SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS In the Geosciences.
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"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND CREDENTIALS UPON CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES William J. Siok, CPG, American
Institute of Professional Geologists, 1400 W
122nd Avenue, Suite 250, Westminster, Colorado
80234, wsiok_at_aipg.org Dear Colleagues
Please accept my apologies for not presenting
these slides personally. I had expected to orally
enhance this information with a few anecdotes and
personal observations relating to credentials and
their significance to individual practitioners
through the USA, Canada, and Europe. If you
have any questions about the content of these
slides, please drop me a line and Ill attempt to
satisfactorily respond. Thank you and best
wishes, Bill Siok
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS
Data indicate that a majority of practicing
geoscientists hold a Masters degree.
Statistics and anecdotal evidence show that
advanced degrees, continuing education
activities, and other credentials actually
enhance career prospects for the practitioner.
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Degree as Credential

• Earth Science degrees awarded in 2004 BS 3170,
  MS 684, Doctorate 420. (NSF Stats.)
• AIPG Membership in 2007 BS 47, MS 43, PhD 10.
• AEG Membership

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Degree as Credential
• The degree level as credential affects career
  latitude.
• MS/MA..Non-academic Career
• PhDAcademic Research Careers

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Geoscience Employment

• Employed geoscientists 2006, 101,000. (US Dept.
  of Labor)
• Employed geoscientists 2006, 152,000. (US Dept.
  of Labor after re-classification)

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Value of Educational Credential vs. Time
• PAY SCALES (AAPG 2007 Salary Survey)

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Value of Educational Credential
• PAY SCALES (AAPG 2007 Salary Survey)
• for entry level geologists in the petroleum
  industry,
• many of whom have advanced degrees.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS
Value of Educational Credential (AGU Report
Earth Space Science PhDs, Class of 2003)
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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Value of educational credential
• PAY SCALES for Mining Environmental Geologist
  (http//swz.salary.com)
• ? Entry Level 36,699 to 46,658.
• ? Senior Level 66,594 to 114,189.
• ? Env. Services 48,183 to 99, 721.
• Coordinator
• as of July 2007.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Licensure as a credential
• Educational Requirements for Licensure.
• -All states with licensure
• Bachelor degree specified.
• -New York state
• Master degree proposed.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Licensure as a credential
• Registration is a credential, a legal instrument
  of government which
• 1. Grants a privilege to practice.
• 2. Is intended to protect the public health
  and welfare.
• 3. Is required in order to practice.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Licensure as a credential
• Registration
• 1. Is considered by some practitioners to be
  a restraint of trade.
• 2. Minimizes competition.
• 3. Offers protection of livelihood for the
  registrant.
• 4. Is legal professional standing.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS
(AGU Report Earth Space Science PhDs, Class of
2003)

• Society membership as a credential
• Is professional society membership a factor in
  selecting and evaluating career opportunities?

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Continuing Education as a credential
• Does continuing education affect career choices?
• Four States require continuing professional
  development (CPD) to retain license.
• AIPG requires CPD for retention of the
  credential Certified Professional Geologist.
• The European Federation of Geologists (EFG)
  requires CPD to retain title European Geologist.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Components of a well-rounded professionals
  credentials
• -Registration.
• -Certification.
• -Continuing Professional Development.
• -Advocacy activities.
• -Mentoring.
• -Ethical Reputation.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• General skills which enhance credential value
• -Computer Applications.
• -Technology in General.
• -General Knowledge (governance, economics,
  law).
• -Information Systems Access.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• A requirement of credential validity, maintaining
  skills by
• -Reading Journals.
• -Using the Internet.
• -Formally Speaking to Peers and Public Groups.
• -Practicing Competence.
• -Publishing.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Skills essential to credential validity
• -Technical Competency.
• -Financial Management.
• -Project Management.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Credential validity overall is enhanced by
  learning to
• -Teach.
• -Develop Balance Budgets.
• -Think on Your Feet.
• -Write and Speak Clearly.
• -Write Professional Articles.
• -Write Proposals.
• -Collect invoices due.
• -Train/Mentor Others.
• -Negotiate.
• -Supervise.
• -Hire.
• -Report regularly.
• -Testify.
• -Represent Others.
• -Do Field Work.
• -Defend Your Work.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Credentials are also perceived more favorably by
• -Appropriate professional comportment.
• -Reading the literature to maintain technical,
  regulatory, professional currency.
• -Staying active in professional associations.
• -Consciously representing the entire
  profession.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Some typical career paths of credentialed
  geoscientists
• -Geology (geotechnical, minerals, energy,
  academe, hydrogeology, etc.).
• -Education. (non-geoscience)
• -Business. (management, ownership, other)
• -Law.
• -Engineering.
• -Finance.
• -Risk Management

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Factors affecting attainment of credentials
• -Employer defined position requirements.
• -Legislative and regulatory requirements.
• -Inter-jurisdictional mobility options and
  requirements.
• -Inter-society (professional) agreements.
• -Personal obligations and responsibilities.
• -Extra-curricular activities.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Factors which may impact attainment of
  credentials
• -Type of employer. Some require licensure,
  minimal educational achievement, or other.
• -Time. Earning advanced degree requires that
  time be taken from other pursuits.
• -Finances. Earning an advanced degree is
  sometime limited by personal financial
  circumstances.
• -Inter-jurisdictional mobility options and
  requirements.
• -Personal obligations and responsibilities.
• -Extra-curricular interests.
• -Serendipity.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Summation
• The information presented here is not
  conclusive by any means, but it demonstrates that
  numerous factors contribute to the concept of
  credential.
• A credential is not only an objective standard
  which must be met (i.e. degree or license
  requirements), but also connotes achievement of
  non-required standards (i.e. advanced education,
  licensure when it is not mandatory, etc.) as well
  as subjective factors such as personal
  responsibilities to family, church, community,
  etc.
• It is incumbent upon all professionals to view
  official credentials as important, but not the
  sole or total measure of a professional
  geoscientists abilities, competence, or standing
  within the professional community.

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CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND
CREDENTIALS

• Thank you.