CPG Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I send with the application?
If you are applying for CPG, the application fee is $70. If you are upgrading to CPG from another Membership type, the application fee is $50. Annual dues for new CPGs are not payable until an application is approved. Upon approval, the dues will be pro-rated for the remainder of the calendar year along with the applicable section dues.
Continuing Professional Development - Is it required and how do I record/track it?
No, it is not required. All AIPG Members are encouraged to participate in a CPD Program. AIPG has an online recording/tracking system for members to use. For full details go to: http://aipg.org/cpd
What happens if documents for my CPG application starts to arrive before I submit my application?
Once documents start to arrive at AIPG, we will start a file for you. However, your application cannot be processed until the 4 page application and fee is received.
If you think you do not know enough active CPGs to sponsor your application for CPG, we recommend emailing aipg@aipg.org for a CPG listing. You may know someone that is an AIPG CPG, but not realize it.
If you still cannot find enough CPGs to sponsor you, you may acquire 6 professional geologists that are non-members of AIPG. For the purposes of this application, a professional geologist sponsor is defined as one who has a baccalaureate degree or higher with 30 semester hours (or equivalent) in geological sciences and 5 years of post-degree experience in the practice of geology as a vocation
If you have one CPG sponsor, you would still need to obtain the other 5 non-member sponsors.
What if I can't locate my former supervisor to verify my geologic experience?
In extraordinary circumstances, if you cannot locate a former supervisor to verify your professional geologic experience, you may have a former co-worker or client do so.
Does any of my experience before I finished my degree count?
In most cases pre-degree experience is not credited. Mainly because the necessary education to practice professionally has not been learned yet. In some cases, you may be credited for a portion of your pre-degree experience. Please submit your questions to AIPG's Membership Services Coordinator at aipg@aipg.org. Provide as much information as possible and your inquiry will be considered by our National Screening Committee Chairman.
How long does the CPG review process take?
After all of your documentation is complete, the review process takes 4-6 months. If you live in a state that does not have an active AIPG Section, the review process takes 2-3 months. If you are upgrading to CPG from another membership type, the process takes 2-3 months.
Do my transcripts have to come directly to AIPG from the school I attended?
Yes, unless
1) you have a copy of your transcripts that are still in the original, unopened envelope(s);
2) you received a degree from a university or college outside the U.S. or Canada, and the school is unable to provide an acceptable transcript, but you have an official or notarized copy of your transcripts from the school. You can submit those along with a copy of your diploma and a list of courses taken. The Screening Committee may ask you to provide additional information or an equivalency evaluation, at your expense.
How come the check boxes on the application print out as a letter like "G" or "Q"?
If you are using the Adobe PDF version of the application and the check boxes do not print correctly, this is a printer driver error issue. When you choose the print command, click "Print as image" on the printer properties window. It will take longer to print, but should solve the problem.
I've been working for 15+ years. Do I have to have all of my professional experience verified?
Not unless you want to. At a minimum, you need to have the most recent 8-10 years of professional geologic experience verified. If you would like to go back further than that, it would be beneficial to your application, but not necessarily required. If the Screening Committee(s) would like to see more of your experience verified, you will be requested to furnish the information.
I started the application process a few years ago and never finished. Do you still have the documents that were sent to AIPG?
Yes. We keep all documentation sent on your behalf. If we don't have the original, we would have scanned them.
I'm an international CPG applicant who doesn't have a notary available. How do I proceed?
The applicant needs to provide two witness’s to sign the application in place of the notary.
I'm an international CPG applicant and there is no section screening committee in my area, how will my application be reviewed?
If there is not a section screening committee available, then the application goes directly to the national screening committee for review. This is also the case for state(s) sections that do not have section screening committees.
How do I reinstate my CPG membership if it has lapsed in the same calendar year?
Any person who has ceased to be a Member or Adjunct by suspension shall be eligible for reinstatement in the same calendar year upon written request and payment of all outstanding dues and obligations to the Institute and upon providing evidence satisfactory to the Executive Committee that the condition(s) upon which the suspension was based are no longer applicable. The Executive Committee may condition such reinstatement upon the payment of a reasonable reinstatement fee as provided herein in Article 8.2.3.
8.2.3. Reinstatement Fees
Any Member or Adjunct seeking reinstatement upon payment of dues in arrears shall be liable for a reinstatement fee in an amount determined by the Executive Committee. For the purpose of determining any arrearage in dues, Section annual dues shall be considered as being annual dues of the Institute.
Late Fee: $40
CPG National Dues: $185
Section Dues: Refer to Section Dues Below. Note: Not all sections have section dues.
Section Dues: Alaska $15; Arizona $30; California $25, Colorado $30; Connecticut $20; Florida $30; Illinois/Indiana $25; Kentucky $25; Maine $20; Massachusetts $20; Michigan $10; Minnesota $35; Missouri $25; New Hampshire $20; New Jersey $20; New Mexico $15; New York $20; Ohio $15; Oklahoma $25; Pennsylvania $20; Rhode Island $20; South Dakota $20; Tennessee $15; Texas $15; Vermont $20; Virginias $20; and Wisconsin $25.
A completed CPG Reinstatement form will also be required for reinstatement.
CPG Reinstatement Application Form | Word format
How do I reinstate my CPG membership if it has lapsed more than 1 year?
2.7.5.2. Reinstatement after One Calendar Year
Any person who has ceased to be a Member or Adjunct by resignation or termination "without prejudice" shall be eligible for reinstatement upon written request by:
- Updating his or her professional experience (resume) on the form prescribed by the Institute and other Member or Adjunct records.
- Signing a statement that during the intervening period the individual has not been convicted of a felony and/or has not been subjected to discipline by a professional organization or licensing board and has not resigned from a professional organization or relinquished a professional license or registration in order to terminate a disciplinary proceeding.
- Paying current year Institute and Section dues.
- The Executive Committee may condition such reinstatement on the payment of a reasonable reinstatement fee.
Reinstatement fee: $50
CPG National Dues: $185
Section Dues: Refer to Section Dues Below. Note: Not all sections have section dues.
Section Dues: Alaska $15; Arizona $30; California $25, Colorado $30; Connecticut $20; Florida $30; Illinois/Indiana $25; Kentucky $25; Maine $20; Massachusetts $20; Michigan $10; Minnesota $35; Missouri $25; New Hampshire $20; New Jersey $20; New Mexico $15; New York $20; Ohio $15; Oklahoma $25; Pennsylvania $20; Rhode Island $20; South Dakota $20; Tennessee $15; Texas $15; Vermont $20; Virginias $20; and Wisconsin $25.
A completed CPG Reinstatement form will also be required for reinstatement.
CPG Reinstatement Application Form | Word format
What is Emeritus status? How do I become a CPG Emeritus Member?
Per the Bylaws (2.3.5), A Certified Member may be designated "Emeritus" upon request at the age of 65 or older, provided that the Member is no longer actively engaged in the practice of geology for financial gain on a full-time basis. An Emeritus Member may be paid for the occasional professional opinion.
The AIPG National Dues for Non-Practicing is $60 and no section dues are added. Emeritus Member records do not include office phone or employer.
Please contact the National Headquarters at aipg@aipg.org to change your Member status. This cannot be done on the website.
What are the benefits of CPG Membership versus AIPG Professional Membership?
The CPG is an important professional credential above and independent of state licenses, and in the several states which do not have state licensing they are the only geology credential. In Alaska, for example, where there is no PG license, the CPG fulfills that role.
With AIPG’s support, state licensure began in Florida in 1988. However, the Florida PG license has been under threat of de-regulation by the Florida Legislature each year for the last several years and the FAPG-AIPG Florida Section continues to oppose those efforts.
A CPG also reflects the individual’s academic and practical professional experience since it requires not 5 years (like many state licenses) but 8 years of experience; the AIPG requires verification of the degree(s) and experience prior to certification.
Due to this rigorous certification process, CPG’s are preferred in cases where expert testimony is needed and are considered “competent or qualified persons” in the US and several international locations for preparing important mining documents, including with the SEC, Canada and Australia. A CPG is also a credential recognized internationally by Geoscientists Canada, the European Federation of Geologists and the Geological Society of London, where it is considered equal to a Chartered Geologist.
CPG’s also enjoy financial savings at AIPG Conferences, field trips and other educational events. We also have a number of on-line teaching aids.
To participate as officers on the State and National Boards of AIPG, the individual is usually required to be a CPG, although some states do not require all their officers to be CPG’s.
Do we accept the sponsor and experience verification forms for the CPG application via email instead of mailed?
Yes, we do accept sponsor and experience verification form via email. However, we cannot accept the CPG application by email as it must be notarized.
Still have questions? Contact us at aipg@aipg.org or by phone at (303) 412-6205.
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