Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-81.6 - Certified operator education and experience qualifications

(1) Education and experience qualifications-general.

a. All certified operator applicants shall meet the education and operating experience qualifications for the certificate grade shown in the table below prior to being allowed to take the certified operator examination.

b. Operating experience shall be in the same classification for which the applicant is applying unless partial credit is given in accordance with 81.6(2) and 81.6(3).

c. Directly related post-high school education shall be in the same subject matter as the classification for which the applicant is applying. The director will determine which courses qualify as "directly related" in cases that are not clearly defined.

d. A military applicant may apply for education or experience credit pursuant to 81.6(4).

e. Education and experience qualifications table.

Certified Operator Education and Experience Qualifications

Grade	Education	Substitution for Education	Operating Experience	Substitution for Operating Experience
A	High school diploma or GED	None	Completion of a department-approved training course	None
W	High school diploma or GED	None	Completion of a department-approved training course	None
I	High school diploma or GED	None	1 year	See 81.6(3)"b"
IL	High school diploma or GED	None	1 year	See 81.6(3)"b"
II	High school diploma or GED	None	3 years	See 81.6(3)"b"
III	High school diploma or GED and 2 years of post-high school education (1 year must be directly related)	See 81.6(3)"a"	4 years of experience in a Grade I or higher	See 81.6(3)"b"
IV	High school diploma or GED and 4 years of post-high school education (2 years must be directly related)	See 81.6(3)"a"	4 years of experience, including 2 years of DRC in a Grade III or higher	See 81.6(3)"b" and "c"

(2) Related work experience substitutions for operating experience. The following substitutions of related work experience for operating experience requirements may be accepted by the director.

a. Personnel. The following personnel may be allowed 50 percent credit for work experience toward meeting the operating experience requirements as noted:

(1) Laboratory personnel employed in water or wastewater treatment plants; Grades I and II certification only. Laboratory experience must be in the same classification for which the applicant is applying.

(2) Personnel with experience in on-site operation review and evaluation of plants and distribution systems; Grades I and II certification only. On-site experience must be in the same classification for which the applicant is applying.

(3) Maintenance personnel employed in water or wastewater treatment plants; Grades I and II certification only. Maintenance experience may be applied to either the water or wastewater experience requirements.

b. Certified operators. The following types of certified operators may be allowed 50 percent credit for work experience toward meeting the operating experience requirements as noted:

(1) Certified water treatment operators; Grades I and II wastewater treatment certification only, or Grades I and II water distribution certification only.

(2) Certified wastewater treatment operators; Grades I and II water treatment certification only.

(3) Certified water distribution operators; Grades I and II water treatment certification only.

c. Limitation. The portion of related work experience that is substituted for operating experience cannot also be used to substitute for education.

(3) Operating experience and education substitutions. The following experience or education substitutions may be accepted by the director.

a. Substitution of operating experience for education.

(1) One year of operating experience may be substituted for one year of post-high school education, up to one-half of the post-high school education requirement, as follows:

1. Experience in a Grade II or higher position may substitute as education for a Grade III certification, or

2. Experience in a Grade III or higher position may substitute as education for Grade IV certification.

(2) Two years of DRC experience in a Grade III or higher position may be substituted for one year of directly related post-high school education for Grade IV certification up to three-fourths of the post-high school education requirement.

(3) That portion of operating experience that is applied toward substitution for education cannot also be used for experience.

b. Substitutions of education for operating experience.

(1) Two semester hours, three quarter hours, or three CEUs of directly related post-high school education may be substituted for one-half the operating experience requirement for Grades I and IL.

(2) Thirty semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or 45 CEUs of directly related post-high school education may be substituted for one year of experience up to a maximum of one-half the operating experience requirement for Grades II, III and IV.

(3) That portion of education that is applied toward substitution for operating experience cannot also be used for education.

(4) Class hours involving closely supervised on-the-job type training in a pilot or full-scale facility where there are clearly defined educational objectives may be applied to the on-the-job operating experience requirement. The substitution value of such training shall be applicable for Grade I and Grade II certification only and shall not exceed one-half year of on-the-job experience.

1. One hour of on-the-job training is equivalent to three hours of on-the-job operating experience.

2. One month of on-the-job training consists of 20 eight-hour days.

3. Credit for on-the-job training may be applied only to the examination for the type of plant or system in which the experience was obtained.

4. That portion of on-the-job training courses that is applied toward substitution for the on-the-job experience requirement cannot also be used for education.

c. Substitution of education for DRC operating experience. Thirty semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or 45 CEUs of directly related post-high school education may be substituted for one year of DRC operating experience up to one-half the requirement for Grade IV certification.

(4) Military education, training, or service credit.

a. An applicant who is serving or has served in the military shall identify the education or experience certification qualification for which the credit is requested.

b. As part of an examination application pursuant to 81.8(1), an applicant shall provide documents, military transcripts, a certified affidavit, or forms that verify completion of the relevant military education, training, or service, which may include, as applicable, the applicant's Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) or Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) (DD Form 2586).

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 567-81.6

Amended by IAB April 11, 2018/Volume XL, Number 21, effective 5/16/2018 Adopted by IAB May 14, 2025/Volume XLVII, Number 23, effective 6/18/2025