IRSS - How to Maintain Soil Science Registration

How to Maintain Soil Science Registration

A Professional Soil Scientist's registration expires on June 30th of the third (3rd) year following the date it was approved. To renew their registration, a Registered Professional Soil Scientist must:

Complete at least forty-five (45) CEUg credits
Complete at least three (3) CEUf credits by participating in an evaluation session
Report their completion of general continuing education units (CEUg) and in a field skills continuing education units (CEUf) to the IRSS office
Submit the registration fee of $240.00 to the IRSS office with a check made payable to OISC (Office of Indiana State Chemist).

Continuing Education Units (CEUs):

CEUg: Continuing Education Units, General Skills
CEUf: Continuing Education Units, Field Skills

Check your listing in the Roster and report any changes to Matt Pearson in the IRSS Office.

CEUg:

During a 3-year registration period, a Registered Soil Scientist must complete at least 45 CEUg credits. One CEUg credit is equivalent to approximately one hour of activity. There are five kinds of CEUg credits. The kinds and maximum credits for each kind are listed below. The activities listed after each upper case letters in the outline below are examples; similar activities may be included:

Professional Meetings Attended (not including presentations - see #5 for presentations), no maximum CEUg credits:
1. Professional conferences sponsored by organizations such as the Soil Science Society of America, Soil and Water Conservation Society, Indiana Association of Professional Soil Classifiers, Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association, and other professional conferences related to soil science
2. Short courses
3. Workshops
4. Seminars
5. Clinics
6. Distance Education
Public and Professional Education, 30 CEUg credits maximum:
1. Assisting in high school or college soil judging (evaluation) contests
2. Educating K-12 students in soil and water sciences
3. Educating onsite wastewater professionals in soil and water science
4. Administering assessment of field skills sessions
Self-Directed Study in Soil Science, 30 CEUg credits maximum:
1. Books, journal articles and other printed material.
2. Videos
3. educational television programs
4. Internet presentations
Community Service that involves soil, water quality, lande use or similar topics, 15 CEUg credits maximum:
1. Serving on boards
2. serving on governmental committees
3. Participating in community organizations
Author or Presenter (report time of preparation and of presentations), 15 CEUg credits maximum, as follows:
1. Articles written
2. Presentations made
3. Conferences organized

CEUf:

During a three-year registration period, a Registered Soil Scientist (RSS) must complete at least three CEUf credits, one in each of the three skill areas. To receive CEUf credit, a RSS must participate in an evaluation session and submit his/her answers on a form that will be numerically graded. The skill areas are:

Soil Texture. Evaluation of the sand, silt and clay contents of a soil sample comparted to the contents determined in a laboratory. See an example of the Soil Texture Form (pdf, 12kb) used in a previous session.
Soil Horizons. Evaluation of morphological characteristics of soil horizons, such as texture, color, structure, and consistency, using core or other undisturbed soil samples compared to the evaluation of RPSS's appointed by the Board. See an example of the Soil Horizons form for Official Judges (pdf,12kb) and a Soil Horizons Form for Participants (pdf, 13kb) used in previous sessions.
Pedons/Landforms. Evaluation of pedon properties using a soil pit or similar exposure and evaluation of landscape position at the site, compared to the evaluation of RPSS's appointed by the Board. See an example of the Pedons/Landscapes Form (pdf, 12kb) used in previous sessions.

These sessions are based on the Indiana Soil and Landscapes Evaluation Manual. Reference soil texture samples are available for practice. You may purchase soil samples to help calibrate your evaluation of soil texture. Soil analysis information and ordering instructions are on the website: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/agryclub/soilsamples/.

The Board will arrange for a minimum of one CEUf session each year. The purpose of the CEUf session is to maintain and improve the field skills of registrants. To maximize the educational value of a CEUf session, the official answers will be given soon after registrants complete their evaluations and hand in their papers. Interaction between the participants and official judges will be encouraged. CEUf credits used to meet the minimum CEUf requirement do not count toward CEUg credits. However, if an RSS participates in more than the minimum CEUf sessions, the extra CEUf credits may be applied to the CEU requirement.

The Board will tabulate the scores of each registrant and will periodically review the records. These scores are available only to the registered soil scientist and the Board. If the scores for a RSS are sufficiently low, in the judgment of the Board, to hamper his/her professional work, the board may recommend that the RSS participate in more than the minimum number of CEUf sessions or do other remedial work.