A Certified Ground Water Professional (CGWP) is required to renew their certification every three years. A renewal fee of $150 is charged at the time of approval of the professional development credit (PDC) points earned during the three-year certification period.
CGWPs are required to renew their certification every three years, commencing December 31 in the year in which he/she earned the designation. If one becomes a CGWP anytime in 2007, the renewal deadline is December 31, 2010, and so forth.
The renewal process includes submittal of a renewal fee and evidence of earning 36 PDCs during each three-year renewal period.
Individuals who fail to submit renewal fees and evidence of the required PDCs by the December 31 deadline will be considered as "nonrenewing" and will be notified accordingly and advised to cease using the CGWP designation after their names. (Materials must be received by NGWA by the deadline). Nonrenewing CGWPs' names will be removed from the active list at this time.
Nonrenewing CGWPs may be reinstated by submitting the renewal fee, a reinstatement fee, and required PDCs by December 31 of the year following their active CGWP status. After December 31, the nonrenewing CGWP shall forfeit the reinstatement option. Those who wish to reapply for the CGWP status in the future shall follow the same application process as those initially applying for the designation.
Extenuating circumstance situations and/or questions concerning applicable PDCs will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the CGWP Committee or the AGWSE Board. These requests must be received in writing by March 31, following the end of the active status of the CGWP. Nonrenewing CGWPs, with such circumstances, that fail to submit written requests by the deadline are subject to the stipulation in 5d.
PDCs are given for:
- Attendance at local, regional, national, and international technical meetings (NGWA, GSA, AGU, etc.) — three credits per day attended, or appropriate fraction thereof; documentation of meeting must be supplied for approval
- Participation in or teaching of short courses and workshops (NGWA, GSA, universities, government training, etc.) — four credits per day of participation or appropriate fraction thereof
- Publication in refereed journals (Ground Water®, GSA Bulletin, Water Resources Research, etc.) — eight credits per published article
- Teaching at universities, colleges, junior colleges where not normally employed — two credits per one semester or quarter hour
- Oral presentation of papers at technical society meetings — four credits per paper presented
- Enrollment and attendance at university or college courses in relevant subjects — seven credits per semester credit unit eamed/five credits per quarter credit unit earned.