Scientist-astronaut Harrison H. "Jack" Schmitt represented the geology profession on NASA's Apollo 17 lunar mission in December 1972. The 12th man to walk on the moon, Schmitt took soil samples, prepared geological maps, collected nearly 240 lbs. of moon rock and "discovered orange-colored soil," according to NASA. While the setting in which he worked was unusual, the tasks Dr. Schmitt performed as a geologist were not. As Saddleback College notes, geologists use soil and rock sampling to "study the physical aspects of the earth."
Education
According to the website Geology, aspiring geologists need at least a bachelor's degree in geology for entry-level jobs as field or lab assistants. Classes for this four-year degree typically include environmental sciences, mineralogy, physics, calculus, chemistry, earth composition and rock formation, notes the Education Portal website. Geology careers in the federal government require two additional years of study for master's degrees. Those wanting to pursue research or higher-education teaching jobs will need doctoral degrees. Advanced degree students spend time in the field gathering and analyzing data, and they must complete a thesis or a dissertation. High school students contemplating a career in geology can give themselves a head start by taking calculus, chemistry, physics and communications classes. According to Saddleback College, more than 500 colleges and universities offer geology majors.
Qualifications
Geologists often work in teams, notes the "Princeton Review," making their ability to work well with others a desired skill. As a geologist, you must be flexible and in good physical shape. An assignment could require weeks or months in the field; another assignment could send you to the lab or office. Solid writing and presentation skills meet the reporting requirements of the job, while familiarity with computers and software apply to the data-analysis side. Fluency in another language helps these creative problem solvers on foreign assignments.
Certification
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) offers certification. Applicants need eight years of professional geological work and a bachelor's degree for which no fewer than 36 semester hours of geology were taken. Master's degree applicants need seven years experience; those with Ph.Ds, five years. According to AIPG, each applicant must have three sponsors, two of whom hold professional geologist certification. Sixty continuing education credits must be obtained over a three-year period to maintain certification.
Licensure
The National Association of State Boards of Geology (ASBOG) develops and administers licensure examinations on behalf of state boards of geology. The two, four-hour tests constitute the first step toward obtaining state registration and licensure. According to the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, as of 2010, 29 states belong to the ASBOG but only 31 license geologists. Licensing requirements vary by state. Arizona, for example, requires two exams: an "in-training exam" for which four years of geology education and/or experience must be obtained, and the ASBOG registration exam. Wisconsin and New Hampshire require a bachelor's degree in geology or a degree earned with at least "30 semester hours in geology," the ASBOG exam and experience working with a professional geologist.
Specialties
Dr. Schmitt worked in the branch of geology known as astrogeology, which studies the composition and structure of planets and moons. Other specialties, according to the department of geological sciences at Ohio University, include petroleum geology, hydrogeology, marine geology, environmental geology, economic geology, engineering geology, geomorphology, paleoclimatology and paleoceanography.
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