amending 18VAC145-20-145).
Statutory Authority: § 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: November 1, 2026.
Agency Contact: Kathleen R. Nosbisch, Executive Director, Board for Professional Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-8514, fax (804) 527-4294, or email psswpg@dpor.virginia.gov.
Summary:
Pursuant to Chapter 460 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly, the amendment changes the requirement for continuing education from eight contact hours per year to eight hours per renewal cycle.
18VAC145-20-145. Continuing education requirements.
A. Licensees must complete eight hours of continuing education (CE) per year renewal cycle for renewal or reinstatement. CE must be completed pursuant to the provisions of this section.
B. CE must be completed during the time prior to the renewal or reinstatement of a license and will be valid for that renewal or reinstatement only.
C. CE activities completed by licensees may be accepted by the board, provided the activity:
1. Consists of content and subject matter directly related to the practice of soil science;
2. Has a clear purpose and objective that will maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the practice of soil science and may be in areas related to business practices, including project management, risk management, and ethics, that have demonstrated relevance to the practice of soil science as defined in § 54.1-2200 of the Code of Virginia;
3. Contains an assessment by the sponsor at the conclusion of the self-directed activity; and
4. Results in documentation that verifies the licensee's successful completion of the activity.
D. Computation of credit.
1. Fifty contact minutes will equal one hour of CE. For activities that consist of segments that are less than 50 minutes, those segments will be totaled for computation of CE for that activity.
2. A licensee may not receive credit for any CE activity that was not completed in its entirety. No credit will be given for partial completion of a CE activity.
3. A licensee applying for renewal or reinstatement will not receive credit for completing a CE activity with the same content more than once during the time period prior to the renewal or reinstatement.
VA.R. Doc. No. R27-8672; Filed August 23, 2026