Tennessee Code Title 62. Professions, Businesses and Trades § 62-36-102

(a) The general assembly finds that the competent and proper application of geologic principles by geologists 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 geology in this state is declared to be subject to regulation in the public interest. Furthermore, the practice of geology is 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.

(b) The purpose of this chapter 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 this state and promoting the public welfare. The fields of geology expected to benefit are those related to the environment, mineral and fuels exploration and development, geologic hazards, basic geologic research and other geologic matters of concern to the people of this state.