Rule 750-3-.04. Requirements

For certification in a particular class or category, an applicant must meet the following:

1. (a) Education. Applicants must have earned a minimum of a high school diploma or GED certificate and must provide proof of education when submitting the application for certification to the Board.

2. (b) Course(s). Applicants must have completed Board-approved course(s) prior to being made eligible to sit for the examination and must provide proof of such when submitting their application for certification to the Board, unless otherwise noted in this rule. The Board may evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, post-secondary education to determine satisfaction of the course requirements. The course requirements are as follows:

   1. 1. Public Water Supply System Operator

      Class IV - 6-hour basic water operator course

      Class III - 40-hour basic water operator course

      Class IIIG - 40-hour basic groundwater operator course

      Class II - 48 hours of advanced water operator courses

      Class I - No additional courses

   2. 2. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator

      Class IV - 6-hour basic waste stabilization pond operator course

      Class III - 40-hour basic wastewater operator course

      Class II - 48 hours of advanced wastewater operator courses

      Class I - No additional courses

   3. 3. Industrial Wastewater Treatment System Operator - 27-hour industrial wastewater operator course
   4. 4. Water Laboratory Analyst - 27-hour basic water laboratory course or, a minimum of an Associate Degree in Biology or Chemistry, or, at the Board's discretion, other degrees containing sufficient courses in biology or chemistry
   5. 5. Wastewater Laboratory Analyst - 27-hour basic wastewater laboratory course or, a minimum of an Associate Degree in Biology or Chemistry, or, at the Board's discretion, other degrees containing sufficient courses in biology or chemistry.
   6. 6. Water Distribution System Operator - 27-hour water distribution course
   7. 7. Wastewater Collection System Operator - 27-hour wastewater collection course

3. (c) Experience. Required experience for certification is dependent upon the applicant's education, as follows:

   1. 1. Public Water Supply System Operator or Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator

      1. (i) High School Diploma, GED

         Class IV - 1 month of experience; Class III - 3 months of experience;

         Class IIIG - 3 months of experience; Class II - 24 months of experience;

         Class I - 36 months of experience

      2. (ii) Accredited Associate Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or, at the Board's discretion, other degrees containing sufficient courses in biology or chemistry

         Class IV - 1 month of experience; Class III - 3 months of experience;

         Class IIIG - 3 months of experience; Class II - 18 months of experience;

         Class I - 30 months of experience

      3. (iii) Accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or, at the Board's discretion, other degrees containing sufficient courses in biology or chemistry

         Class IV - 1 month of experience; Class III - 3 months of experience;

         Class IIIG - 3 months of experience; Class II - 12 months of experience;

         Class I - 24 months of experience

   2. 2. Industrial Wastewater Treatment System Operator or Water or Wastewater Laboratory Analyst or Wastewater Collection System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator

      1. (i) High School Diploma, GED, Accredited Associate Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or, at the Board's discretion, Accredited Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, Chemistry, or other degrees containing sufficient courses in biology or chemistry - 3 months experience required

4. (d) Examination.

   1. 1. An applicant must pass a written examination in order to receive a certification.
   2. 2. Applicants must apply for a certification to be made eligible to sit for the certification examination.
   3. 3. A designated agent of the Board may administer the examinations. Examination shall be offered at least six (6) times annually.
   4. 4. The Board, through its designated agent, will provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified applicant with a disability in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The request for an accommodation by an individual with a disability must be in writing to the designated agent of the Board prior to the application deadline, along with appropriate documents, as indicated in the Request for Disability Accommodation Guidelines.

5. (e) Current Certification. Applicants must hold the following certificates before taking an examination for the next level of certification:

   1. 1. Public Water Supply System Operator

      1. (i) No previous certification needed to take examination for Class IV
      2. (ii) No previous certification needed to take examination for Class III or IIIG
      3. (iii) Must hold Class III or Class IIIG prior to taking examination for Class II
      4. (iv) Must hold Class II prior to taking examination for Class I

   2. 2. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator

      1. (i) No previous certification needed to take examination for Class IV
      2. (ii) No previous certification needed to take examination for Class III
      3. (iii) Must hold Class III prior to taking examination for Class II
      4. (iv) Must hold Class II prior to taking examination for Class I

   3. 3. Industrial Wastewater Treatment System Operator or Water or Wastewater Laboratory Analyst or Wastewater Collection System Operator or Water Distribution System Operator

      1. (i) No previous certification needed to take examination

6. (f) Applicants for the following certifications may take the examination before the experience requirement is met, but shall not apply for the certifications until completing the requisite experience in the actual system operation:

   1. 1. Public Water Supply System Operator Class IV;
   2. 2. Public Water Supply System Operator Class III or IIIG;
   3. 3. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator Class IV;
   4. 4. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator Class III;
   5. 5. Industrial Wastewater Treatment System Operator;
   6. 6. Water Laboratory Analyst;
   7. 7. Wastewater Laboratory Analyst;
   8. 8. Water Distribution System Operator;
   9. 9. Wastewater Collection System Operator.

7. (g) Applicants for the following certifications must have completed experience in the actual system operation prior to being made eligible to sit for the certification examination:

   1. 1. Public Water Supply System Operator Class II;
   2. 2. Public Water Supply System Operator Class I;
   3. 3. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator Class II;
   4. 4. Biological Wastewater Treatment System Operator Class I.
8. (h) For those applicants who have a high school diploma or GED certificate, the Board may consider other factors, including post-secondary education and other training and experience, to determine satisfaction of the experience requirements.

Authority: O.C.G.A. §§ 43-1-25, 43-51-5, 43-51-6, 43-51-6.1, 43-51-7.

History. Original Rule entitled "Revocation and Suspension of Certificates" adopted. F. Nov. 19, 1980; eff. Dec. 9, 1980.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Renewal" adopted. F. July 8, 1988; eff. July 28, 1988.

Amended: Rule retitled "Renewal of a Class I Certificate." F. Sept. 14, 1989; eff. Oct. 4, 1989.

Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements" adopted. F. Dec. 17, 1991; eff. Jan. 6, 1992.

Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Feb. 5, 1993; eff. Feb. 25, 1993.

Amended: F. Sept. 20, 1993; eff. Oct. 10, 1993.

Amended: F. Dec. 28, 1993; eff. Jan. 17, 1994.

Amended: ER 750-3-0.2-.04 adopted. F. June 7, 1994; eff. July 1, 1994, as specified by the Agency, to remain in effect for 120 days or until the effective date of a Permanent Rule covering the same subject matter is adopted, as specified by the Agency.

Amended: Permanent Rule adopted. F. July 27, 1994; eff. August 16, 1994.

Amended: F. Sept. 11, 1995; eff. Oct. 1, 1995.

Amended: F. Dec. 2, 1997; eff. Dec. 22, 1997.

Amended: F. Feb. 9, 2000; eff. Feb. 29, 2000.

Amended: F. Jan. 11, 2001; eff. Jan. 31, 2001.

Amended: F. January 25, 2012; eff. February 14, 2012.

Amended: F. Mar. 19, 2015; eff. Apr. 8, 2015.

Amended: F. Jan. 14, 2021; eff. Feb. 3, 2021.

Amended: F. Nov. 4, 2022; eff. Nov. 24, 2022.

Amended: F. July 9, 2025; eff. July 29, 2025.