I am a 1974 graduate of Virginia Tech with a study in Soil Science (Agronomy) and have had the privilege of practicing the profession of Soil Science for the past 46 years. Before the LPSS program was started, anybody could be a "soil scientist" ie backhoe operator, excavators, pond diggers, home builders, etc. The LPSS DPOR credential provides citizens of Virginia the confidence a professional working for them has achieved certain requirements to make them competent and knowledgeable in the proper use of the natural resource, SOIL! Whether I was working for the VT Soil survey program or as the Fauquier County Soil Scientist or in private practice, I used my DPOR stamp (3401000261) to seal the soil work performed for Virginia citizens, Board of Supervisors, County and State Officials and Professional Engineering Companies who require LPSS to  conduct studies of the natural soils on their projects. Our LPSS stamp provides the foundation for PE's to use their stamp with confidence that the base information is correct. 

It is imperative this licensure stays active. Many people may not have heard about LPSS like you would PE's, but we are always in the background.