In the early 1970s Charles F. Dodge approached AAPG with a proposal to support legislation in Texas that would license geologists. In 1986 several geologists working in the engineering geological community approached the Texas Board of Professional Engineers with a proposal to license engineering geologists. Both proposals were rejected for various reasons.

In 1992 a Task Force was formed to actively pursue legislation that would license geologists in Texas. A licensing bill was drafted and a sponsor was found in the Texas House. The bill was introduced and was met with strong opposition from the engineering lobby. Over the next 10 years, the bill was modified to improve language, include language changes negotiated with engineering organizations and other interested parties, and include geophysicists and soil scientists. The bill continued to draw opposition from factions within the engineering and petroleum communities, resulting in a rift within the Task Force. The Texas Association of Professional Geoscientists (TAPG) was formed out of the rift.

In 2001, the Task Force, AIPG, AEG, AAPG, and TAPG with support from Former Speaker of the House, Billy Clayton, Mr. Fred Agnich, and elements of HGS, DGS, STGS and AGS combined forces to present a unified front to the legislature. A publication titled "The Value of Licensing Geologists in Texas," edited by W. Kevin Coleman, coauthored by Peter M. Allen, W. Kevin Coleman, Christopher C. Mathewson, Bruce K. Darling, and John K. Mikels, with support of AEG, AIPG, and Reed Engineering Group, laid out the need for licensing geologists in Texas. The publication was presented to the State Affairs Committee of the Texas Senate and to the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee of the House and was later distributed to the full Senate. SB 405 passed the Texas Legislature and was signed into law on May 11, 2001. This marked the end of a very long, hard effort.

By November 2002, the Governor's Office had appointed eight of the nine board members mandated by the bill. It was understood the final board member (a public member) was then serving as a public member of the Engineering Board, and when available, if he or she were still interested, would be appointed to the Geoscience Board. However, the board was not funded, and the board could not meet. In May 2002, details of an emergency deficiency grant from the Governor's Office were worked out and the first meeting was scheduled.

The Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists first met on May 28, 2002. A memorandum of understanding (contract) with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation was signed that would provide administrative support for the first year within the emergency deficiency grant budget. This included drafting and adoption of the Strategic Plan, Fiscal Note, and Rules, and getting the program under way.

Although the board started approximately six months behind schedule, license applications were available on October 31, 2002, only two months behind schedule.

Applications, reference forms, and instructions (check list) can be downloaded from the Board Website at www.tbpg.state.tx.us.

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