Start Here · 5 min read
Exam Overview
ASBOG® is the standard-setting body for geologist licensure in the United States. Its member boards (state geology licensing boards and some territorial and provincial bodies) use the ASBOG® examinations as the written examination for the Professional Geologist (PG) license. ASBOG® writes, scores, and maintains the examinations; each state board decides who is eligible, how applications are filed, and any additional state-specific requirements such as a state law or ethics examination.
Examination Format at a Glance
| Feature | Fundamentals of Geology (FG) | Practice of Geology (PG) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions | 140 multiple-choice | 110 multiple-choice |
| Time allowed | 4 hours | 4 hours |
| Answer options | 4 per question | 4 per question |
| Target candidate | Graduating senior or recent graduate | Geologist with qualifying professional experience |
| Emphasis | Academic knowledge across all eight domains | Applied hydrogeology, engineering geology, and resources |
| Delivery | Computer-based at Prometric test centers | Computer-based at Prometric test centers |
| Administrations | Spring and fall, each a short testing window | Spring and fall, each a short testing window |
Every question is traditional multiple choice with four options: a stem that is a question or an incomplete statement, followed by one correct answer and three distractors. There are no constructed-response items and no penalty for guessing, because the raw score is simply the number of correct answers. Answer every question.
- Computer-based testing (CBT) at more than 500 Prometric locations in the United States and its territories.
- A scientific calculator is provided on screen; candidates may also bring a non-QWERTY calculator, without its cover.
- No reference books or formula sheets are permitted, so every equation in this guide must be memorized.
- Results are released within about 60 days of the examination date, usually through your state board.
Scoring and Passing
ASBOG® converts each candidate's raw score (the number of correct answers) to a scaled score from 0 to 100. A scaled score of 70 represents the standard of minimum competency and is the passing score for both examinations. Because the scale is adjusted for the difficulty of each examination form, a scaled 70 does not mean 70% of the questions answered correctly; the number of correct answers needed to pass varies slightly from form to form.
Candidates who do not pass receive a diagnostic report that marks each content domain as acceptable (+) or substandard (−). Use that report to focus your preparation for a retake. Retake eligibility and waiting periods are set by each state board.
Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fundamentals of Geology (FG) examination | $200 |
| Practice of Geology (PG) examination | $250 |
| Test-center seat fee (per examination) | $78 |
| Reschedule fee | $50 |
| Cancellation fee | $50 |
| Manual regrade or proctored score review | $50 each |
State boards charge their own application and license fees in addition to these amounts. A no-show forfeits the examination and seat fees, and reschedules must be made at least five days before the examination unless a documented emergency applies.
The Eight Content Domains
Both examinations draw on the same eight domains. The percentages below show how many questions each domain contributes to each examination. Notice how the PG shifts weight toward Domains F, G, and H, which together make up more than half of that examination.
| Domain | FG weight | FG questions (approx.) | PG weight | PG questions (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. General and Field Geology | 17% | 24 | 17% | 19 |
| B. Mineralogy, Petrology, and Geochemistry | 12% | 17 | 5% | 6 |
| C. Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Paleontology | 11% | 15 | 5% | 6 |
| D. Geomorphology, Surficial Processes, and Quaternary Geology | 14% | 20 | 8% | 9 |
| E. Structure, Tectonics, and Seismology | 12% | 17 | 9% | 10 |
| F. Hydrogeology | 13% | 18 | 22% | 24 |
| G. Engineering Geology | 12% | 17 | 18% | 20 |
| H. Economic Geology and Energy Resources | 9% | 13 | 16% | 18 |
The blueprints come from ASBOG®'s periodic Task Analysis Survey of practicing geologists, which identifies the tasks and knowledge used in professional practice. Within each domain, PG questions add a project planning and development component: selecting methods, sequencing an investigation, managing quality, and making defensible professional judgments.
Eligibility and Registration
Finished reading?
Next, start the first chapter.