Section 97. Qualifications for licensure - onsite sewage system installers

A. Each applicant shall make application in accordance with 18VAC160-20-76 and shall meet the specific entry requirements provided for in this section for the license desired.

B. Each applicant holding a valid interim onsite sewage system installer license shall submit documentation of compliance with the continuing professional education requirements of this chapter at the time of application.

C. Specific entry requirements.

1. Conventional onsite sewage system installer. Each individual applying for an initial conventional onsite sewage system installer license shall pass a board-approved examination and shall meet one of the following requirements:

a. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years and be currently employed by a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty;

b. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years and be a member of responsible management in a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty;

c. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years working under the direct supervision of, or working as, a properly licensed Virginia contractor with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty; or

d. Have documentation certifying that the applicant is competent to install conventional onsite sewage systems. Certification must be provided by any combination of three of the following individuals:

(1) VDH Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators (AOSE) for work performed prior to July 1, 2009;

(2) Licensed interim onsite soil evaluators;

(3) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluators;

(4) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installers; or

(5) Virginia licensed professional engineers.

2. Conventional onsite sewage system installer. The examination requirement provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection shall not apply to applicants seeking initial licensure as a conventional onsite sewage system installer provided that:

a. The applicant is able to satisfactorily demonstrate that he has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system installer, as defined in this chapter, for at least eight years within the 12-year period immediately preceding the date of application.

b. The department receives a completed application no later than June 30, 2016. An individual who fails to have his application in the department's possession by June 30, 2016, shall be required to pass the board-approved examination provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

3. Alternative onsite sewage system installer. Each individual applying for an initial alternative onsite sewage system installer license shall pass a board-approved examination and shall meet one of the following requirements:

a. Provide completion statements and each corresponding professional engineer's or onsite soil evaluator's inspection report filed with VDH for work performed after June 30, 2009. Where applicable, a VDH inspection report shall accompany the corresponding completion statement in lieu of a professional engineer's or an onsite soil evaluator's inspection report and completion statement. The completion statements must verify that the applicant had successfully installed 36 onsite sewage systems during the preceding three years, six of which must be alternative systems;

b. Provide completion statements and each corresponding AOSE/professional engineer inspection report and completion statement for work performed on or before June 30, 2009. The completion statements must verify that the applicant successfully installed 12 alternative onsite sewage systems during the past three years. All AOSE/professional engineer inspection reports and completion statements shall be certified;

c. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems, be a member of responsible management in a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty, and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems;

d. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems, be currently employed by a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty, and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems;

e. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems during the last four years working under the direct supervision of, or working as, a properly licensed Virginia contractor with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems; or

f. Have two years of full-time experience as a licensed or interim licensed conventional onsite sewage system installer and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems.

Each applicant applying under subdivision 3 a or 3 b of this subsection shall provide written and signed verification from a supervisor within the company that is listed on each contractor completion statement. The verification must explicitly show that the applicant was employed by the company that performed the installation as well as show that the applicant himself performed the installation.

D. Education and training substitution. Each individual applying for a conventional or an alternative onsite sewage system installer license may receive credit for up to half of the experience required by this section for:

1. Satisfactory completion of postsecondary courses in wastewater, biology, chemistry, geology, hydraulics, hydrogeology, or soil science at the rate of one month per semester hour or two-thirds of a month per quarter hour; or

2. Satisfactory completion of board-approved onsite sewage system installer training courses at the rate of one month for each training credit earned. 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.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 25, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2009; amended, Virginia Register Volume 28, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2012; Volume 31, Issue 20, eff. August 1, 2015; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. October 1, 2015.

Statutory Authority

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