CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS In the Geosciences

September 28, 2007September 28, 2007 AEG 50th Anniversary MeetingAEG 50th Anniversary Meeting 11

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALSCREDENTIALSIn the Geosciences.In the Geosciences.


"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL "THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS UPON CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS UPON CAREER

OPPORTUNITIES“OPPORTUNITIES“William J. Siok, CPG, American Institute of Professional Geologists, 1400 W 122nd Avenue, Suite William J. Siok, CPG, American Institute of Professional Geologists, 1400 W 122nd Avenue, Suite 250, Westminster, Colorado 80234, [email protected], Westminster, Colorado 80234, [email protected]

Dear Colleagues: Dear Colleagues:

Please accept my apologies for not presenting these slides personally. I Please accept my apologies for not presenting these slides personally. I had expected to orally enhance this information with a few anecdotes and personal had expected to orally enhance this information with a few anecdotes and personal observations relating to credentials and their significance to individual practitioners observations relating to credentials and their significance to individual practitioners through the USA, Canada, and Europe. through the USA, Canada, and Europe.

If you have any questions about the content of these slides, please drop If you have any questions about the content of these slides, please drop me a line and I’ll attempt to satisfactorily respond.me a line and I’ll attempt to satisfactorily respond.

Thank you and best wishes, Thank you and best wishes,

Bill SiokBill Siok


Data indicate that a Data indicate that a majority of practicing geoscientists majority of practicing geoscientists hold a Masters degreehold a Masters degree. .

Statistics and anecdotal evidence show that Statistics and anecdotal evidence show that advanced degrees, advanced degrees, continuing education activities, and continuing education activities, and other credentials actually other credentials actually enhance career prospects for the practitioner.enhance career prospects for the practitioner.

CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALSCONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS



Earth Science degrees Earth Science degrees awarded in 2004: BS 3170, awarded in 2004: BS 3170, MS 684, Doctorate 420. MS 684, Doctorate 420. (NSF Stats.)(NSF Stats.)

AIPG Membership in 2007: AIPG Membership in 2007: BS 47%, MS 43%, PhD BS 47%, MS 43%, PhD 10%.10%.

AEG Membership: AEG Membership:

Degree as CredentialDegree as Credential



Degree as CredentialDegree as Credential

The degree level as credential affects career latitude.The degree level as credential affects career latitude.

MS/MA……..Non-academic CareerMS/MA……..Non-academic Career

PhD…Academic & Research CareersPhD…Academic & Research Careers



Employed geoscientists 2006, Employed geoscientists 2006, 101,000. (US Dept. of Labor)101,000. (US Dept. of Labor)

Employed geoscientists 2006, Employed geoscientists 2006, 152,000. (US Dept. of Labor 152,000. (US Dept. of Labor after re-classification)after re-classification)

Geoscience EmploymentGeoscience Employment



Value of Educational Credential vs. TimeValue of Educational Credential vs. Time PAY SCALESPAY SCALES ( (AAPG 2007 Salary SurveyAAPG 2007 Salary Survey))



Value of Educational CredentialValue of Educational Credential

PAY SCALESPAY SCALES (AAPG 2007 Salary Survey) (AAPG 2007 Salary Survey)for entry level geologists in the petroleum industry, for entry level geologists in the petroleum industry, many of whom have advanced degrees.many of whom have advanced degrees.



Value of Educational CredentialValue of Educational Credential(AGU Report Earth & Space Science PhDs, Class of (AGU Report Earth & Space Science PhDs, Class of 2003)2003)



Value of educational credentialValue of educational credential PAY SCALES for Mining & Environmental GeologistPAY SCALES for Mining & Environmental Geologist ((http://swz.salary.comhttp://swz.salary.com)*)*

► ► Entry LevelEntry Level $36,699 to 46,658.$36,699 to 46,658.

► ► Senior LevelSenior Level $66,594 to 114,189.$66,594 to 114,189.

► ► Env. Services Env. Services $48,183 to 99, 721.$48,183 to 99, 721.CoordinatorCoordinator

*as of July 2007.*as of July 2007.

http://swz.salary.com/



Licensure as a credentialLicensure as a credential

Educational Requirements for Licensure.Educational Requirements for Licensure.

-All states with licensure:-All states with licensure:Bachelor degree specified.Bachelor degree specified.

-New York state:-New York state:Master degree proposed.Master degree proposed.



Licensure as a credentialLicensure as a credentialRegistration is a credential, a legal instrument of Registration is a credential, a legal instrument of government which:government which:

1.1. Grants a privilege to practice.Grants a privilege to practice.

2.2. Is intended to “protect the public health and Is intended to “protect the public health and welfare”.welfare”.

3. 3. Is required in order to practice.Is required in order to practice.



Licensure as a credentialLicensure as a credential RegistrationRegistration

1. Is considered by some practitioners to be a restraint 1. Is considered by some practitioners to be a restraint of trade. of trade.

2.2. Minimizes competition.Minimizes competition.

3.3. Offers protection of livelihood for the registrant.Offers protection of livelihood for the registrant.

4.4. Is legal professional standing.Is legal professional standing.



(AGU Report Earth & Space Science PhDs, Class of 2003)(AGU Report Earth & Space Science PhDs, Class of 2003)

Society membership as a credentialSociety membership as a credentialIs professional society membership a factor in selecting and Is professional society membership a factor in selecting and

evaluating career opportunities?evaluating career opportunities?



Continuing Education as a credentialContinuing Education as a credentialDoes continuing education affect career choices?Does continuing education affect career choices?

• • Four States require continuing professional development (CPD) to Four States require continuing professional development (CPD) to retain license.retain license.

• • AIPG requires CPD for retention of the credential Certified AIPG requires CPD for retention of the credential Certified Professional Geologist.Professional Geologist.

• • The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) requires CPD to The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) requires CPD to retain title European Geologist.retain title European Geologist.



Components of a well-rounded professional’s credentials:Components of a well-rounded professional’s credentials:--Registration.Registration.

-Certification.-Certification.

-Continuing Professional Development.-Continuing Professional Development.

-Advocacy activities.-Advocacy activities.

-Mentoring.-Mentoring.

-Ethical Reputation. -Ethical Reputation.



General skills which enhance credential value:General skills which enhance credential value:

-Computer Applications.-Computer Applications.

-Technology in General.-Technology in General.

-General Knowledge (governance, -General Knowledge (governance, economics, economics, law). law).

-Information Systems Access.-Information Systems Access.



A requirement of credential validity, maintaining skills by:A requirement of credential validity, maintaining skills by:

-Reading Journals.-Reading Journals.

-Using the Internet.-Using the Internet.

-Formally Speaking to Peers and Public Groups.-Formally Speaking to Peers and Public Groups.

-Practicing Competence.-Practicing Competence.

-Publishing.-Publishing.



Skills essential to credential validity:Skills essential to credential validity:

-Technical Competency.-Technical Competency.

-Financial Management.-Financial Management.

-Project Management.-Project Management.



Credential validity overall is enhanced by learning to:Credential validity overall is enhanced by learning to:-Teach.-Teach.-Develop & Balance Budgets.-Develop & Balance Budgets.-Think on Your Feet.-Think on Your Feet.-Write and Speak Clearly.-Write and Speak Clearly.-Write Professional Articles.-Write Professional Articles.-Write Proposals.-Write Proposals.-Collect invoices due.-Collect invoices due.-Train/Mentor Others.-Train/Mentor Others.-Negotiate.-Negotiate.-Supervise.-Supervise.-Hire.-Hire.-Report regularly.-Report regularly.-Testify.-Testify.-Represent Others.-Represent Others.-Do Field Work.-Do Field Work.-Defend Your Work.-Defend Your Work.



Credentials are also perceived more favorably by:Credentials are also perceived more favorably by:

-Appropriate professional comportment.-Appropriate professional comportment.

-Reading the literature to maintain technical, -Reading the literature to maintain technical, regulatory, professional currency.regulatory, professional currency.

-Staying active in professional associations.-Staying active in professional associations.

-Consciously representing the entire -Consciously representing the entire profession.profession.



Some typical career paths of credentialed geoscientistsSome typical career paths of credentialed geoscientists::

--Geology (geotechnical, minerals, energy, academe, hydrogeology, Geology (geotechnical, minerals, energy, academe, hydrogeology, etc.).etc.).-Education. (non-geoscience)-Education. (non-geoscience)-Business. (management, ownership, other)-Business. (management, ownership, other)-Law.-Law.-Engineering.-Engineering.-Finance.-Finance.-Risk Management-Risk Management



Factors affecting attainment of credentialsFactors affecting attainment of credentials::

-Employer defined position requirements.-Employer defined position requirements.

-Legislative and regulatory requirements.-Legislative and regulatory requirements.

-Inter-jurisdictional mobility options and requirements.-Inter-jurisdictional mobility options and requirements.

-Inter-society (professional) agreements.-Inter-society (professional) agreements.

-Personal obligations and responsibilities.-Personal obligations and responsibilities.

-Extra-curricular activities.-Extra-curricular activities.



Factors which may impact attainment of credentialsFactors which may impact attainment of credentials::

--Type of employerType of employer. Some require licensure, minimal . Some require licensure, minimal educational achievement, or other. educational achievement, or other.

--TimeTime. Earning advanced degree requires that time be taken . Earning advanced degree requires that time be taken from other pursuits.from other pursuits.

--FinancesFinances. Earning an advanced degree is sometime limited by . Earning an advanced degree is sometime limited by personal financial circumstances.personal financial circumstances.

--Inter-jurisdictional mobilityInter-jurisdictional mobility options and requirements. options and requirements.

--PersonalPersonal obligations and responsibilities. obligations and responsibilities.

--Extra-curricularExtra-curricular interests. interests.

--SerendipitySerendipity. .



Summation:Summation:The information presented here is not conclusive by any The information presented here is not conclusive by any means, but it demonstrates that numerous factors means, but it demonstrates that numerous factors contribute to the concept of credential.contribute to the concept of credential.

A credential is not only an objective standard which must be A credential is not only an objective standard which must be met (i.e. degree or license requirements), but also connotes met (i.e. degree or license requirements), but also connotes achievement of non-required standards (i.e. advanced achievement of non-required standards (i.e. advanced education, licensure when it is not mandatory, etc.) as well education, licensure when it is not mandatory, etc.) as well as subjective factors such as personal responsibilities to as subjective factors such as personal responsibilities to family, church, community, etc.family, church, community, etc.

It is incumbent upon all professionals to view official It is incumbent upon all professionals to view official credentials as important, but not the sole or total measure credentials as important, but not the sole or total measure of a professional geoscientist’s abilities, competence, or of a professional geoscientist’s abilities, competence, or standing within the professional community. standing within the professional community.



Thank you.Thank you.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS In the Geosciences