The Soil Classifier -
A Consumer Guide
What is a Professional Soil Classifier?
A Professional Soil classifier is a person with extensive knowledge of the use and management of soil resources. This knowledge is obtained through education, experience, and examination. A Professional Soil Classifier is required to follow a strict Code of Ethics established in the SC Professional Soil Classifiers Law.
Services Provided by a Professional Soil Classifier
- Hydric soil identification for: Wetland Determinations, wetland restoration, and wetland mitigation.
- Soil characterization for: On-site waste disposal (septic systems), land application of sewage sludge and spray effluent, animal waste systems.
- Soil investigations to determine site suitability for ponds, buildings, roads, borrow areas, and recreational areas.
- Soil investigations to determine seasonal water tables, permeability, flooding or ponding problems, shrink-swell, subsidence, radon, and contaminated soils.
- Advisory services for land use planning, cropland, woodland, and wildlife management.
- Soil classification and mapping for localized detailed soil surveys, cropland or woodland tax assessment appeals, research projects, watershed studies, erosion control, precision agriculture, hydrologic group determinations for storm water management.
Education and Experience Required
A Professional Soil Classifier must have a BS Degree in soil science or one of the natural resource sciences with at least 15 semester hours in soils-related courses. Two years of field experience under the direct supervision of a licensed Professional Soil Classifier is also required. Professional Soil Classifiers and Soil Classifiers-In-Training must take written examinations on National Cooperative Soil Survey standards, Soil Taxonomy, and interpretation of soil data. All Soil Classifiers must be approved by the Soil Classifiers Advisory Council before registration.
How to Contact a Professional Soil Classifier
An up-to-date list of Licensed Professional Soil Classifiers can be found on the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources web site, or may be obtained by contacting:
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Soil Classifier Registration Program
P.O. Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202
803-734-9131
E-mail: Sherri F. Moorer, Coordinator
Many of the state and federal natural resource agencies maintain lists of Professional Soil Classifiers in their local offices. Engineering and environmental consulting firms may also have licensed Professional Soil Classifiers on their staff.
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