Board Certification
Professional certification offered through the Academy ensures that geotechnical engineers have specialized knowledge and skills in their field of practice. Once your education, experience and expertise has been vetted by a panel, you are granted the Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE) certification. Differentiate yourself from your peers by applying for your D.GE. To maintain the certification, you are required to earn at least twenty professional development hours (PDHs) per year to stay up-to-date on new technologies and trends.
Why is Board Certification Important?
Geo-Professional Board Certification was created in 2008 to recognize engineers who have an advanced degree of knowledge and expertise in the specialized field of Geotechnical Engineering. These individuals, who are endorsed with this Board Certification, are actively engaged in this professional practice, have obtained a baccalaureate degree in engineering, a master's degree and a professional engineer license. With these skills and accomplishments, Board Certified engineer is one of the highest designations in the Geo-Profession and recognized as a respected and credible professional within the field of civil engineering.
What is a Board Certified Diplomate?
A Diplomate is a Board Certified Professional and is considered one of the highest designations in the Geo-Profession, with less than 250 engineers achieving the status of Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE). A Board Certified Engineer has had at least eight years of progressive experience after earning a PE license and has achieved a master's degree. A Board Certified Geotechnical engineer has deomonstrated advanced knowledge in at least one area in geotechnical engineering. An engineer becomes a Diplomate through achieving advanced experience, licensure, education as well as passing a board examination. Although, with enough experience, the exam is waived.
What is the Academy?
The Academy of Geo-Professionals is an elite group comprised of about 250 Diplomates who have gone through many years of training and experience to become eligible for Board Certification. The Academy is a way to recognize engineers who have a special knowledge and experience in the field of geotechnical engineering.
About the Certification Process
After submitting a completed application and a biography, curriculum vital (CV) or resume you will need to have three licensed engineers fill out a reference form. Once all three forms are received, your application is considered complete and will be reviewed by the Application Committee, who meets on a quarterly basis. It must then go to the Board for final approval. Once you’re approved, you will be allowed to use the designation D.GE (Diplomate, Geotechnical Engineering) and will be invited to the next induction ceremony to receive your certification plaque and pin.
Benefits of Certification:
- Respected Expertise
- Validated Competence
- Heightened Marketability
- Career Advancement
- Expanded Professional Network
- Increased Credibility
- Improved Leadership Skills
- Increased Knowledge Base
- Increased Earning Potential
- Heightened Recognition
Requirements:
1. Professional Engineering License (or foreign equivalent)
2. Masters Degree (or 30 hours post-graduate education)
3. At least 8 years of work experience after earning license
4. Oral Examination (may be waived with enough experience)
Already a Diplomate?
You need to attain 20 professional development hours (PDHs) per year. To find out about upcoming educational opportunities, please click here.
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Billy Camp Announced as IFCEE 2015 Congress Chairman
Billy Camp, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE, will serve as the International Foundations Congress Equipment Expo 2015 Congress Chairman. The event will take place at the same location as the IFCEE 2012 Congress, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa from March 17-21, 2015.
The Geo-Institute of ASCE, the International Association of Foundation Drilling, Deep Foundations Institute and the Pile Driving Contractors Association announced their partnership of IFCEE 2015 recently. This event is labeled as a “must-attend” event for professionals in the foundation industry. Along with presentations of reviewed technical papers, there will be panel discussions and debates, educational short courses, technical committee meetings, networking opportunities and both indoor and outdoor exhibits.
Billy works at S&ME, Inc. in their Charleston, SC office and serves at a Technical Principal, Vice President, and Senior Geotechnical Engineer and has been with them for 23 years. He primarily focuses on site characterization, design and testing of deep foundations, earthquake engineering, and development of soft ground sites. He is a Dipomate in the Academy of Geo-Professionals. To find out more about the Congress, please click here.
Outstanding Geotechnical Engineers Sought for Peck Award
ASCE’s Ralph B. Peck Award recognizes major contributions to the geotechnical engineering profession through the publication of a thoughtful, carefully researched case history or histories, or the publication of recommended practices or design methodologies based on the evaluation of case histories. Nominations are due by June 1. Get more information and download forms at the official Peck Award page.
Larry Madrid Receives GMEC Award
Congratulations to Larry D. Madrid, PE, D.GE, F.ASCE who received the 2013 GMEC Award. The award is presented annually at the Geotechnical and Materials Engineers Council Conference (GMEC) in April and honors individuals who have had a significant positive impact on the geotechnical and materials engineering profession.
Larry works at Madrid Engineering Group, Inc., a company he founded in 1992. He is President of the company and has extensive experience in the fields of civil and geotechnical engineering, construction management, environmental compliance and water quality issues. He is a specialist in central and south Florida for the geotechnical and environmental needs. In addition, he has either supervised or conducted over 4000 geotechnical explorations and worked on projects in South Carolina, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
To read more about Madrid Engineering Group, Inc., please click here.
Kavazanjian Elected to National Academy of Engineering (NAE)
The Academy of Geo-Professionals is proud to count another Diplomate amongst the ranks of the elite in engineering. Congratulations to Edward Kavazanjian, Jr, PhD, PE, GE, NAE, D.GE, F.ASCE, for being elected as one of the newest members of the NAE, announced by President Charles Vest. He was elected for his expertise in geotechnical engineering with municipal solid-waste management, earthquake hazard mitigation, and safety of transportation facilities.
Dr. Kavazanjian is a senior sustainability scientist, Global Institute of Sustainability, and professor, School of Sustainable Engineering and the Build Environment, Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State University. He has been a Diplomate since the Academy's inception and has also served on the Board. In additon, he's served as the Geo-Institute President.
Dr. Kavazanjian returned to academia at ASU in August 2004 after 20 years in engineering
practice. Dr. Kavazanjian is particularly well known for his work on analysis, design, and
construction of landfills and waste containment systems, although his expertise and experience
include a wide range of geotechnical engineering and civil infrastructure development projects.
Election to membership in NAE is one of the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Members are elected by their peers, who are current NAE members. There are roughly 2200 members across all engineering disciplines. To read more about NAE, please visit their website by clicking here.
CESB: Certification vs Licensing
The Council of Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards, CESB, published a consensus document on engineering credentials concisely describing licenses, certifications, the relationship between the two, their appropriate uses, and their benefits to consumers, employers, and practitioners. This document can be used to help those that may understand the difference between certification and licensing. Feel free to distribute the file. If you would like a hard copy of the brochure, please contact AGP Staff by emailing us.
The Academy of Geo-Professionals is accredited through CESB. One of the other Academies of ASCE, the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) are also accredited. The Academy of Coastal, Ocean, Port and Navigation Engineers (ACOPNE) is currently in the application process to gain accreditation.
AGP Inducts 7th Class of Diplomates
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Academy of Geo-Professionals has announced the induction of the newest class of recipients of the Diplomate in Geotechnical Engineering (D.GE) certification. The group of engineers has completed a lengthy certification process that includes graduate coursework, professional experience and an oral defense of the application. The certifications were presented at a ceremony at the Geo-Institute conference in San Diego, California on March 4, 2013.
The Academy of Geo-Professionals was founded in October 2008 by the members of ASCE’s Geo-Institute with the goal of providing advanced certification to geotechnical engineers. The first certifications were awarded in March 2009, and the number of engineers who have earned the D.GE is now more than 250.
Left to right: Manoochehr Zoghi, Gregory R. Reuter, Frank Rausche, Kancheepuram Gunalan, Rodrigo Salgado, Edward Nowatzki, Joseph A.Waxse, Elizabeth M. Smith, John D. Nelson, Ray Martin, Henry Landau, Siamak Jafroudi, Luther H. Boudra, Richard Woods, Stephen Gale, Elizabeth M. Dwyre, Woodward L. Vogt
New Benefit for Diplomates!
Your dedication to the Academies of ASCE qualifies you for a Diplomate Professional Liability credit. This credit is an exclusive Diplomate discount on your ASCE professional liability insurance that could range from 5 to 7.5%. In many cases, the value of this discount alone may exceed your application and recertification costs.
ASCE’s Insurance Brokers with Lloyds of London recognize the value of Board Certification, knowing the Diplomate has demonstrated the mastery and use of a specialized body of knowledge, superior experience, strong ethics, and have a commitment to lifelong learning.
ASCE is confident your specialized knowledge and skills reduces the risk and liability of your projects. While our underwriters have the final decision on providing insurance after proper evaluation of your firm and its history, we will work with you to make sure you receive a fair premium and the premium credit that celebrates your expertise, strong ethics, and commitment to excellence. For more information, contact an ASCE Professional Liability Specialist at 800.650.2723.
Tuncer Edil Elected as Distinguished Member of ASCE
Congratulations to former ASCE Fellow and current Diplomate, Tuncer Edil, PhD, PE, D.GE, Dist.M.ASCE, for attaining the status of Distinguished Member of ASCE! Professor Edil has practiced geo engineering for 40 years making contributions to research, creative accomplishment, and scholarship in the field. He is Research Director of Recycled Materials Resource Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A Distinguished Member is a person who has attained acknowledged eminence in some branch of engineering or in the arts and sciences related thereto, including the fields of engineering education and construction.
Whether elected from the membership as a Society Fellow or Member, Distinguished Members (formerly called Honorary Members) are entitled to all the rights and privileges of the Society. The total number of Distinguished Members elected in any year should not exceed one for every 7,500 members. Members of the Board of Direction are ineligible for election to honorary membership during their terms of active membership on the Board of Direction.
The Membership Directory of the Society contains a "Historic Roster of Honorary Members" and a list of active Distinguished/Honorary Members.
To read more about the Distinguished designation within ASCE, please click here.
AGP Board of Trustees Welcome Public Member Walter T. Marlowe
On February 1, 2013, the Academy of Geo-Professionals named Walter T. Marlowe, PE, CSI, M.ASCE, CAE, to its Board of Trustees as the Public Member for a three and one-half year term.
The AGP Board of Trustees are thankful to Walt for his willingness to serve on the Academy Board as the Public Member and are looking forward to his input as an eminent and highly respected leader within the civil engineering profession.
According to the Bylaws of the Academy, the Public Member shall be an individual who is neither a Diplomate of AGP nor qualified to apply for any AGP certification and shall represent the interests of the general public whom the members serve.
Walt joined the Construction Specifications Institute in January 2007 as its Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. In this role he leads and manages the Institute’s $5M operations and 25 staff in accordance with policies and goals established by the CSI Board of Directors for the benefit of CSI’s 12,000 members. He has 20+ years experience as an association management professional. This is in addition to his six years of experience as a structural engineer. He has served in a variety of staff leadership roles for the Building Security Council, American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers. He currently serves as a national board member of the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives. He also holds the Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Executives.
Chris Ryan, D.GE Steps Down as President of Geo-Solutions
Chris Ryan, PE, D.GE, M.ASCE founded Geo-Solutions in 1996 and was the president before stepping down on January 1, 2013. His new role will be as chairman of the board. Bob Schindler will take over as the company's president.
Geo-Solutions is one of the premier geotechnical/environmental remediation contractors in the industry today, after its acquisition of Geo-Con. According to its website Geo-Solutions helps contractors, owners and engineers select and implement cost-effective and practical construction solutions to environmental and civil engineering problems involving soil and groundwater.
Chris has been a D.GE since 2009 and has had in excess of 25 years experience in effecting constructed solutions to soil and groundwater problems. Prior to Geo-Solutions he had been a founder/principal in two geotechnical and geo-environmental specialty construction firms. To read more about Geo-Solutions, please click here.
Scot Litke Steps Down as AGP Public Member
In October, Scot stepped down as AGP Public Member, after serving over three years in that role. His departure was mainly due to the fact that he's cutting back his professional working hours.
The AGP Board of Trustees would like to publicly thank Scot for his service to the Academy over the past three-plus years. The wisdom and experience he brought to the table as the first Public Member have been an invaluable contribution in guiding the Academy through its infancy. The Board has so very much appreciated all the time he donated and the all effort he devoted to helping AGP succeed. Scot's unique perspective on the marketing aspects of a newly created Academy were perhaps his greatest asset.
We know that his time on the Board was time well spent. We accomplished a great deal during the last several years thanks to his leadership, guidance and efforts. We especially appreciate his recruiting efforts. He has paved the way for the rest of us to see that AGP is a lasting success.
View AGP Diplomates Mapped Out in a full screen map
