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Requirements
Education Overview
In general, applicants for licensure must hold a bachelor's or higher degree in soil science, or a bachelor's degree that includes a minimum number of equivalent soil science credits.
Examination Overview
In most instances, applicants must first pass the FSS Exam and then the PSS Exam to be considered for licensure. Both exams are developed by the Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE), a committee of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA). Applicants who successfully pass the FSS Exam and graduate may choose to apply for the Soil Scientist-In-Training, or SSIT, designation.
Experience Overview
To qualify for licensure as a professional soil scientist, applicants must provide evidence of completing qualifying experience. Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, nonrepetitive, practical experience in soil science and must be verified by a licensed geologist or soil scientist or by a licensed professional engineer who has qualified education and experience in the soil science discipline.
The amount of experience needed depends upon the type of education earned.
For Additional Information
Please visit each tab – FSS/SSIT, Initial License (PSS), and License (Comity) – for complete details on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements.
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FSS/SSIT
Examination Overview
In most instances, applicants must first pass the Fundamentals of Soil Science (FSS) Exam and then the Practice of Soil Science (PSS) Exam to be considered for licensure. Both exams are developed by the Council of Soil Science Examiners (CSSE), a committee of the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
Exam Application Deadlines
The FSS Exam is computer-based and administered by remote proctoring.
FSS Exam Application Deadlines
| FSS Exam Dates |
Exam Registration Dates |
| August 5 – 19, 2026 |
July 1 – 27, 2026 |
| November 4 – 18, 2026 |
October 7 – 26, 2026 |
Exam registration is only available during the dates listed above. If you want to take your exam during the listed FSS Exam Dates, you must register during the corresponding Exam Registration Dates.
With each exam registration, you pay an examination fee. This fee is set by and paid to SSSA. Questions regarding the payment of this fee, as well as potential refunds due to rescheduling an exam, must be addressed directly to SSSA.
Application Process
You may now register directly with SSSA to sit for the FSS Exam; you do not need to apply to the Board for prior approval to sit for the exam.
Soil Scientist-in-Training (SSIT)
If you specified Minnesota as your jurisdiction when you registered, and you pass the FSS, you may choose to apply to the Board for the Soil Scientist-in Training (SSIT) designation. You will be required to present evidence that you meet the education requirement in MN Rules 1800.3910, Subp 5(B).
While you must pass the FSS Exam as a requirement for licensure, the SSIT designation itself is not a requirement for licensure.
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License (PSS)
Education Overview
Applicants for the Principles of Soil Science (PSS) Exam must hold a bachelor's or higher degree in soil science, or a bachelor's degree that includes a minimum number of equivalent soil science credits.
If you hold a degree from a foreign institution, you must have your education evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). You must purchase a Course-by-Course Evaluation. This evaluation type is required; other evaluation types will not be accepted. The original evaluation report must be sent directly from the evaluation service to the Minnesota Board; enter the Board’s email – aelslagid@state.mn.us – as the recipient.
For details on the above, see the Application for Professional Soil Scientist (PSS) Exam or MN Rules 1800.3910, Subp. 5(B).
Experience Overview
When you apply for the PSS Exam, you must provide evidence that you meet the qualifying experience requirements. Qualifying experience consists of varied, progressive, nonrepetitive, practical experience in soil science and must be verified by a licensed geologist or soil scientist or by a licensed professional engineer who has qualified education and experience in the soil science discipline. See MN Rules 1800.3910 Subp 6 for details.
How much experience you need depends upon the type of education you earned. See MN Rules 1800.3910 Subp. 3(B) for details. Use the Experience Reference form, which is part of the Application for Professional Soil Scientist (PSS) Exam packet to document your experience. You must customize and send a copy to every supervisor verifying your experience. The completed form must be sent by the supervisor directly to the Board; it may not be submitted by the applicant.
Examination Overview
PSS Exam Application Deadlines
The Professional Soil Scientist (PSS) Exam is computer-based and administered by remote proctoring. For the PSS, you must first apply to the Board and submit a $75 application fee for a particular test date. The Board will approve you to sit for the exam, at which time you can register with SSSA. You must re-apply to the Board if you do not then sit for the test date for which you were approved.
Exam Application Deadlines
| PSS Exam Dates |
Board Application Deadline |
Exam Registration Dates |
| August 5 – 19, 2026 |
June 5, 2026 |
July 1 – 27, 2026 |
| November 4 – 18, 2026 |
September 4, 2026 |
October 7 – 26, 2026 |
Exam registration is only available during the dates listed above. If you want to take your exam during the listed PSS Exam Dates, you must register during the corresponding Exam Registration Dates.
With each exam registration, you pay an examination fee. This fee is separate from the application fee and is set by and paid to SSSA. Questions regarding the payment of this fee, as well as potential refunds due to rescheduling an exam, must be addressed directly to SSSA.
See the Instructions Overview for more information on how to apply.
Application Process
To register for the PSS exam and approval for licensure, use the Application for Professional Soil Scientist (PSS) Exam. Follow the instructions in the application to provide all required additional information. Incomplete applications expire six (6) months after receipt.
Licensure
Once you pass the PSS Exam and the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for licensure, you will be sent a License Fee Letter. To obtain your professional license once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the license fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the license fee.
Once the Board receives your license fee, a license number will be generated, and a license card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not licensed and cannot practice or hold out as licensed until the Board processes your license and issues your license number.
Regardless of when it is obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.
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License (Comity)
Licensure by Comity (Reciprocity)
If you already hold a license in another jurisdiction, use the Application for Licensure as a Professional Soil Scientist by Comity to apply for a reciprocal license in Minnesota. Follow the instructions in the application to provide all required additional information. Incomplete applications expire six (6) months after receipt.
Comity applications are reviewed based on the Education, Examination, and Experience requirements that were in place in Minnesota at the time of your original licensure (or in place in Minnesota as of August 4, 1997, if your original licensure was prior to that date). Your required experience must be verified by one of the following license holders: a professional soil scientist, a professional geologist, or a professional engineer who has qualified education and experience in the soil science discipline. See MN Rules 1800.0800.
License Application Fee
The comity application fee is $75, payable via check or money order made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID”. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the application fee.
Licensure
Once the Board has determined that you meet all requirements for licensure, you will be sent a License Fee Letter. To obtain your professional license once you receive the letter, you must submit a check or money order for $120 made payable to “MN Board of AELSLAGID” along with a copy of the license fee letter referenced above. At this time, the Board is unable to accept cash, credit card, or other forms of electronic payment for the license fee.
Once the Board receives your license fee, a license number will be generated, and a license card will be mailed to you. A wall certificate signed by the Board Chair and Secretary and suitable for framing will be sent to you following the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. NOTE: You are not licensed and cannot practice or hold out as licensed until the Board processes your license and issues your license number.
Regardless of when it is obtained, your license expires June 30th of every even-numbered year unless renewed.
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Temporary Permit
What Is a Temporary Permit?
MN Rules 1800.0900, Subpart 7 and MN Statute 326.13, clause (1) define the conditions under which you may seek a temporary permit and the permit application requirements. Temporary permits are only granted to individuals who meet the requirements for application by comity/EEE in Minnesota and who demonstrate need.
A temporary permit allows a qualified individual to accept and undertake a project in the state when the time between the offer of work and the commencement of work is so short that, following the regular license application process, a license may not be approved by the Board in time.
Temporary permits are project specific. A temporary permit does not grant the individual the right to undertake (or solicit) any other project than the one listed on the permit application until full licensure is granted.
IMPORTANT! Pre-Notification to the Board When Soliciting Work in Minnesota
Please be aware that those licensed in another jurisdiction but not in Minnesota may not solicit work in Minnesota without first notifying the Board in writing. They are further required to deliver a copy of that notice to every potential client for whom they are seeking to provide services, and they must apply for licensure/certification within ten days if selected as the design professional for a project in this state. See MN Statute 326.13, clause (2) for details.
Requesting a temporary permit neither negates nor replaces this notification requirement.
Who Can Apply
Individuals licensed or certified in a jurisdiction recognized by the Board and who would otherwise qualify for licensure by comity/EEE may apply for a temporary permit, if circumstances require one and if their profession is one of the following:
- Architect
- Professional Engineer
- Professional Geologist
- Professional Soil Scientist
- Certified Interior Designer
How to Apply
Applicants must submit BOTH the paper Application for Temporary Permit (and $120 license fee) as well as the paper Application for Licensure as a Professional Soil Scientist by Comity (and $75 application fee). In the event that your application is denied, only the $120 license fee will be refunded.
About the Permit
If your temporary permit is approved, the Board will issue you a permit which you must sign and return to the Board within five days. Retain a signed copy for your records. Temporary permits expire 60 days from the date listed on the permit, or as soon as you receive your license number and license card – whichever comes first. Temporary permits cannot be renewed. As noted above, temporary permits are project specific. Holding a permit does not allow you to undertake or solicit additional projects.
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Renew
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2024-2026 Licenses Expire June 30; Online Renewals Now Open!
ALL 2024-2026 licenses and certificates expired on June 30, 2026, regardless of when in the biennium they were issued (MN Statute 326.10 Subd. 8) unless renewed.
If you need to practice or hold out in Minnesota, renew online starting April 1, 2026.
- Know your license or certificate number and the last four digits of your ID number.
- Your ID number is the last four digits of your US Social Security number. If you don't have a US SSN, use the last four digits of the ITIN or Minnesota Tax ID number you provided to the Board.
- Gather your continuing education information for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026 (or the date you renew, whichever comes first). See the Continuing Education Requirements to the right for more details.
- Any carryover from the last renewal will show automatically once you log in.
- Ethics hours must be earned after July 1, 2024 (and, again, prior to the date you renew).
- If you were issued your initial Minnesota license on or after July 1, 2024, you do not have a continuing education requirement for this first renewal period.
- Have your credit card ready before starting your renewal. For security purposes, the electronic payment system will time out if you do not finish your payment transaction within a reasonable amount of time.
- For late renewals - those renewing for 2024-2026 (license or certificate last renewed through June 30, 2024) PRIOR to June 30, 2026 --OR-- those renewing for 2026-2028 (license or certificate last renewed through June 30, 2026) AFTER July 1, 2026 - a $30 late fee will be added to your total.
- A $2.50 credit card fee per license renewed, charged by the bank, will also be added to your total.
- Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express are accepted.
RENEW ONLINE
Click these links for information on RETIREMENT status and REINSTATEMENT.
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Continuing Education Requirements (PDH / CE)
- Complete 24 Professional Development Hours (PDH) per two-year cycle.
- 2 of the 24 hours must be Professional Ethics (ethics content related to the practice of the profession). Ethics must be earned in each biennium.
- CE activities must maintain or enhance professional competence.
- Retain documentation for at least 4 years in case of audit.
CE Carryover Rules
- Up to 12 PDH may be carried into the next cycle.
- Ethics hours may NOT be carried over.
- Excess PDH beyond 12 is forfeited.
CE Exemptions
Licensees may request PDH exemption with supporting documentation during a renewal cycle for:
- Military deployment
- Board-approved exceptional circumstances
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