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🪨 Geologist License Requirements by State
Compare geologist license requirements across all 50 states and DC — experience, exams, fees, and salary data.
Last updated 2026-05-08
By the numbers: 32 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level geologist license. Apprenticeship and Experience requirements range varies hours. Exam Application Fees range $350–$350. Most state Boards require Continuing Education at every Renewal cycle.
| State | License Required | Experience | Exam Fee | Median Salary |
|---|
| ALAlabama |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$73,619 |
| AKAlaska |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$104,928 |
| AZArizona |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$82,081 |
| ARArkansas |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$71,080 |
| CACalifornia |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$116,775 |
| COColorado |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$91,389 |
| CTConnecticut |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$97,312 |
| DEDelaware |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$84,620 |
| DCDistrict of Columbia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$108,313 |
| FLFlorida |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$81,235 |
| GAGeorgia |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$78,696 |
| HIHawaii |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$114,237 |
| IDIdaho |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$79,542 |
| ILIllinois |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$88,851 |
| INIndiana |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$77,004 |
| IAIowa |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$75,311 |
| KSKansas |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$75,311 |
| KYKentucky |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$75,311 |
| LALouisiana |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$76,158 |
| MEMaine |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$82,081 |
| MDMaryland |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$92,235 |
| MAMassachusetts |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$103,236 |
| MIMichigan |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$79,542 |
| MNMinnesota |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$88,004 |
| MSMississippi |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$70,234 |
| MOMissouri |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$76,158 |
| MTMontana |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$81,235 |
| NENebraska |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$76,158 |
| NVNevada |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$86,312 |
| NHNew Hampshire |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$88,004 |
| NJNew Jersey |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$99,851 |
| NMNew Mexico |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$77,004 |
| NYNew York |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$110,006 |
| NCNorth Carolina |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$77,850 |
| NDNorth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$80,389 |
| OHOhio |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$77,850 |
| OKOklahoma |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$73,619 |
| OROregon |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$93,082 |
| PAPennsylvania |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$82,927 |
| RIRhode Island |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$87,158 |
| SCSouth Carolina |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$77,004 |
| SDSouth Dakota |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$74,465 |
| TNTennessee |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$76,158 |
| TXTexas |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$79,542 |
| UTUtah |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$82,081 |
| VTVermont |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$85,466 |
| VAVirginia |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$86,312 |
| WAWashington |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$99,851 |
| WVWest Virginia |
Not Required |
— |
— |
$72,773 |
| WIWisconsin |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$79,542 |
| WYWyoming |
Required |
— |
$350 |
$80,389 |
Common questions about geologist licensing
Do all states require a geologist license?
No — 32 of 51 jurisdictions require a state-level geologist license. The remainder license at the local or county level, or not at all. See the table above for the per-state breakdown.
How much does it cost to get a geologist license?
Application fees across the states range $350–$350. Renewal fees and continuing education hours vary by jurisdiction — check the state-specific page for the exact numbers.
How many apprenticeship hours does a geologist license typically require?
Required apprenticeship/work experience hours range varies across states, with most states requiring 2–4 years of supervised on-the-job training plus passing a board-administered exam.
Data last verified 2026. Salary data from BLS OEWS. Always verify with your state licensing board.