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State panel says 29 soil classifiers meet current needs; board moved to Natural Resources Commission in 2023
Summary
The Department of Agriculture told the subcommittee that soil-classifier licensure, established in 1975, now sits with the Natural Resources Commission after the board's abolition in 2023; officials said 29 professionals are currently registered and the program has modest operating costs.
Chris Kaulklaasier, director of the Natural Resources Division at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, told the subcommittee that the State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers was established in 1975 and "that board was later abolished in 2023 and moved to the natural resources commission, which is where it's housed right now."
Kaulklaasier said soil classifiers are a small, niche profession that typically work on septic-system design, perk tests, wetland determinations, nutrient-management plans and certain foundation and construction-site soil classifications. He said the typical education path requires a four-year degree with about 30 hours in biological/physical sciences and 15 hours in soils coursework.
On program size, Kaulklaasier stated, "I think we have 29 right now that are registered in the state of Arkansas." Committee members asked whether 29 practitioners are sufficient; Kaulklaasier said there is no current shortage but numbers could change with development booms and noted the program’s low administrative costs, printing certificates and minimal M&O appropriation. He said the department has discussed expanding the appropriation to cover salary and administrative expenses and possibly upgrading examinations and curriculum in coordination with the association.
After brief questions from members unfamiliar with the occupation, the chair thanked the presenters and, "without objection, the report will stand reviewed."
