| Environmental
and Related Professions
by Heather S. Brinegar We are all aware that the allied health professions constitute one of the fastest growing areas of professional and occupational regulation. Often attracting less attention than recently regulated health fields, but expanding just as rapidly, are the environmental and related professions. The accompanying chart contains environmental and related professions that are regulated by one or more of the states. Some related professions, such as architects and engineers, are long-established in all states and are not included. Data for the chart is from the LOIS database. Chart on Environmental and Related Professions The author would like to thank Robert E. Tepel, the catalyst for much of our current state geology regulation, for his thoughtful generosity. He possesses a wealth of knowledge in this area and has agreed to share a couple of points for this article: 1. For the environmental and related professions, even if there is state regulation, individuals not wishing to meet the necessary requirements often are not prevented from practicing the profession. He writes: It is important to note that in many professions, for example the professions of engineering, architecture, land surveying, landscape architecture, and geology, licensure is not a “barrier to entry into the profession.” In fact, one must (generally) practice the profession for a few years to gain the experience necessary to sit for the licensure exam (or the last part of it). Many of these professionals can choose their employment setting so as to enjoy entire careers without being licensed. Licensure is required only if one wishes to practice directly before the public, or to assume responsibility for work on which the public may reasonably be expected to rely. 2. Tepel also writes
that the Other Resources
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