To be eligible for a certificate of registration, an applicant shall meet each of the following minimum qualifications:

(1) Be of good ethical character;

(2) Have graduated from an accredited college or university which has been approved by the board with a major in either geology, engineering geology, or geological engineering; or have completed 45 quarter hours or the equivalent in geological science courses leading to a major in geology, of which at least 36 quarter hours or the equivalent were taken in the third or fourth year or in graduate courses;

(3) Have at least seven years of professional geological work which shall include a minimum of three years of professional geological work under the supervision of a registered geologist, a registered civil engineer, or other supervision acceptable to the board. The following criteria of education and experience qualify, as specified, toward accumulation of the required seven years of professional geological work:

(A) Each year of undergraduate study in the geological sciences shall count as one-half year of training up to a maximum of two years, and each year of graduate study shall count as a year of training;

(B) Credit for undergraduate study, graduate study, and graduate courses, individually or in any combination thereof, shall in no case exceed a total of four years toward meeting the requirements for at least seven years of professional geological work as set forth above;

(C) The board may consider, in lieu of the above professional geological work as set out in this paragraph, the cumulative total of professional geological work or geological research of persons teaching at the college or university level, provided that such work or research can be demonstrated to be of a sufficiently responsible nature to be equivalent to the professional requirements required; and

(D) The ability of the applicant shall have been demonstrated by his having performed the work in a responsible position as determined by the board. The adequacy of the required supervision and experience shall be determined by the board in accordance with standards set forth in regulations adopted by it; and

(4) Successfully pass such examinations as are established by the board and which are designed to demonstrate that the applicant has the necessary knowledge and skill to exercise the responsibilities of the public practice of geology.