Section 90. Qualifications for licensure of waterworks operators and wastewater works operators.

A. Waterworks operator and wastewater works operator licensure is based upon having applicable experience and demonstrating minimum required knowledge, skills, and abilities through an examination. Education, training, and experience in the other category may be substituted for the required experience as specified in this section.

B. Experience. For purposes of this section, experience requirements are expressed in terms of calendar periods of full-time employment as an operator or as an operator-in-training at a waterworks or wastewater works in the same category as the license being applied for.

1. A year of full-time employment is defined as a minimum of 1,760 hours during a 12-month period or a minimum of 220 workdays in a 12-month period. A workday is defined as attendance at a waterworks or wastewater works to the extent required for proper operation. More than 1,760 hours or 220 work days during a 12-month period will not be considered as more than one year of full-time employment.

2. Experience gained as an operator-in-training must be obtained under the direct supervision of an operator holding a valid license of the same category and of a classification equal to or higher than the classification of the waterworks or wastewater works at which the experience is gained. The direct supervisor shall certify the experience on the application form as accurate and relevant to the classification and category of license for which the application is being submitted. In the event that a licensed operator is not available to certify the experience on the application, the experience may be certified by a representative of the facility owner, as defined in 18VAC160-20-10, with first-hand knowledge of the applicant's experience.

3. Partial credit may be given for actual hours of work or workdays experience if the applicant works as an operator or as an operator-in-training less than full time.

4. Experience solely limited to the operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems and water distribution systems, laboratory work, plant maintenance, and other nonoperating duties shall not be counted as experience as an operator or as an operator-in-training.

5. Experience limited to water distribution system operation and maintenance shall be considered only when applying for a Class 5 or Class 6 waterworks operator license.

C. Specific requirements for licenses.

1. Specific requirements for a Class 6 license. Applicants for licensure as a Class 6 waterworks operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass a board-approved Class 6 examination:

a. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED and (ii) at least six months of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 6, Class 5, Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks; or

b. Have (i) no high school diploma and (ii) at least one year of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 6, Class 5, Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks.

2. Specific requirements for a Class 5 license. Applicants for licensure as a Class 5 waterworks operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass a board-approved Class 5 examination:

a. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED and (ii) at least six months of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 5, Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks; or

b. Have (i) no high school diploma and (ii) at least one year of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 5, Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks.

3. Specific requirements for a Class 4 license. Applicants for licensure as either a Class 4 waterworks or wastewater works operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass the appropriate board-approved Class 4 examination:

a. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED and (ii) at least six months of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate); or

b. Have (i) no high school diploma and (ii) at least one year of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate).

Experience obtained as a licensed alternative onsite sewage system operator may substitute for the wastewater works operator-in-training experience requirements established under subdivisions a and b of this subdivision.

4. Specific requirements for a Class 3 license. Applicants for licensure as either a Class 3 waterworks or wastewater works operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass the appropriate board-approved Class 3 examination:

a. Have (i) a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in engineering, engineering technology, or in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science; and (ii) at least one year of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate);

b. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED and (ii) at least two years of experience as an operator-in-training in a Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate); or

c. Have (i) no high school diploma, (ii) a Class 4 license, and (iii) a total of at least four years of experience as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 4 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate).

5. Specific requirements for a Class 2 license. Applicants for licensure as either a Class 2 waterworks or wastewater works operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass the appropriate board-approved Class 2 examination:

a. Have (i) a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in engineering, engineering technology, or in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science; and (ii) a total of at least 18 months of experience, of which at least nine months without substitutions shall be as an operator-in-training in a Class 3, Class 2 or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate);

b. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED, (ii) a Class 3 license, and (iii) a total of at least three years of experience of which at least 18 months without substitutions shall be as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 3 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 2 or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate); or

c. Have (i) no high school diploma, (ii) a Class 3 license, and (iii) a total of at least six years of experience of which at least three years without substitutions shall be as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 3 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 2 or Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate).

6. Specific requirements for a Class 1 license. Applicants for licensure as either a Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works operator shall meet one of the following requirements and pass the appropriate board-approved Class 1 examination:

a. Have (i) a bachelor's or master's degree with a major in engineering or engineering technology, or in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science; (ii) a Class 2 license; and (iii) a total of at least 2-1/2 years of experience, of which at least 15 months without substitutions shall be as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 2 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate);

b. Have (i) a high school diploma or GED, (ii) a Class 2 license and (iii) a total of at least five years of experience of which at least 30 months without substitutions shall be as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 2 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate); or

c. Have (i) no high school diploma, (ii) a Class 2 license, and (iii) a total of at least 10 years of experience of which at least five years without substitutions shall be as an operator or operator-in-training in a Class 2 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate) or as an operator-in-training in a Class 1 waterworks or wastewater works (as appropriate).

D. Substitutions for required experience. For the purpose of meeting the experience requirements for Class 3, Class 2, and Class 1 licenses, experience in the other category, relevant training in waterworks and wastewater works operation, and formal education may be substituted for actual hands-on experience in the category being applied for.

1. Category experience substitution. One half of the actual experience gained in the other category may be substituted for required experience in the category of the license being applied for.

2. Education substitution. Education may be substituted for part of the required experience in the category of the license being applied for, subject to the following limitations:

a. Education used to meet the educational requirements for any class of license may not be substituted for experience.

b. Formal education courses at a post-secondary level in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science; engineering or engineering technology; waterworks or wastewater works operation; or public health may be substituted for part of the required experience.

(1) All education substituted for experience must be relevant to the category and classification of the license being applied for.

(2) Education may be substituted for experience at a rate of up to one month experience for each semester hour of college credit approved by the board. One quarter hour of college credit will be considered equal to two thirds of a semester hour.

(3) Substitution of formal education experience will be approved by the board only for applicants who submit a transcript from the institution where the course was taken.

c. Training substitution. Waterworks or wastewater works operator training courses, seminars, workshops, or similar training, specifically approved by the board, may be substituted for part of the required experience.

(1) All training substituted for experience must be relevant to the category and classification of the license being applied for.

(2) Training may be substituted for experience at a rate of one month experience for each training credit approved by the board. Up to one training credit is awarded for each 10 hours of classroom contact time or for each 20 hours of laboratory exercise and field trip contact time. No credit towards training credits is granted for breaks, meals, receptions, and time other than classroom, laboratory and field trip contact time.

(3) All courses used for substitution must be approved by utilizing the criteria set forth in Part VI (18VAC160-20-150) of this chapter.

(4) Substitution of training for experience will be approved by the board only for applicants who submit a copy of an appropriate certificate identifying the subject matter of the course and the training credit value, and signed by a representative of the organization sponsoring the training.

3. Limitations on substitution.

a. Under no circumstances shall category experience, education, and training substitutions exceed 50% of the total experience required under subsection B of this section.

b. No category experience, education, or training substitutions are permitted for the experience required to obtain a Class 6, Class 5 or a Class 4 license as specified in subsection C of this section.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR675-01-02 § 2.3, eff. November 6, 1989; amended, Volume 07, Issue 15, eff. May 22, 1991; Volume 08, Issue 04, December 18, 1991; Volume 08, Issue 22, eff. August 26, 1992 (was 675-01-03); Volume 17, Issue 09, eff. February 15, 2001; Volume 22, Issue 26, eff. December 1, 2006; Volume 25, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2009; Volume 26, Issue 06, eff. January 1, 2010.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.