AIPG Membership Categories and Requirements

Membership Categories

• Certified Professional Geologist Membership (CPG)
• Professional Membership
• Early Career Professional Membership
• Student Membership
• Associate Membership
• Patron Membership (Corporate)

Certified Professional Geologist (CPG)

AIPG certifies professional geologists based on their competence, integrity and ethics. By means of a rigorous and thorough peer review process, the Institute investigates applicants who voluntarily apply for self-regulation through the Institute. This screening carefully evaluates their education, experience, technical competence, and ethical conduct.

Applicants for certification have a bachelor’s degree or higher in the geological sciences with a minimum of 36 semester hours or 54 quarter hours of geology plus 8 years of professional geological work experience. Applicants with a master’s degree need only 7 years of experience and PhD’s need only 5 years.

Application Fee: $70, or to upgrade from member to CPG, the fee is $50.

Dues:  When approved, the first year plus section dues will be prorated and due, then $215 plus section dues will be due after the first year.

Go to CPG Application            Frequently Asked Questions

Professional Member Membership

If you have recently graduated with a geological sciences degree, you will want to join or upgrade your membership from Student membership to an AIPG Early Career Professional Member. Our Early Career Professional Membership is applicable during the first five (5) years upon earning a baccalaureate, masters, or doctorate. After this point, Early Career Professional members should join or renew as a Professional Member. 

Educational Requirements: Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or higher in the geological sciences with at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of geology/geological sciences.

Dues: First calendar year free, $77.50 plus section dues after first year.

The first year of membership as an Early Career Professional is Free!  

Student Membership

Student memberships have a 2-year membership cycle and can be renewed based on how long it will be before you graduate. After graduating you can move your membership to Early Career Professional. The first year of your Early Career Professional membership is free!

Student membership is Free!   

Associate Membership

Become an Associate Member of AIPG. Anyone interested in the profession of geology and the aims of the Institute, but who is not qualified for another membership category, may be an Associate Adjunct Member.

Dues: First year prorated, $80 after first year.   

AIPG Patron (Corporate) Membership 

Patron Benefits: Reduce the number of checks you send to AIPG. A Patron Corporate Member receives one invoice instead of multiple invoices for their employees with AIPG Member renewals. If the Patron has 10 or more employee members, they qualify for a free AIPG TPG directory ad. 

Patron Requirements: The Patron Member will provide or verify a list of employee members they will be invoiced for each year. The Patron Member will pay the invoice received from AIPG before December 31st each year. Anyone listed that is not a current AIPG Member must submit an application and be accepted before they can be included on the Patron's list.

Email: aipg@aipg.org for more information and to start a Patron Membership.