{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/54.1-2208.4.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/54.1-2208.4.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/54.1-2208.4.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/54.1-2208.4.html"}],"law_id":368096,"edition_id":2,"section_id":368096,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.4","catch_line":"Professional ethics and conduct","history":"1981, c. 132, \u00a7 54-967; 1988, c. 765, \u00a7 54.1-1405; 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2025, c. 722.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board, in coordination with an ad hoc panel of licensed professional geologists convened by the Board and representing various geological interests in Virginia, shall have prepared and adopted a Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct that shall be published and made known in writing to every Virginia licensed professional geologist and applicant for licensure under this article. The Board may revise and amend this code as needed and shall forthwith notify each licensed professional geologist in writing of such revisions or amendments.\n\nB\n\nThe full Board, by majority vote, shall have the power to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of any professional geologist who, after an appropriate formal hearing, is found to have been involved in:\n\n1\n\nAny fraud or deceit in obtaining licensure;\n\n2\n\nAny violation of the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct or other regulations of the Board;\n\n3\n\nDemonstrated gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of geology as a professional geologist; or\n\n4\n\nAny conviction of a felony which, in the opinion of the Board, would adversely affect the practice of geology.\n\nC\n\nThe Board, by majority vote of the quorum, may reinstate a revoked or suspended license to any professional geologist who makes written application to the Board showing good cause for such action.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1370187,"text":"The Board, in coordination with an ad hoc panel of licensed professional geologists convened by the Board and representing various geological interests in Virginia, shall have prepared and adopted a Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct that shall be published and made known in writing to every Virginia licensed professional geologist and applicant for licensure under this article. The Board may revise and amend this code as needed and shall forthwith notify each licensed professional geologist in writing of such revisions or amendments.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1370188,"text":"The full Board, by majority vote, shall have the power to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of any professional geologist who, after an appropriate formal hearing, is found to have been involved in:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":1370189,"text":"Any fraud or deceit in obtaining licensure;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":1370190,"text":"Any violation of the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct or other regulations of the Board;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":1370191,"text":"Demonstrated gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of geology as a professional geologist; or","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":1370192,"text":"Any conviction of a felony which, in the opinion of the Board, would adversely affect the practice of geology.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":1370193,"text":"The Board, by majority vote of the quorum, may reinstate a revoked or suspended license to any professional geologist who makes written application to the Board showing good cause for such action.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":52470,"edition_id":2,"name":"Geologists","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52467,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:59:15","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:59","permalink":{"id":1467207,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52470,"identifier":"3","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3","url":"\/54.1\/II\/22\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52467,"edition_id":2,"name":"Soil Scientists, Wetland Professionals, and Geologists","identifier":"22","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":25,"parent_id":52439,"metadata":{"child_laws":17,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:59:14","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:58","permalink":{"id":1467149,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52467,"identifier":"22","token":"54.1\/II\/22","url":"\/54.1\/II\/22\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52439,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52436,"metadata":{"child_laws":392,"child_structures":60},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:52","permalink":{"id":1466417,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52439,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52436,"edition_id":2,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":118,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1282,"child_structures":163},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:58:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:51","permalink":{"id":1466315,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52436,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":368093,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.1","catch_line":"Purpose; exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2208.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.1","metadata":false},{"id":368094,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.2","catch_line":"Licensure; minimum qualifications; penalty","url":"\/54.1-2208.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.2","metadata":false},{"id":368095,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination","url":"\/54.1-2208.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.3","metadata":false},{"id":368096,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.4","catch_line":"Professional ethics and conduct","url":"\/54.1-2208.4\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":368095,"structure_id":52470,"section_number":"54.1-2208.3","catch_line":"Waiver of examination","url":"\/54.1-2208.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2208.4\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1981. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 132 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1981 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 2012, chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 722<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1467221,"object_type":"law","relational_id":368096,"identifier":"54.1-2208.4","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.4","url":"\/54.1-2208.4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2208.4\/","token":"54.1\/II\/22\/3\/54.1-2208.4","dublin_core":{"Title":"Professional ethics and conduct","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2208.4","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span>, in coordination with an ad hoc panel<\/span> of licensed professional geologists<\/span> convened by the Board<\/span> and representing various geological interests in Virginia, shall have prepared and adopted a Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct that shall be published and made known in writing to every Virginia licensed professional geologist<\/span> and applicant for licensure under this article. The Board<\/span> may revise and amend<\/span> this code as needed and shall forthwith notify each licensed professional geologist in writing of such revisions or amendments. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The full Board<\/span>, by majority vote, shall have the power to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the license of any professional geologist who, after an appropriate formal hearing<\/span>, is found to have been involved in: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Any fraud<\/span> or deceit in obtaining licensure; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Any violation of the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct or other regulations of the Board<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Demonstrated gross negligence<\/span>, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of geology<\/span> as a professional geologist; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Any conviction<\/span> of a felony<\/span> which, in the opinion<\/span> of the Board<\/span>, would adversely affect the practice of geology<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Board<\/span>, by majority vote of the quorum, may reinstate a revoked or suspended license to any professional geologist who makes written application to the Board<\/span> showing good cause for such action. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND CONDUCT (\u00a7 54.1-2208.4)\n\nA. The Board, in coordination with an ad hoc panel of licensed professional\ngeologists convened by the Board and representing various geological interests\nin Virginia, shall have prepared and adopted a Code of Professional Ethics and\nConduct that shall be published and made known in writing to every Virginia\nlicensed professional geologist and applicant for licensure under this article.\nThe Board may revise and amend this code as needed and shall forthwith notify\neach licensed professional geologist in writing of such revisions or amendments.\n\nB. The full Board, by majority vote, shall have the power to suspend, revoke, or\nrefuse to renew the license of any professional geologist who, after an\nappropriate formal hearing, is found to have been involved in:\n\n 1. Any fraud or deceit in obtaining licensure;\n\n 2. Any violation of the Code of Professional Ethics and Conduct or other\n regulations of the Board;\n\n 3. Demonstrated gross negligence, incompetence, or misconduct in the practice\n of geology as a professional geologist; or\n\n 4. Any conviction of a felony which, in the opinion of the Board, would\n adversely affect the practice of geology.\n\nC. The Board, by majority vote of the quorum, may reinstate a revoked or\nsuspended license to any professional geologist who makes written application to\nthe Board showing good cause for such action.\n\nHISTORY: 1981, c. 132, \u00a7 54-967; 1988, c. 765, \u00a7 54.1-1405; 2012, cc. 803,\n835; 2025, c. 722.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}