(1) “Classification” means the use and application of the current United States department of agriculture (USDA) soil taxonomy standard as revised, classifying soils to the order, suborder, great group, subgroup, family, series, or phase of series level;

(2) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of commerce and insurance, or the commissioner's designee;

(3) “Department” means the department of commerce and insurance;

(4) “Licensed professional soil scientist” means a person who is licensed as a soil scientist under this part;

(5) “Practice of soil science” means providing soil science services except as specifically exempted by this part. Soil science services include the investigation, inspection, collection, or evaluation of soil as a means to classify soil pursuant to the use and application of the USDA soil taxonomy standard, as revised, or the interpretation, inventory, planning, or mapping resulting from classifying soils;

(6) “Responsible charge of work” means accountable, independent control and direction by the use of initiative, skill, and independent judgment, of soil science work or supervision of soil science work;

(7) “Soil science” means the science concerning the earth's mantle and its use by all humans including:

(A) The classification, investigation, mapping and inventorying of soil; and

(B) The study of the interaction of soil forming factors;

(i) Climate;

(ii) Organisms;

(iii) Relief;

(iv) Parent material; and

(v) Time;

(8) “Soil scientist” means a person qualified by education and practical experience to engage in the practice of soil science; and

(9) “Soil scientist in training” means a person who has met or is pursuing the educational requirements of § 62-18-208, but is not qualified to be licensed as a professional soil scientist.