(a) “Board” means the board of registered professional geologists created under this chapter.

(b) “Certified geologist” means a geologist who has been certified by a professional geologic organization, society or association, including, but not limited to, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the American Institute of Professional Geologists, which has certification requirements recognized by the board.

(c) “Fund” means the registered professional geologists fund created under Section 73-63-21.

(d) “Geologist” means an individual who, by reason of knowledge of geology, mathematics and the supporting physical and life sciences acquired by education and practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of geology.

(e) “Geologist-in-training” means an individual who has met the academic qualifications established by the board, who has successfully passed a written examination demonstrating a knowledge of the fundamentals of geology, and who has been enrolled as a geologist-in-training by the board.

(f) “Geology” means the science which includes the study of the earth and its origin and history. Geology includes the investigation of the earth’s constituent rocks, minerals, solids and fluids, including surface and underground waters, gases and other materials and the study of the natural agents, forces and processes which cause changes in the earth.

(g) “Person” means any individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, public or private corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, state, or any agency or institution thereof, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a state or any interstate body, and includes any officer or governing or managing body of any municipality, political subdivision, or the United States or any officer or employee thereof.

(h) “Practice of geology” means any professional service to determine and evaluate the geology of the earth requiring geologic education, training, experience and the application of special knowledge of the mathematical, physical and geologic sciences to those services, including, but not limited to, consultation, investigation, evaluation, planning, surveying (unless licensed under Sections 73-13-71 through 73-13-99), mapping and inspection of geologic work.

(i) “Registered professional geologist” means a geologist who has met the academic and experience qualifications established by the board and has been issued a certificate of registration as a registered professional geologist by the board.

(j) “Registrant” means any individual who holds a certificate of registration or certificate of enrollment issued under this chapter.

(k) “Responsible charge” means the independent control and direction, by use of initiative, skill and independent judgment, of geologic work or the supervision of that work.

(l) “Subordinate” means any individual who assists in the practice of geology by a registered professional geologist without assuming the responsible charge of the work.

(m) “Specialty” means any branch or discipline of geology that may be recognized under this chapter or regulations promulgated by the board for certifying specialization in a specific geologic field of study or related scientific field of study, or both.

(n) “Welfare” means physical and financial welfare.