The general assembly finds that the competent and proper application of soil science principles by soil scientists is vital to the lives, property, economy, security, and environment of the people of this state. In order to safeguard life, health, and property and to promote the public welfare, the practice of soil science in this state is hereby declared to be subject to regulation in the public interest. Furthermore, the practice of soil science is hereby declared a learned profession to be practiced and regulated as such, and its practitioners in this state shall be held accountable to the state and members of the public by high professional standards in keeping with the ethics and practices of other learned professions in this state. The purpose of this part is to introduce additional qualifying criteria in a professional field at present only partially regulated, thereby benefiting the safety, health, and property of the people of Tennessee and promoting the public welfare. The fields of soil science expected to benefit are those related to the environment, soil classification and mapping, the inventory of the soil as a resource, basic soil science research, and other soil science matters of concern to the people of this state. This legislation does not attempt to infringe upon the current licensed professions of engineers, geologists, surveyors, or the persons who work directly for them as either their employees or as subcontractors. This legislation differentiates the principles of soil science from those respected and established fields.