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Project Specific Limited Permits for Professional Geologists

The New York State Education Department can issue a Project Specific Limited Permit to qualified individuals seeking to practice as professional geology in New York State solely in connection with a single specified project in accordance with Section 7207(3) of the Education Law and §68.11(c) of the Commissioner’s Regulations.

 Project Specific Limited Permits are only available to applicants who:

  • are legally qualified to practice geology in their own state or country,
  • are not residents of New York State, and
  • do not have an established place of practice in New York State.

A Project Specific Limited Permit is subject to the same registration and revocation restrictions as a license. If your project exceeds three years in duration, you will need to renew your permit.

Your practice of geology in New York State under a Project Specific Limited Permit must be:

  • as an individual, or;
  • as an employee of a business entity authorized to provide professional geology services in New York State. Your firm must have been issued a Certificate of Authorization from the New York State Education Department. If your firm is not authorized to provide professional geology services in New York State, the contract with a New York client must be between you (i.e. the individual licensee), and the client and not the corporate employer and the client.

To apply for a Project Specific Limited Permit, you must submit:

  1. Online Form 5A - Application for a 30 Day or Project Specific Limited Permit for Applicants not seeking Licensure in New York State; 
  2. Form 3 - Verification of Out of State Licensure, Registration and/or Examination to prove you are legally qualified to practice geology in another jurisdiction; and
  3. Form 6 - Professional Geologist Reference Form – from at least two licensed professional geologists as references to certify your character and qualifications. At least one reference must be licensed as a professional geologist in and be a resident of New York State.

Once issued, a Project Specific Limited Permit will allow you to practice engineering geology within New York State in sole connection with a specific project for which the permit is granted. 

Additional Information