The Path to Professional License: Chelsea Bush, LG

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Chelsea Bush, Licensed Geologist (LG)

Date you took the test: March 17, 2023

Date Awarded: May 4, 2023

Chelsea working at Rialto Beach.

Where did you start with your test prep?

I find that studying with a good friend is the best way to learn and retain information. I chose my bestie Mary Alice, who was taking the test at the same time, and we met up at a restaurant/bar every weekend for 3 months. Good food and a beer helped us relax and enjoy our study time, instead of dreading it.

Together, we went over the practice tests and graded each other, and we taught each other all of the different sections outlined in the Reg Review study materials. We decided that we should prepare our “lessons” on the material we are least familiar with, then go over our findings together.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

Studying for the test is stressful—at first it is very overwhelming and it seems like you will never get through all the study materials. But if you break down the sections and consider your comfort level with each subject, it helps put the test in perspective.

I focused heavily on hydrogeology and engineering geology review, and spent a day on each of the subjects (like economic geology, which I have no background in) reading through all of the material and attempting study questions. I suggest learning basic hydro equations, how to calculate weighted averages, and review your three-point problems (applicable to both structural and hydro questions). Don’t freak out if you don’t know some things! You only need a 70 percent grade to pass.

Chelsea with her cat, Elvira.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I was really nervous! To prepare for the exam I ate a solid breakfast, drank a lot of water, and took a few deep breaths.

When I got to the testing center in Mountlake Terrace, I ran into Bodie McCosby from Aspect and recognized a few other people, which made me feel less stressed out.

It is important to follow the instructions given by ASBOG (the National Association of State Boards of Geology) and make sure you have all required documentation and identification before entering the testing center. It is a little odd, but they use a metal detector and pat you down before you enter the testing area to ensure you aren’t cheating, so be prepared to feel like you are going to board an airplane.

How did you feel when you got the results?

Because this was the first year that the test was given online, we had a lot of questions about how the results would come out, and when. I know all of us were obsessively checking our emails. It took about 45 days to receive our test results, a slightly longer wait than previous years with the written test. When I got the email that I passed, I was at home after work—I was really excited and relieved! The first thing I did was call my mom and dad to share the news, and that evening my husband took me out to dinner to celebrate.

What lessons did you learn that you’d want others to know?

I think the best thing to do is study in a way that helps you—not everyone studies well with a friend and a cheeseburger like me. I reflected on the best methods I used during grad school, and relied on those. Reaching out to others who have taken the test and experienced it is also very helpful for understanding the level of effort you should take.

The Path to Professional License: Hannah Cohen, LG

In the science and engineering industry, seeing a “PE”, “LG”, “PMP”, or other initials behind someone’s name shows that person went through years of work experience that culminated in a substantial test to confirm the right to practice their area of technical expertise. Many go through this licensing journey but few outside that group know what the process is really like.

We’re telling those stories here. Aspect’s professionals are writing a series of articles that capture the trials and successes of studying for and receiving these career-defining milestones.

Hannah Cohen, Licensed Geologist (LG)

Date of Test: October 2022

Date Awarded: November 2022

Hannah sailing a wooden boat (sloop-rigged Blanchard Junior) on Lake Union.

Where did you start with your test prep?

I had kept my study manual from my Fundamentals of Geology (FG) exam (the exam one takes to gain Geologist-in-Training [GIT] status) that I took back in 2017 as well as many of my course readers and notebooks from school. Going over all the basics was a good start, but I found the LG exam required more specific knowledge in each of the topics, which can often be found in textbooks and regulatory publications.

One of the next things I did was take the Reg Review weekend online course in August. It was a good way to figure out exactly how the test was structured, what topics were emphasized, and which subjects I knew the least about (it was Economic Geology for me). I would recommend people take the course more like 6 months before their test instead of when I did…which was only 2 months before. Oops.

What should a person gearing up to do this know about the mental, physical, and social challenges of test prep?

You’re going to feel stressed about it and you will probably have to decline or cancel many of your weekend plans (sorry). I noticed the stress of the exam bleeding into all the other parts of my life, no matter how hard I tried to prevent it. It happens! When I felt myself getting tense and anxious, I would try to go for a walk or watch some terrible reality TV (Love Island always gets me to laugh and relax).

Test prep is going to occupy all your time for a few months, but if you give yourself some grace and find ways to positively motivate yourself to study, you can—and will!— make it through.

Walk us through the Big Test Day…

I took the test at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center. I tried to sleep in as much as possible (I couldn’t) and made sure to have coffee and eat some breakfast. I remembered packing a few snack bars for me to have just before or during the test, but I was way too nervous to eat them.

The test was scheduled for 1 pm, after the FG test was administered. I arrived at the test center around noon, planning to go over some flash cards before heading into the test (I didn’t; I was too jittery). When I found the right floor in the convention center, I checked in with some very nice middle-aged ladies, got my sealed test booklet, and went into a large, brightly lit conference room. It’s notable that I took the last paper test that ASBOG is offering for the LG; it will be a computer exam starting in March 2023.

It’s a four-hour exam and it took me (and many of the other candidates in the room) about three and a half hours to complete. I remembered feeling pretty confident for the first 5 to 10 questions, but by the time I reached the halfway point, all of that was confidence gone. When I finished the exam and left the convention center, I felt almost certain I didn’t pass.

I drove home in complete silence, wondering desperately what had happened to me and how in the world they thought up some of those questions (try not to do this). When I got home, my partner was very supportive and encouraged me to have some wine, pat myself on the back for being done, and then think about literally anything other than the test (I would recommend doing this).

How did you feel when you got the results?

Forty-one days later, I was shocked, surprised, delighted, and relieved. I received two back-to-back emails informing me that I had “successfully completed the ASBOG exam(s) and all requirements for [my] Washington State geologist license” with the PDF license attached. I was so stunned that at first, I couldn’t quite parse if I had passed the exam because neither email say so explicitly. I was also in the middle of the 8-hour HAZWOPER refresher course with a dozen or so of my fellow Aspect folks, so it felt very surreal. I turned to my right, showed the email to (Aspect Senior Geologist) Ali Cochrane, and asked her, “Does this mean I passed?” She said yes, obviously. Thanks, Ali! 

What lessons did you learn that you’d want others to know?

  • Don’t spend time fretting over your practice test scores or trying to calculate the final score of your real exam. I remember pacing around my house trying to figure out if my scores on the practice tests I took would be considered passing scores—don’t do this -it doesn’t matter!! The exam review process is complicated and a little mysterious, and every exam is completely different from the one before. I’m a big overthinker, so I struggled with this. Feeling nervous and stressed is totally normal, but try not to let it eat you up. Use your stress to motivate you to get a few more hours of studying in.

  • I found the Reg Review practice tests to be much different (and less difficult) than the real exam, so if I hadn’t passed the first time, I would have used what I could remember of the exam to study for the next one.

  • Study with at least one other person. It’ll keep you focused during study sessions, and you won’t feel as alone. I usually studied along, but when my partner could help with the flashcards, it felt better. And when you feel your mind wandering or you get stuck on a practice question, you’ll have someone to turn to for help and support.