Division Report
Division of Professional Affairs
The Division of Professional Affairs (DPA) was originally established to provide the certifying arm of the AAPG. Anyone who is a Certified Petroleum Geologist is also a member of the DPA. DPA is the only certifying body specifically for petroleum geologists, unlike state licensure which is aimed more at the geological aspects of the environmental industry, where they deal with issues of public health and safety
However, the DPA has grown beyond just the certification of geologists. The DPA supports the Geo-DC office, and it encourages participation in the scientific congressional visit days, where members visit with their representatives in Congress. The DPA now has the Board Certified Member status available to DPA members who want a higher level of recognition. A Board Certified Member must have been a DPA member for at least five years and have 20 professional development hours (PDH) per year. The DPA also subscribes to an online service which allows members to track state and federal legislation that affects geology and related topics, available in the Members Only section.
These are some of the things that have been implemented for the benefit of the DPA members. If you are interested in more information or in becoming a CPG, visit the DPA website.