Ohio Admin. Code 3745-7-06 - [Effective until 7/3/2025] Certification of operators
The
In accordance with this chapter, the director
shall, in accordance with this chapter,
provide for the examination of individuals applying for certification as
facility specific or professional operators and
the issuance of appropriate certificates to applicants who meet the appropriate
requirements and pass the appropriate examination.
(A)
Application.
Applicants for
certification shall do the following:
(1)
Applicants for
examination and certification shall submit
Submit an application in a format approved by the
director. The complete application and appropriate fees as set forth in section
3745.11 of the Revised Code
shall be submitted at least ninety calendar days prior to the date on which the
examination is scheduled.
(2)
When required by the council, the applicant shall
be
Be responsible for furnishing
additional documentation to the agency to verify information provided on the
application when required by the
council.
(3)
Any applicant who submits incomplete, false, or
incorrect information on the application shall be
Be disqualified from taking the examination as set
forth in rule
3745-7-18 of the Administrative
Code for submitting incomplete, false, or incorrect
information on the application.
(B) To be eligible for examination and
certification as a professional operator in
accordance with this chapter the applicant shall fulfill the following:
(1) Not have been convicted of, or plead
guilty to, a criminal charge
disqualifying offense, as determined in accordance with
section 9.79 of the Revised Code,
including criminal charges involving falsification, fraud, or
terrorism.
(2) At the time of
application and prior to the examination date, not have a revoked or currently
suspended Ohio professional operator certification.
(3) Not have a professional operator
certificate from any other state currently revoked or under
suspension.
(4) Not have performed
the duties of a professional operator of record without a valid certificate of
the appropriate field and classification, unless in accordance with the
exemptions and exceptions contained in this chapter.
(5) Have a high school diploma or the
equivalent. Either of the following shall be considered equivalent to a high
school diploma.
(a) Documentation of
successfully passing the general education development test or a statement of
high school equivalence.
(b)
Completion of a vocational training program in the field of
application.
(6) Have the
ability to do the following:
(a) Read and
understand Chapters 6109. and 6111. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted
thereunder.
(b) Perform
mathematical calculations required to operate in the field for which
certification is being sought.
(c)
Complete and maintain records and regulatory reporting forms required to
document the proper operation of a public water system, treatment works, or
sewerage systems.
(7) All
applicants to be a professional operator shall acknowledge completion of a
review of the "Ohio EPA Professional
Operator Certification Training" course. This course outlines rule requirements
that are specific to all certified
professional operators.
(8) Have operating experience related to the
field for which the application is being considered in accordance with the
minimums in table A of this rule.
Table A: Operating experience required
|
Certification |
Operating experience required |
|
Class A |
See paragraph (B)(8)(c) of this rule |
|
Class I |
1 year of operating experience |
|
Class II |
|
|
Class III |
|
|
Class IV |
See paragraph (C)(2) of this rule |
(a) The director
may accept post high school education or training in
place of
as a substitute for operating
experience in qualifying for examination under this rule. However, except as
provided in paragraph (B)(8)(c) of this rule, all applicants for examination
are required to have at least one year of operating experience by the date of
the scheduled examination in the field for which certification is sought unless
waived in accordance with rule
3745-7-07 of the Administrative
Code.
(b) Applicants are required
to describe in detail their operating experience at water treatment, water
distribution, collection and wastewater treatment systems.
(c) To be eligible to take the class A
examination for certification, applicants shall have education, and operating
or work experience in accordance with the following chart:
Education and experience requirements for class A professional operators
|
Years of Education |
Operating Experience |
Work Experience * |
|
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
1040 hours ** |
OR |
3 years ** |
|
Associate's degree*** |
780 hours ** |
OR |
2 years ** |
|
Bachelor's degree*** |
520 hours |
OR |
1 year |
* Work experience means time spent at a job where a portion of duties involve dealing with a public water system or treatment works.
** Successful completion of one or more of the Operator Training Committee of Ohio "Basic Water" or "Basic Wastewater" course, the California State University at Sacramento "Small Water System Operation and Maintenance" or "Small Wastewater System Operation and Maintenance, Volume I" course, or the equivalent shall reduce the experience requirement to one year of work experience or five hundred twenty hours of operating experience.
***Degrees shall be obtained from an
accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a
physical or natural science
meet the
requirements of paragraph (C)(3)(a) of this rule.
(C) Alternative
eligibility requirements.(3)(4) The director may
allow the following reductions in the operating experience requirement for examination
for certification. However, documented completion of at least one year of
operating experience in the field for which
they are applying is required to be certified as a class II
professional
and
class III operator. Similarly, documented completion of at least one year
of operating experience
in
for the type of
certificate and the field for which an applicant has applied
and an additional twelve months operating experience
as a class II professional operator in the field for which an applicant has
applied is required to be eligible to take the class III examination.
(1) An applicant for
a class II or class III public water or wastewater examination or for a class
II water distribution or wastewater collection examination,
who is certified
who
holds a valid professional operator certificate, at the same or a higher
classification in the other field, may be granted a fifty per cent reduction in
actual operating experience requirements in the field applied for, on the basis
of operating experience obtained in the other field, except that a minimum of
one year of actual operating experience in the field applied for is still
required.
(2) Applicants for class
IV certification shall document three
two years of additional
operating
management experience
at a class III or IV facility, while in
possession of a valid class III certification in the field for which the
application is submitted, with two of those years
consisting of management experience at a class III or IV facility in the field
for which the application is submitted.
(3)
Experience
requirement reduction for post secondary education.
(a)
The director may
allow a reduction of the experience requirement for an applicant who
demonstrates completion of a bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited
institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a physical or
natural science.
(b)
An applicant may request a review of a degree and
transcript that is not in the fields listed above in writing, provided the
applicant has taken a significant number of courses in a physical or natural
science or the degree can be determined to be specifically related to the field
of water treatment or water reclamation.
(c)
Reductions may be
granted in accordance with paragraph (C)(4) of this rule.
(a) The operating experience requirement to take the
examination for class II professional
operator certification is reduced by two
years
one year if an applicant
holds either of
meets the following:
(i)
A bachelor's
degree from a four-year accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or
civil engineering or a physical or natural science.
Has post secondary education that meets the requirements of
paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(ii)
A
Has a two-year
technical degree in the field of water or wastewater treatment.
(b) The operating experience requirement to take the
examination for class III professional
operator certification is reduced by three years if an applicant
holds a bachelor's degree from a four-year
accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a
physical or natural science.
meets either of
the following:
(i)
Has post secondary education that meets the
requirements of paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(ii)
Has a two-year
technical degree in the field of water or wastewater treatment.
(c) The director may accept
substitution of each year of college completed by an applicant, not holding
a
an associate's
or bachelor's degree, for one year of required operating experience. Substitution shall only be
granted provided that the applicant was pursuing a
degree in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering, or a physical or
natural science
meets the requirements of
paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(d) The director may accept an applicant's
completed drinking water or wastewater courses as a substitute for experience
when applying for examination for class II or III professional operator certification on a
case-by-case basis. The director may publish a list of courses that have been
approved for substitution of experience.
(e) An applicant who passes the examination
before showing the required operating experience shall be
a professional
an operator in training, subject to the conditions of
paragraph (C) of rule
3745-7-07 of the Administrative
Code.
(D) An
applicant who does not meet the required operating experience in
paragraph
paragraphs (B)(8) and
(F)(3) of this rule may take the examination in accordance with the
provisions in rule
3745-7-07 of the Administrative
Code.
(E) Applicants who do not
meet the examination prerequisites in the classification for which they
requested may be permitted, without re-applying, to take an examination in a
lower classification for which they do meet the prerequisites.
(F)
An applicant
employed at a class III or IV public water system or treatment works may apply
for a facility specific class I, II, or III certification, provided the
following criteria are met:
(1)
Meet the criteria in paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(7) of
this rule.
(2)
A class III or IV certified professional operator who
is a member of the system's management, or a professional operator of record
for the public water system or treatment works, shall certify the applicant's
ability to oversee the technical operation of the facility.
(3)
To be eligible
for a facility specific certification, applicants shall document experience
described in paragraph (O)(2)(b) of rule
3745-7-01 of the Administrative
Code in accordance with the following table:
|
Certification |
Experience required |
|
Class I |
1 year of experience |
|
Class II |
2 years of experience |
|
Class III |
4 years of experience |
(4)
An operator who holds a valid facility specific
certification may be designated as the backup operator of record for a
facility, in accordance with the provisions of rules
3745-7-03 and
3745-7-04 of the Administrative
Code, provided the operator of record for the facility certifies their ability
on a form acceptable to the director.
(5)
A facility
specific certificate can be converted to a full certification once the
applicant obtains operating experience as defined in paragraph (O)(2) of rule
3745-7-01 of the Administrative
Code.
(6)
An applicant shall pass an examination for the level of
facility specific certification they are applying for.
(7)
A facility
specific certification does not supersede certificates described in paragraph
(A) of rule
3745-7-05 of the Administrative
Code.
(1) The examinations for each classification
shall be in a format accepted by the director. Alternate examination methods
may be accepted by the director if an applicant has a disability that would
prevent them from taking the standard examination.
(2) The director shall establish and publish
criteria for exams and the associated score necessary to pass the
exams.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 119.03, 6111.46
Rule Amplifies: 6111.46, 6109.04
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/1964, 04/17/1986, 01/01/1999, 02/12/2001, 12/21/2006, 02/23/2012, 08/15/2018
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
The In accordance with this chapter, the , in accordance with this chapter, provide for the examination of individuals applying for certification as facility specific or professional operators and the issuance of appropriate certificates to applicants who meet the appropriate requirements and pass the appropriate examination.
(A) Application. Applicants for certification shall do the following:
(1) Applicants for examination and certification shall submit Submit an application in a format approved by the director . The complete application and appropriate fees as set forth in section 3745.11 of the Revised Code shall be submitted at least ninety calendar days prior to the date on which the examination is scheduled.
(2) When required by the council , the applicant shall be Be responsible for furnishing additional documentation to the agency to verify information provided on the application when required by the council .
(3) Any applicant who submits incomplete, false, or incorrect information on the application shall be Be disqualified from taking the examination as set forth in rule 3745-7-18 of the Administrative Code for submitting incomplete, false, or incorrect information on the application.
(B) To be eligible for examination and certification as a professional operator in accordance with this chapter the applicant shall fulfill the following:
(1) Not have been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a criminal charge disqualifying offense, as determined in accordance with section 9.79 of the Revised Code, including criminal charges involving falsification, fraud, or terrorism.
(2) At the time of application and prior to the examination date, not have a revoked or currently suspended Ohio professional operator certification.
(3) Not have a professional operator certificate from any other state currently revoked or under suspension.
(4) Not have performed the duties of a professional operator of record without a valid certificate of the appropriate field and classification, unless in accordance with the exemptions and exceptions contained in this chapter.
(5) Have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Either of the following shall be considered equivalent to a high school diploma.
(a) Documentation of successfully passing the general education development test or a statement of high school equivalence.
(b) Completion of a vocational training program in the field of application.
(6) Have the ability to do the following:
(a) Read and understand Chapters 6109. and 6111. of the Revised Code and the rules adopted thereunder.
(b) Perform mathematical calculations required to operate in the field for which certification is being sought.
(c) Complete and maintain records and regulatory reporting forms required to document the proper operation of a public water system , treatment works , or sewerage systems.
(7) All applicants to be a professional operator shall acknowledge completion of a review of the "Ohio EPA Professional Operator Certification Training" course. This course outlines rule requirements that are specific to all certified professional operators.
(8) Have operating experience related to the field for which the application is being considered in accordance with the minimums in table A of this rule.
Table A:
| Certification | |
| Class A | See paragraph (B)(8)(c) of this rule |
| Class I | 1 year of |
| Class II |
|
| Class III |
|
| Class IV | See paragraph (C)(2) of this rule |
(a) The director may accept post high school education or training in place of as a substitute for operating experience in qualifying for examination under this rule. However, except as provided in paragraph (B)(8)(c) of this rule, all applicants for examination are required to have at least one year of operating experience by the date of the scheduled examination in the field for which certification is sought unless waived in accordance with rule 3745-7-07 of the Administrative Code.
(b) Applicants are required to describe in detail their operating experience at water treatment, water distribution, collection and wastewater treatment systems.
(c) To be eligible to take the class A examination for certification, applicants shall have education, and operating or work experience in accordance with the following chart:
Education and experience requirements for class A
| Years of Education | | Work Experience * | |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1040 hours ** | OR | 3 years ** |
| Associate's degree*** | 780 hours ** | OR | 2 years ** |
| Bachelor's degree*** | 520 hours | OR | 1 year |
* Work experience means time spent at a job where a portion of duties involve dealing with a
** Successful completion of one or more of the Operator Training Committee of Ohio "Basic Water" or "Basic
***Degrees shall be obtained from an accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a physical or natural science meet the requirements of paragraph (C)(3)(a) of this rule.
(C) Alternative eligibility requirements.(3)(4) The director may allow the following reductions in the operating experience requirement for examination for certification. However, documented completion of at least one year of operating experience in the field for which they are applying is required to be certified as a class II professional and class III operator. Similarly, documented completion of at least one year of operating experience in for the type of certificate and the field for which an applicant has applied and an additional twelve months operating experience as a class II professional operator in the field for which an applicant has applied is required to be eligible to take the class III examination.
(1) An applicant for a class II or class III public water or wastewater examination or for a class II water distribution or wastewater collection examination, who is certified who holds a valid professional operator certificate, at the same or a higher classification in the other field , may be granted a fifty per cent reduction in actual operating experience requirements in the field applied for, on the basis of operating experience obtained in the other field , except that a minimum of one year of actual operating experience in the field applied for is still required.
(2) Applicants for class IV certification shall document three two years of additional operating management experience at a class III or IV facility, while in possession of a valid class III certification in the field for which the application is submitted, with two of those years consisting of management experience at a class III or IV facility in the field for which the application is submitted.
(3) Experience requirement reduction for post secondary education.
(a) The director may allow a reduction of the experience requirement for an applicant who demonstrates completion of a bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a physical or natural science.
(b) An applicant may request a review of a degree and transcript that is not in the fields listed above in writing, provided the applicant has taken a significant number of courses in a physical or natural science or the degree can be determined to be specifically related to the field of water treatment or water reclamation.
(c) Reductions may be granted in accordance with paragraph (C)(4) of this rule.
(a) The operating experience requirement to take the examination for class II professional operator certification is reduced by two years one year if an applicant holds either of meets the following:
(i) A bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a physical or natural science. Has post secondary education that meets the requirements of paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(ii) A Has a two-year technical degree in the field of water or wastewater treatment.
(b) The operating experience requirement to take the examination for class III professional operator certification is reduced by three years if an applicant holds a bachelor's degree from a four-year accredited institution in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering or a physical or natural science. meets either of the following:
(i) Has post secondary education that meets the requirements of paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(ii) Has a two-year technical degree in the field of water or wastewater treatment.
(c) The director may accept substitution of each year of college completed by an applicant, not holding a an associate's or bachelor's degree, for one year of required operating experience. Substitution shall only be granted provided that the applicant was pursuing a degree in environmental, chemical, or civil engineering, or a physical or natural science meets the requirements of paragraph (C)(3) of this rule.
(d) The director may accept an applicant's completed drinking water or wastewater courses as a substitute for experience when applying for examination for class II or III professional operator certification on a case-by-case basis. The director may publish a list of courses that have been approved for substitution of experience.
(e) An applicant who passes the examination before showing the required operating experience shall be a professional an operator in training, subject to the conditions of paragraph (C) of rule 3745-7-07 of the Administrative Code.
(D) An applicant who does not meet the required operating experience in paragraph paragraphs (B)(8) and (F)(3) of this rule may take the examination in accordance with the provisions in rule 3745-7-07 of the Administrative Code.
(E) Applicants who do not meet the examination prerequisites in the classification for which they requested may be permitted, without re-applying, to take an examination in a lower classification for which they do meet the prerequisites.
(F) An applicant employed at a class III or IV public water system or treatment works may apply for a facility specific class I, II, or III certification, provided the following criteria are met:
(1) Meet the criteria in paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(7) of this rule.
(2) A class III or IV certified professional operator who is a member of the system's management, or a professional operator of record for the public water system or treatment works , shall certify the applicant's ability to oversee the technical operation of the facility.
(3) To be eligible for a facility specific certification, applicants shall document experience described in paragraph (O)(2)(b) of rule 3745-7-01 of the Administrative Code in accordance with the following table:
| Certification | Experience required |
| Class I | 1 year of experience |
| Class II | 2 years of experience |
| Class III | 4 years of experience |
(4) An operator who holds a valid facility specific certification may be designated as the backup operator of record for a facility, in accordance with the provisions of rules 3745-7-03 and 3745-7-04 of the Administrative Code, provided the operator of record for the facility certifies their ability on a form acceptable to the director .
(5) A facility specific certificate can be converted to a full certification once the applicant obtains operating experience as defined in paragraph (O)(2) of rule 3745-7-01 of the Administrative Code.
(6) An applicant shall pass an examination for the level of facility specific certification they are applying for.
(7) A facility specific certification does not supersede certificates described in paragraph (A) of rule 3745-7-05 of the Administrative Code.
(1) The examinations for each classification shall be in a format accepted by the director . Alternate examination methods may be accepted by the director if an applicant has a disability that would prevent them from taking the standard examination.
(2) The director shall establish and publish criteria for exams and the associated score necessary to pass the exams.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 119.03, 6111.46
Rule Amplifies: 6111.46, 6109.04
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/1964, 04/17/1986, 01/01/1999, 02/12/2001, 12/21/2006, 02/23/2012, 08/15/2018