Ohio Admin. Code 3745-7-13 - [Effective 7/3/2025] Reciprocity

The director may grant certification by reciprocity to an applicant holding valid certification or license issued by the certifying authority of another state, province, "Water Professionals International" (WPI), or another certifying authority approved by the director.

(A) Eligibility for certification by reciprocity.

(1) The applicant shall make an application for certification by reciprocity in a format accepted by the director.

(2) The applicant shall meet the requirements specified in rule 3745-7-06 of the Administrative Code for the level of certification applied for, and meet either of the following specifications:

(a) Hold a current, valid certification that was earned either by passing a written examination, through reciprocity, or through WPI certification while living or working in another state or province. The director shall be furnished with a representative copy of the examination passed by the applicant.

(b) Have held a certification issued by the state of Ohio within the ten years prior to application. Such applicants may receive the same level of certification previously held provided the applicant has maintained a certificate in the same field in another state and met that state's continuing education requirements.

(B) The council shall review and compare the representative out-of-state, or WPI examination passed by an applicant with Ohio's examinations and determine the classification of examination with which the out-of-state, or WPI examination is equivalent. If a representative copy of the examination passed by the applicant cannot be obtained, a class A water supply or water reclamation certificate may be issued provided the applicant has the operating experience required by rule 3745-7-06 of the Administrative Code. Alternatively, the agency may determine an operator is eligible for a class I, II, or III certification through reciprocity, based upon a review of the size and complexity of the systems an applicant has worked for in another state and their previous experience acting as an operator in charge of the technical operation, or equivalent, of a facility. The amount of experience in charge of a facility shall be equivalent to the operating experience requirements required for that level of certification.

(C) In order to use the alternative method described in paragraph (B) of this rule, the following information shall be included with the reciprocity application:

(1) A detailed description of each of the facilities where the applicant worked, including the following information:

(a) Treatment capacity.

(b) Treatment processes.

(c) Water quality or effluent limits for the facility.

(2) A detailed description of the work performed at each facility.

(3) An attestation that the information on the application is true and correct, signed by a utility manager, or certified operator who was/is in charge of the facility where the operator was/is employed.

(4) Any other information requested by the agency.

(D) At the time of the request for reciprocity, the applicant shall pay a certification fee as required in section 3745.11 of the Revised Code. When the equivalent level of classification of the out-of-state, or WPI examination, has been determined by the council and approved by the director, the applicant will be notified and required to pay a fee that is equivalent to the examination fee for the level of certification at which reciprocity is granted according to the schedule listed in section 3745.11 of the Revised Code.

(E) Upon receipt of the fees, the director may issue a certificate to the applicant for certification as determined by this rule.

(F) In the event that an applicant is not eligible for reciprocity the applicant may request that the certification fee be used toward the fee required for the next available paper and pencil examination or the certification fee once the applicant passes a third party examination. The request shall be made in writing and shall indicate the exam classification that the applicant is requesting to take. Review and approval of the application shall be in accordance with rule 3745-7-06 of the Administrative Code.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 3745-7-13

Effective: 7/3/2025
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/7/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 6109.04, 6111.46
Rule Amplifies: 6109.04, 6111.46
Prior Effective Dates: 02/01/1964, 04/17/1986, 01/01/1999, 12/21/2006, 02/23/2012, 08/15/2018, 11/07/2024