These Standards describe the knowledge and skills expected of an individual to gain entry to and along with other accreditation requirements, meet the ongoing minimum expectations for a Registered Soil Practitioner – Soil Description.
| Section 1 – Soil description and classification in the field | |
| Section 1.1 – Soil formation, composition and distribution | |
| 1.1.1 | Demonstrated understanding of soil formation factors, composition and distribution within Australia. |
| Section 1.2 – Soil description | |
| 1.2.1 | Demonstrated understanding of the principles of soil morphological description as detailed in the Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook. |
| 1.2.2 | Demonstrated ability to accurately identify soil horizons and describes soil horizon characteristics in the field using accepted methodologies (Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook). |
| 1.2.3 | Demonstrated ability to accurately log a soil profile (including pits, exposures, cores, or auger). |
| Section 1.3 – Soil classification in the field | |
| 1.3.1 | Demonstrated ability to accurately classify a soil profile according to the Australian Soil Classification to a family level. |
| 1.3.2 | Demonstrated ability to apply the Unified Soil Classification System. |
| Section 2 – Soil sampling | |
| Section 2.1 – Sample practices | |
| 2.1.1 | Demonstrated ability to determine the best practice soil sampling for a range of purposes. |
| 2.1.2 | Demonstrated ability to determine and justify the sampling density. |
| Section 3 – Soil tests and measurements | |
| Section 3.1 – Soil testing for description and classification | |
| 3.1.1 | Demonstrated ability to test soil samples in the field to aid soil description and classification. |
| 3.1.2 | Demonstrated ability to use soil analytical data to further characterise soil profiles. |
| Section 3.2 – Soil Measurement in the field | |
| 3.2.1 | Demonstrated ability to sample soil for accurate and precise measurements including but not limited to bulk density (BD), plant available water capacity (PAWC), soil moisture, hydraulic conductivity, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter. |