Mississippi Administrative Code

Active members of the military, spouses and/or dependents of an active member of the military, located in Mississippi, seeking registration pursuant to the Military Family Freedom Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-50-1, et seq., may complete an abbreviated application available to quali…

Each new application for registration shall be accompanied by an application fee in the amount of Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($50.00). This application fee provides for the applicant's first examination and, if necessary, second examination if completed within one (1) calendar year…

All applicants for registration must take a written examination. The examination consists of one hundred (100) true/false or multiple-choice questions, and applicants have a maximum of three (3) hours to complete. Applicants must correctly answer at least seventy (70) questions t…

A. Upon completion of the applicable application, verification of the information provided by the application, applicant's satisfaction of the licensing requirements of his/her granting state, if any, and successful passage of the examination, if required, an applicant shall be i…

Except as otherwise provided by Miss. Code Ann. § 33-1-39, all licenses expire after December 31st of odd numbered years and shall be invalid unless renewed. To avoid a late payment fee or lapse of a license, all licenses must be renewed no later than 12:00 p.m. CST on December 3…

No later than November 30 of each odd-numbered year, the Board shall mail written notice to all registered foresters advising of the December 31st expiration date of his/her license and the cost of its required two (2) year renewal. Notice shall be sent to each licensed forester'…

To renew an expiring or expired license, a licensee shall complete the renewal application available on the Board's website located at https://www.borf.ms.gov/application and return the completed application with applicable renewal fee to the Board by mail to Post Office Box 1884…

Each renewal application shall be accompanied by a renewal fee in the amount of One Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($100.00). Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1001-5.4 Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-36-19(1)(a) and (1)(c), 73-36-29 Adopted 7/20/2023

Licensees shall be required to pay Two Hundred and No/100 Dollars ($200.00) for renewals made after December 31st of each odd-numbered year but prior to March 31st in the immediately succeeding even-numbered year following expiration. Licenses which have expired on December 31st …

Hours completed of Continuing Forestry Education (CFE) are to be disclosed at the time of renewal, but no supporting CFE documents are to be submitted at that time. Supporting information or documentation need only be produced when subject to a random audit by the Board. Notes 30…

Upon request and a hearing, an expired license may be reinstated by the Board within two (2) years following expiration of the subject license. If the Board determines the renewal is warranted, the Board may reinstate the expired license, subject to payment of the renewal and lat…

A total number of sixteen (16) hours of continuing forestry education, inclusive of one (1) hour of ethics, must be completed by each registrant biennially. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1001-6.1 Adopted 7/20/2023

Of the total number of required CFE hours, a minimum of six (6) hours must be completed through professionally organized coursework, seminars, short courses, workshops and/or technical sessions which may enhance a forester's professional development. This description of CFE cours…

The remaining hours of CFE must be completed through participation in forestry-related meetings or committees, holding an elected or appointed office in a recognized forestry organization or association, preparing and/or production of forestry publications or such other job enhan…

Additional coursework and forestry-related activities may qualify as CFE hours but require prior approval from the Board if not listed by example above. Requests for prior approval must be made in writing and should contain as much detail as possible regarding the potential cours…

The Board reserves the right to audit any CFE Certification and to disapprove any session it finds unacceptable. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1001-6.5 Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-36-19(1)(a) and (1)(c) Adopted 7/20/2023

A licensee may be exempt from annual CFE requirements for one of the following reasons: 1. Sixty-Five (65) years of age or older 2. Full-time college student 3. Active-duty military 4. New licensee who received his/her license since the last renewal period 5. Sickness or hardship…

Individuals seeking reciprocity pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 73-36-31, who are not residents of the state of Mississippi and have no established place of business in the state of Mississippi, must complete the reciprocity application available on the Board's website located at h…

Each reciprocal application for licensure shall be accompanied by a non-refundable reciprocal application fee in the amount of Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($50.00). Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1001-7.2 Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-36-19(1)(a) and 73-36-31 Adopted 7/20/2023

To satisfy the substantially equivalent requirement of Miss. Code Ann. § 73-36-31, a reciprocal applicant must have graduated with a bachelor's degree or higher degree from a university or college of forestry accredited by the Society of American Foresters or have completed a for…

Upon approval of licensure, the applicant will be issued a Mississippi reciprocal license and must satisfy all Mississippi licensing and renewal requirements in future license renewal periods. The reciprocal licensee must maintain his/her license in the original granting state an…

Any person who believes another is practicing forestry without a license or who believes a registrant is guilty of fraud, gross negligence or misconduct, may complete and submit the form complaint available on the Board's website located at https://www.borf.ms.gov/complaints, or …

Upon the filing of a Complaint with the Board, the Chair shall refer the Complaint to the Chair of the Complaint Committee ("CCC"). The CCC, or such other Board member as may be designated by the CCC, shall undertake an investigation to determine whether the facts as alleged and …

The respondent shall be served with the Board's formal Complaint and Notice of Hearing by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the respondent's address of record with the Board, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the scheduled hearing. A. The formal Complaint …

A respondent may request an informal conference or may be requested to attend an informal conference with the Complaint Committee, the Chair, or such other Board member(s) as designated by the Chair. The respondent has the right to have counsel present at the informal conference,…

If, after receipt of the formal Complaint but prior to the scheduled disciplinary hearing, a respondent wishes to admit to the allegations of the Complaint and the consequent violation(s) of law and/or rule, a consent order may be entered into between the Board and the respondent…

A. A respondent in a disciplinary proceeding may assert conflict or bias by filing with the Board at least three (3) days prior to a scheduled disciplinary hearing an affidavit asserting a conflict or bias against any member(s) of the Board, setting forth in sufficient detail fac…

There shall be no pre-hearing discovery. However, at least seven (7) working days prior to the date of a disciplinary hearing, parties represented by counsel and/or producing witnesses shall provide a list of the same containing the name, address, and telephone number of counsel …

A. The Board may conduct disciplinary hearings with its Chair, or such other member of the Board as may be designated by the Chair, acting as the presiding officer or the Board may appoint a hearing officer to preside. The presiding officer shall have the power to administer oath…

A. The Board, through its counsel, and the respondent each shall be permitted to make an opening statement and closing statement. The Board, through its counsel, shall present its evidence first, followed by the respondent. Rebuttal witnesses may be called if necessary. Each witn…

The Mississippi State Board of Registered Professional Geologists was created to administer the Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997 in order to safeguard life, health, and property, and to promote the public welfare by requiring any person in either public or …

The term of office of Board officers shall extend from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. No officer shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms for any specific office. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.10 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-15

President: The President shall serve as the executive officer of the Board and preside, when present, at all meetings. The President shall sign all certificates, the Annual Report to the Governor, and all other official documents and reports required of the Board. The President s…

The Order of Business is set by the President. The agenda shall include an item of business allowing public comment. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.12 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-17(a)

As required by the Open Meetings laws of the State of Mississippi, the general public shall be admitted to all meetings of the Board with the exception of those specifically identified by law. The public is subject to the following rules of conduct: A. Members of the public are r…

The Board shall adopt a seal for use of the Board on official documents. The Board may change such seal as it deems necessary. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.14 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-17(b)

The Board shall adopt a seal for the use of registrants appearing on the roster. The Board shall establish the proper use of the seal and may change it as the Board deems necessary. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.15 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-4; § 73-63-17(a)

Robert's Rules of Order shall govern proceedings of the Board, except when such rules conflict with law or these regulations. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.16 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-17(a)

The Board has the exclusive right to promulgate, change and/or alter these rules and procedures upon majority vote. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.17 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-17(a)

With the exception of records exempted by law, the Board complies with requests for information under the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, Mississippi Code Annotated § 25-61-1, et seq. according to the following policies: A. Requests for information under the Mississippi P…

The Registered Professional Geologists Practice Act of 1997, (§ 73-63-1et seq., Mississippi Code 1972, annotated) provides the means for achieving the purpose of the Board as an agency of the State of Mississippi. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.2 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-1 et seq.…

The Board shall, to the extent practicable, be composed of five (5) members. One (1) member represents the governmental sector, one (1) member represents academia, one (1) member represents the geotechnical/environmental sector, one (1) member represents the mining/mineral extrac…

With the exception of the initial Board, the term of all members shall be four (4) years. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.4 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-9

With the exception of the initial Board, the nominating committee shall consist of board members whose term is not expiring. The nominees selected by the committee shall then be submitted to the Registered Professional Geologists on the roster. Submission to the voting registrant…

All members of the Board, including the President, shall be entitled to vote and make or second motions. A majority vote of those present is required to pass a motion. A member expecting to be absent for a vote may provide the Board with written comments, but shall not vote by pr…

A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Notes 30 Miss. Code. R. 1101-1.7 Miss. Code Ann. § 73-63-15

The Board shall meet at least two (2) times per year. Regular meetings may be held at specific times and dates as agreed to by a majority of the Board. Special meetings may be called by the President or Vice President if the President is incapacitated, and may be arranged by tele…