Soil Classifier

Exam

State exam

Education

Degree

Experience

Experience

Background check

Not reported

Soil Classifiers perform services or work that requires education in the physical, chemical, biological, and soil sciences. Through training and experience, they apply their special knowledge of these sciences to soil classification. They map and classify soils into similar groups; interpret soil properties for different land uses; evaluate water movement through soils, soil quality, soil spatial variability, and wetness; and collect soil samples for chemical, physical, engineering and biological analysis. Requirements: 1) Must have four years of college with a Bachelor of Science Degree or higher degree in Agriculture or Physical Science, and 30 hours or equivalent in biological, physical, and earth science, with a minimum of 15 hours in soil science. 2) Applicants for Soil Classifier-in-Training who have completed an approved soils curriculum are not required to have experience. Applicants for Soil Classifier-in-Training who have completed an unapproved soils curriculum are required to have one year of soil survey field mapping experience in the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program, or one year of soil survey field mapping, site evaluation and description writing experience under the supervision of a registered Professional Soil Classifier. 3) The experience requirement for registration as a Soil Classifier for applicants holding a valid Soil Classifier-in-Training certificate consists of one year of soil survey field mapping experience in the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program, or one year of soil survey field mapping, site evaluation and description writing experience under the supervision of a registered Professional Soil Classifier and a demonstrated ability to be independently productive. 4) Applicants for Soil Classifier not holding a Soil Classifier-in-Training certificate are required to have two years of soil survey field mapping experience in the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program and a demonstrated ability to be independently productive.