A person who does any of the following is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment not to exceed three months, or by both fine and imprisonment:

(a) Unless the person is exempt from licensure under this chapter, practices or offers to practice geology or geophysics for others in this state according to the provisions of this chapter without legal authorization.

(b) Presents or attempts to file as their own the certificate of registration of another person.

(c) Gives false evidence of any kind to the board, or to any board member, in obtaining a certificate of registration.

(d) Impersonates or uses the seal, signature, or license number of any professional geologist, certified specialty geologist, professional geophysicist, or certified specialty geophysicist or who uses a false license number.

(e) Uses an expired, suspended, surrendered, or revoked license.

(f) Represents themselves as, or uses the title of, professional geologist, or any other title whereby the person could be considered as practicing or offering to practice geology for others, unless the person is qualified by licensure as a professional geologist under this chapter, or represents themselves as, or uses the title of, professional geophysicist, or any other title whereby the person could be considered as practicing or offering to practice geophysics for others, unless the person is qualified by licensure as a professional geophysicist under this chapter.

(g) Unless the person is licensed, manages, or conducts as manager, proprietor, or agent, any place of business from which geological or geophysical work is solicited, performed, or practiced for others, except as authorized pursuant to Section 7834.

(h) Uses the title, or any combination of that title, of “professional geologist,” “registered geophysicist,” or “professional geophysicist,” the title of any licensed certified specialty geologist or any licensed certified specialty geophysicist, or “geologist-in-training,” or who makes use of any abbreviation of a title that might lead to the belief that the person is licensed as a geologist, a geophysicist, a certified specialty geologist, or a certified specialty geophysicist, or holds a certificate as a geologist-in-training, without being licensed, licensed and certified, or certified, as required by this chapter.

(i) Violates any provision of this chapter.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 630, Sec. 11. (AB 1522) Effective January 1, 2020.)