Ohio Admin. Code 3745-7-06 - Certification of professional operators
The director shall, in accordance with this chapter, provide
for the examination of individuals applying for certification as
(A) Application.
(1) Applicants for examination and
certification shall submit an application on
in a
form provided
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, it will be the
responsibility of the applicant shall be
responsible for furnishing
to furnish
additional documentation to the agency to verify information provided on the
application.
(3) Any applicant who
submits incomplete, false, or incorrect information on the application shall be
disqualified from taking the examination as set forth in rule
3745-7-18 of the Administrative
Code.
(B) To be eligible
for examination and certification in accordance
with this chapter the applicant shall fulfill the following
requirements of
paragraphs (B)(1) to (B)(7):
(7)
(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.
(1) Not
have been convicted of, or plead guilty to, a criminal charge involving
falsification, fraud, or terrorism;
.
(2) At
the time of application and prior to the examination date, not
had any of their Ohio operator certifications
revoked or have a certification under suspension;
have a revoked or currently suspended Ohio professional
operator certification.
(3)
Not have an
a
professional operator certificate from any other state currently revoked
or under suspension;
.
(4) Not
have performed the duties of an
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
shall be accepted in lieu of a high school diploma;
or
.
(b) Completion of a vocational training
program in the field of application may be accepted
in lieu of a high school diploma.
(6) Have the ability to
do the following :
(a) Read and understand
sections
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; and
.
(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 certified professional operators.
Table A: Operating experience required
|
Certification |
Operating experience required |
|
Class A |
See paragraph |
|
Class I |
1 year |
|
Class II |
3 years |
|
Class III |
5 years |
|
Class IV |
See paragraph (C)(2) of this rule |
(a) The director
may accept post high school education or training in place of operating
experience in qualifying for examination under this rule. However, except as
provided in paragraph (B)(7)(c)
(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 type of
system
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
in operating
at water treatment, water
distribution, collection and wastewater treatment
facilities
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 |
Operating Experience |
Work Experience * |
|
High school diploma or equivalent |
1040 hours ** |
3 years ** |
|
Associate's degree |
780 hours ** |
2 years ** |
|
Bachelor's degree |
520 hours |
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
OTCO (operator training committee of
Ohio)
(C) Alternative eligibility requirements.
(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 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 have possessed a valid class III
certification
document three years of
additional operating experience while in possession of a valid class III
certification in the field for which the application is submitted
for a minimum of three years, 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) The director may allow the following
reductions in the operating experience requirement for examination for
certification at levels above class I.
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 operator. Similarly, documented
completion of at least one year of operating
experience in 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.
(a) The operating experience
requirement to take the examination for class II professional operator certification is reduced by two
years if an applicant holds either of 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;
or
.
(ii) A two
year
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.
(c) The director may accept substitution of
each year of college completed by an applicant, not holding a 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.
(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 an
a professional 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
(B)(7)
(B)(8)
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 certification may be permitted,
without re-applying, to take an examination in a lower classification for which
they do meet the prerequisites.
(F)
Exam format.
(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.
(G)
An applicant approved by the director to take the class
IV certification examination shall submit the examination within two years of
the date of the approval, unless an extension is granted prior to the end of
the two-year period.
Notes
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 6111.46, 6109.04
Rule Amplifies: 6111.46, 6109.04
Prior Effective Dates: 2/1/64, 4/17/86, 1/1/99, 2/12/01, 12/21/06, 02/23/12
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