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Chapter 1. Water Systems Operator Certifications
1.3 Qualifications and eligibility
1.3.1 Treatment
Grade
T1
Minimum Qualifications for Examination
High School Diploma / GED Equivalency*.
Eligibility Criteria for Certification
Successful completion of the Grade T1 examination within
the three years prior to submitting certification application.
High School Diploma / GED Equivalency*
AND
One 3-unit (or 36-hour) course of specialized training covering
the fundamentals of drinking water treatment.
Successful completion of the Grade T2 examination within
the three years prior to submitting certification application.
T2
T3
Successful completion of the Grade T3 examination within the
three years prior to submitting certification application
AND
At least one year of operator experience working as a certified
T2 operator at a T2 facility or higher. This may be substituted
High School Diploma / GED Equivalency*
AND
Two 3-unit (or 36-hour) courses of specialized training
that include at least one course in drinking water treatment and a with (3) below.
second course in either drinking water treatment, distribution,
or wastewater treatment.
AND
At least one additional year of operator experience working as a
certified treatment operator. This may be substituted with
(1), (2), or (4) below.
Successful completion of the Grade T4 examination within the
three years prior to submitting the certification application
AND
At least one year of operator experience working as shift
or chief operator, while a certified T3 operator at a T3
facility or higher. This may be substituted with (3) below.
AND
At least three additional years of operator experience
working as a certified treatment operator. This may be
substituted with (1) or (4) below.
Current T3 certification
AND
Three 3-unit (or 36-hour) courses of specialized training that
include at least two courses in the fundamentals of drinking
water treatment and a third course in either
drinking water treatment, distribution, or wastewater treatment.
T4
Successful completion of the Grade T5 examination within the
three years prior to submitting the application for certification
AND
At least two years of operator experience working as a shift or
chief operator, while a certified T4 operator at a T4 facility or
higher. There are no substitutions.
Current T4 certification
AND
Four 3-unit (or 36-hour) courses of specialized training that
include
at least two courses in drinking water treatment and two
additional courses in either drinking water treatment,
distribution,or wastewater treatment.
T5
AND
At least three additional years of operator experience working
as a certified treatment operator. This may be substituted with
(1) or (4) below.
Table 1.1: Water treatment license Exams - qualifications and eligibility
High School Diploma/GED equivalency for Grades 1 and 2 ONLY can be fulfilled with either successful completion of Basic Small Water Systems Operations course provided
by the Department OR 1 year as an operator of a facility that required an understanding of a chemical feeds, hydraulic systems, and pumps."
Experience substitutions for certification, as referenced above.
1. A relevant degree earned at an accredited academic institution may be substituted as follows:
a) Associate’s Degree or Certificate in Water or Wastewater Technology that includes at least 15 units of physical, chemical, or biological science may be used
to fulfill 1 year of operator experience.
b) Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or in physical, chemical, or biological sciences (e.g Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering,
Environmental Engineering, Microbiology, Public Health, or Sanitary Engineering) may be used to fulfill 1.5 years of operator experience.
c) Master’s Degree in the above mentioned fields in (b) may be used to fulfill 2 years of operator experience.
2. A certified operator may substitute, on a day-for-day basis, experience gained while working with lead responsibility for water quality related projects of research.
3. If an applicant has a Bachelor’s or Master’s of Science degree, completion of a comprehensive operator training program, may be substituted for the required
experience.
4. Experience gained as a certified wastewater treatment operator may be used to substitute up to 2 years of the experience requirement. Wastewater treatment operator
experience is credited on a two-for-one basis (i.e. 2 months in wastewater=1 month in drinking water).