Chapter GHSS 1
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES
GHSS 1.03 Licensure seals. GHSS 1.04 Change of address. GHSS 1.045 Continuing education for professional geologists. GHSS 1.046 Continuing education for professional hydrologists. GHSS 1.05 Failure to renew a license. GHSS 1.06 Wetlands mapping by non-licensee.
Ch. GHSS 1 NoteNote: Chapter GHSS 1 was created as an emergency rule effective May 15, 1999. GHSS 1.01GHSS 1.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to specify general requirements and procedures which apply to all 3 sections of the board. Requirements specific to professional geologists, professional hydrologists and professional soil scientists, including continuing education requirements, are specified in chs. GHSS 2, 3 and 4. Rules of professional conduct for all licensees are specified in ch. GHSS 5. GHSS 1.02(1)(1) “Asynchronous” means a process of learning where instructor-student interaction is delayed over time, allowing the learners to participate intermittently according to their schedule and be geographically separate from the instructor, and includes correspondence courses, e-learning, instructional television, or online courses. GHSS 1.02(2)(2) “Biennium” means a 2-year period beginning August 1 of each even-numbered year. GHSS 1.02(3)(3) “Board” or “joint board” means the examining board of professional geologists, hydrologists, and soil scientists. GHSS 1.02(4)(4) “Contact hour” means 50 minutes of instruction or participation spent by the registrant in actual attendance or completion of an approved educational activity. GHSS 1.02(5)(5) “Continuing education” means professional educational courses, programs, or activities on topics related to the practice or theories of practice of a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist which foster the enhancement of general or specialized knowledge, values, and practice of a professional geologist, hydrologist, or soil scientist. GHSS 1.02(6)(6) “Course” or “activity” means any qualifying course, program, or activity with a clear purpose and objective that will maintain, improve, or expand the skills and knowledge relevant to the licensee’s practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science. GHSS 1.02(7)(7) “Department” means the department of safety and professional services. GHSS 1.02(8)(8) “Extreme hardship” means an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the continuing education requirements during the applicable renewal period because of one of the following: GHSS 1.02(8)(a)(a) Full-time or temporary active duty in the uniformed services of the United States of America for a period of time exceeding 120 consecutive days during a biennium, where the duty restricts participation in a continuing education program. GHSS 1.02(8)(b)(b) An incapacitating medical illness or disability documented by a statement from a licensed health care provider which shows that participation in the active practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science and a continuing education program is not possible. GHSS 1.02(8)(c)(c) A physical inability to travel to the sites of approved programs documented by a licensed physician. GHSS 1.02(8)(d)(d) Retirement from the occupation of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science whereby the renewal applicant no longer receives remuneration from providing professional geologic, hydrologic, or soil science services. GHSS 1.02(8)(e)(e) Any other extenuating circumstances approved by the board or section of the board. GHSS 1.02(9)(9) “Licensee” means a person licensed as a professional geologist, professional hydrologist, or professional soil scientist. GHSS 1.02(10)(10) “Professional organization or society” means an organization or society that seeks to further the practice of professional geology, hydrology, or soil science, and the interests of licensees engaged in that profession. GHSS 1.02(11)(11) “Section of the board” means either the professional geologist section, the professional hydrologist section, or the professional soil scientist section. GHSS 1.02(12)(12) “Synchronous” means a process of learning where the student and instructor interact simultaneously in real-time, including traditional classroom events, computer conferencing, interactive video conferences, or online communications where participants are logged on at the same time and communicate directly with each other. GHSS 1.02 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 6., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; CR 24-078: r. and recr. Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register August 2025 No. 836. GHSS 1.03(1)(1) Each professional geologist, hydrologist and soil scientist shall obtain a seal that complies with board specifications for licensure seals. The overall diameter may not be less than 1 5/8 inches nor more than 2 inches. Each seal shall include the licensee’s name, license or permit number and city. GHSS 1.03(2)(2) The following designs for licensure seals have been approved: [Designs not included. See the seal design set forth at s. A-E 2.02] GHSS 1.03(3)(3) A rubber stamp, identical in size, design and content to a board-approved seal, may be used as a substitute for a licensure seal. GHSS 1.03(4)(4) Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications and reports for professional geology, hydrology and soil science practice shall be signed, sealed and dated by the licensee who prepared, or directed and controlled preparation of, the written material, except as specified in sub. (5). GHSS 1.03(5)(5) If more than one sheet is bound together in a volume, the licensee who prepared or directed and controlled the preparation of the volume, may sign, seal and date only the title or index sheet if the signed sheet identifies clearly all other sheets comprising the bound volume and if any other sheets in the bound volume which are prepared by or under the direction and control of another licensee are signed, sealed and dated by the other licensee. GHSS 1.03(6)(6) Any addition, deletion or other revision to each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications and reports prepared for professional geology, hydrology, or soil science practice which affects public health and safety or any state or local code requirements may not be made unless signed, sealed and dated by the licensee who made or directed and controlled the making of the revision. GHSS 1.03(7)(7) All seals or stamps affixed to drawings to be filed as public documents shall be original. No stickers or electronically scanned images may be used. All seals and stamps on drawings shall be signed and dated by the licensed professional in permanent ink contrasting with both the seal and the background. GHSS 1.03 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00. GHSS 1.04GHSS 1.04 Change of address. A licensee shall notify the board of a change of name or address as required under s. 440.11 (1), Stats. The notice shall include the person’s or firm’s former and new addresses and each license or certification number held. GHSS 1.04 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00. GHSS 1.045GHSS 1.045 Continuing education for professional geologists. Professional geologists shall comply with the continuing education requirements specified in ch. GHSS 2. GHSS 1.045 HistoryHistory: CR 24-078: cr. Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25. GHSS 1.046GHSS 1.046 Continuing education for professional hydrologists. Professional hydrologists shall comply with the continuing education requirements specified in ch. GHSS 3. GHSS 1.046 HistoryHistory: CR 24-079: cr. Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25. GHSS 1.05GHSS 1.05 Failure to renew a license. GHSS 1.05(1)(1) If a licensee who fails to renew his or her license by the established renewal date applies for renewal of the license less than 5 years after its expiration, the license shall be renewed upon approval of the renewal application and payment of the renewal fee specified in s. 440.08 (3), Stats. GHSS 1.05(2)(a)(a) If a licensee applies for renewal of his or her license more than 5 years after its expiration, the board shall determine whether the applicant is competent to practice under the license in this state. The inquiry shall include a review of the applicant’s practice within the previous 5 years, if any, in other licensing jurisdictions. GHSS 1.05(2)(b)(b) After inquiry, the board may impose any reasonable conditions on reinstatement of the license as the board deems appropriate, including a requirement that the applicant complete any current requirement for original licensure. GHSS 1.05(2)(c)(c) For late renewal or reinstatement of a professional geologist license, further requirements for continuing education are listed in s. GHSS 2.14. GHSS 1.05(2)(d)(d) For late renewal or reinstatement of a professional hydrologist license, further requirements for continuing education are listed in s. GHSS 3.13. GHSS 1.05 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; CR 24-078: am. (1), cr. (2) (c) Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25; CR 24-079: cr. (2) (d) Register August 2025 No. 836, eff. 9-1-25. GHSS 1.06GHSS 1.06 Wetlands mapping by non-licensee. No license is required under s. 470.02, Stats., for persons publicly or privately engaged in wetlands mapping as described in s. 23.32 (2) (c), Stats., unless the person performing the wetlands mapping does one of the following: GHSS 1.06(1)(1) Engages in the practice of other than wetlands mapping for which a license is required under s. 470.02, Stats.; or GHSS 1.06(2)(2) Uses a title, or advertises or otherwise engages in a business practice tending to imply, represent or convey the impression he or she is engaged in the practice of professional geology, professional hydrology or professional soil science for which a license is required under s. 470.02, Stats. GHSS 1.06 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00. GHSS 1.07(1)(1) Procedure. The board may approve and adopt rules proposed by any section of the board. GHSS 1.07(2)(a)(a) A rules committee is created and shall be comprised of one professional member from each section and 2 public members. Each section shall appoint one professional member by majority vote. The board chair shall appoint the 2 public members from any of the 3 sections of the board. GHSS 1.07(2)(b)(b) The rules committee may act for the board in rule-making proceedings except for final approval as specified in sub. (1). GHSS 1.07 HistoryHistory: CR 00-139: Cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01.
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