11 Miss. Code. R. 6-3.4 - Certification Requirements

A. Operator Qualifications for Certification

(1) Class IV

(a) The applicant must have at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, chemistry, or physics from an accredited college or university, at least one (1) year of experience in a Class IV wastewater facility, pass the required written examination and submit two (2) professional references, or

(b) The applicant must be a graduate of an accredited high school, or equivalent (GED) have at least six (6) years experience in a Class IV or Class III wastewater facility, of which one (1) year must be in a Class IV plant, pass the required examination and submit two (2) professional references.

(c) No individual shall be allowed to sit for a Class III or Class IV examination without proof of having taken and passed a Class II examination.

(2) Class III

(a) The applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school, or equivalent (GED), have at least three (3) years of experience in a Class IV, III, or II wastewater facility, of which one (1) year must be in a Class IV or Class III plant, pass the required written examination and submit two (2) professional references, or

(b) The applicant must have a minimum of six (6) years experience in a Class IV, III, or II wastewater facility, of which one (1) year must be in a Class IV or Class III plant, pass the required written examination and submit two (2) professional references.

(c) No individual shall be allowed to sit for a Class III or Class IV examination without proof of having taken and passed a Class II examination.

(3) Class II

(a) The applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school, or equivalent (GED), have at least one (1) year of experience in a Class IV, III, or II wastewater facility, pass the required written examination and submit one (1) professional reference, or

(b) The applicant must have a minimum of three (3) years experience in a wastewater facility, of which one (1) year must be in a Class IV, III, or II plant, pass the required written examination and submit one (1) professional reference.

(4) Class I

The applicant must have at least one (1) year of experience in a wastewater facility, pass the required written examination and submit one (1) professional reference.

(5) Class I-C

The applicant must have at least one (1) year experience working in a collection system, pass the required written examination and submit one (1) professional reference.

(6) Class II-C

(a) The applicant must have graduated from an accredited high school, or equivalent (GED), have at least two (2) years experience working in a collection system, of which one (1) year must be in a Class II-C system, pass the required written examination and submit two (2) professional references, or

(b) The applicant must have four (4) years experience working in a collection system, one (1) year of which must be in a Class II-C system, pass the required written examination and submit two (2) professional references.

(7) Operators who have completed college courses, short courses, correspondence courses, etc., may be given credit for any deficiency in their experience and/or education, except that such courses cannot be substituted for one (1) year of wastewater facility experience. The Department shall award credit for experience using the following criteria:

(a) Eight (8) weeks of classroom instruction in the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities will be equivalent to one (1) year experience.

(b) Four (4) weeks of Department or Association sponsored classroom instruction in the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities will be equivalent to one (1) year experience.

(c) Each year of college completed in engineering, biological sciences, mathematics, chemistry, or physics will be considered the equivalent of two (2) years experience. Thirty (30) semester hours are equal to one (1) year of college.

(d) Special education, training, or experience which does not fall within these guidelines shall be considered in individual cases by the Department.

B. General Qualifications for Certification

(a) One year of the required experience must be earned under the supervision of a certified operator who holds a valid non-restricted certificate issued by the Department at a class equivalent to or higher than that for which certification is being requested. The year of supervision must be in a system of a class equivalent to or higher than the class certificate being requested. The supervising operator must sign a certification statement verifying the successful completion of the required period of supervision.

(b) To be eligible to serve as the certified operator for a wastewater facility, an operator's principal residence must be no more than fifty (50) miles from the system. Under special circumstances, an operator may apply to the Department in writing for a waiver of the 50 mile requirement.

C. Professional References

References must be obtained from Certified operator(s) of the same Classification as that which is being requested or higher, who are familiar with the applicant's experience working in a wastewater facility. The references must be provided on professional reference forms provided by the Department. These forms must be submitted with the certification application.

D. Application

(1) An operator desiring to be certified shall file an application with the Department on a form provided by the Department.

(2) The Department shall review applications and supporting documents and experience of the applicant, determine the eligibility of the applicant, and issue certificates when the applicant meets the requirements of the Municipal and Domestic Water and Wastewater System and Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management Facilities Operator's Certification Act of 1992 and these regulations.

(3) The Commission may deny an application if the Commission determines that the applicant has not complied with all of the provisions of these regulations and with all other applicable Federal, State and local statutes and regulations or has submitted inaccurate or false information in the application, or has submitted incomplete application forms after being notified in writing by the Department that the application is incomplete. The Commission shall make determinations regarding issuance or denial of the certificate based upon the information contained in the application, the applicant's actions during any prior term of certification, and any other pertinent information that is available to the Commission.

E. Examinations

(1) The Department shall prepare written examinations to be used in determining knowledge, ability, and judgment of the operators.

(2) Examinations shall be held at places and times set by the Department.

(3) A fee, to be set by the Commission, will be charged for the examination.

(4) An individual who passes an examination must be certified within three years following the date the examination was taken. Otherwise, the individual will be required to take another written examination in order to be certified.

(5) An individual who fails to pass an examination may repeat the examination at the next regularly scheduled examination.

(6) Examination papers will not be returned to the operator.

(7) An individual who fails to pass an examination may review his paper by submitting a written request to the Department within thirty (30) days following notification of the examination grade.

(8) To be eligible to take a written examination, an individual must demonstrate to the Department that he/she has attended a Department sponsored wastewater operator short course for the appropriate classification or other equivalent Department approved course at DEQ's discretion within the previous 12 months.

F. Reciprocity

(1) Certificates may be issued, without examination, in a comparable classification to an operator who holds a valid certification by exam from any state, territory, or possession of the United States that has entered into a reciprocity agreement with the Department.

(2) Applicants for certification through reciprocity must meet the education and experience requirements for the class certificate requested as previously described.

G. Certification Fees

(1) A fee to be set by the Commission shall be charged for certification and renewal in any classification and must accompany the application for certification or renewal.

(2) Fees from applicants who are not certified will be returned.

Notes

11 Miss. Code. R. 6-3.4

Miss. Code Ann. §§ 21-27-201, et seq., 49-2-1, et seq. and 49-17-1, et seq.

Amended 9/28/2017