1. (a) The education and experience requirements in this section apply to applicants for a new operator, provisional operator, or operator-in-training certificate, a renewed operator-in-training certificate, or an examination. An operator holding a valid, unexpired certificate issued before the effective date of this section does not need to meet these requirements in order to renew a certificate. Additionally, an operator holding an expired certificate issued before the effective date of this section does not need to meet these requirements in order to reinstate a certificate in accordance with section 3702.4.

2. (b) The Office of Operator Certification shall issue a certificate if the applicant:

   1. (1) has completed one of the education and experience paths prescribed in this section; and
   2. (2) has passed an examination at the appropriate grade level or higher and the applicant's examination results have not expired, or has obtained an examination waiver in accordance with section 3689.

3. (c) Eligibility for certification shall be based on the education and experience requirements for each wastewater treatment plant operator grade level in the following table:

   1. (2) The Office of Operator Certification may accept comparable education obtained outside of the United States to satisfy the educational requirements listed below.
   2. (3) Full-time qualifying experience shall be earned at a wastewater treatment plant in accordance with the definitions of “full time” and “qualifying experience” in section 3671. An operator shall acquire qualifying experience on a prorated basis if the operator spends less than full time performing job duties that meet the definition of qualifying experience. In addition, the Office of Operator Certification may award an operator qualifying experience credit in accordance with section 3684.

   OPERATOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS TABLE

   PATH

   EDUCATION

   QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE

   GRADE I

   1

   High school diploma or equivalent and 6 educational points

   and

   1 year of full-time qualifying experience

   GRADE II

   1

   High school diploma or equivalent and 9 educational points

   and

   18 months of full-time qualifying experience as a Grade I operator

   2

   High school diploma or equivalent and 12 educational points

   and

   2 years of full-time qualifying experience

   3

   Associate's degree, a higher degree, or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses

   and

   1 year of full-time qualifying experience

   GRADE III

   1

   High school diploma or equivalent and 12 educational points

   and

   3 years of full-time qualifying experience as a Grade II operator

   2

   High school diploma or equivalent and 18 educational points

   and

   4 years of full-time qualifying experience

   3

   Associate's degree or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses

   and

   2 years of full-time qualifying experience

   4

   Bachelor's degree or a higher degree, including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses

   and

   1 year of full-time qualifying experience

   GRADE IV

   1

   High school diploma or equivalent and 32 educational points

   and

   6 years of full-time qualifying experience

   2

   Associate's degree or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses

   and

   4 years of full-time qualifying experience

   3

   Bachelor's degree or a higher degree, including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses

   and

   3 years of full-time qualifying experience

   4

   Valid registration as a chemical, civil, or mechanical engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors or by another state, territory, or Indian tribe

   and

   2 years of full-time qualifying experience

   GRADE V

   1

   High school diploma or equivalent and 48 educational points

   and

   10 years of full-time qualifying experience

   2

   Associate's degree or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses

   and

   6 years of full-time qualifying experience

   3

   Bachelor's degree or a higher, degree including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses

   and

   5 years of full-time qualifying experience

   4

   Valid registration as a chemical, civil, or mechanical engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors or by another state,a territory, or an Indian tribe

   and

   4 years of full-time qualifying experience

   (d)(1) The Office of Operator Certification may award educational points to an operator for completing wastewater treatment, science, or management courses in accordance with section 3685.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1058 and 13627, Water Code. Reference: Section 13627, Water Code.

History

1. New section filed 1-28-2013; operative 4-1-2013 (Register 2013, No. 5). For prior history of sections 3687-3688, see Register 92, No. 21.