Authority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-13

Affected: IC 13-18-11

Sec. 13. (a) The department shall prepare and maintain a standardized examination to reflect the duties and responsibilities required of each classification of wastewater treatment plant operator as follows:

1. (1) The examination must include questions that demonstrate the knowledge, ability, and judgment of the applicant to do the following:

   1. (A) Read and write the English language for the purpose of:

      1. (i) interpreting service manuals and work orders; and
      2. (ii) submitting reports.
   2. (B) Make computations, including calculating volumes and areas.
   3. (C) Keep accurate records.
2. (2) The examination must be conducted at least annually.

3. (3) The examination may be administered:

   1. (A) electronically; and
   2. (B) through an independent third party administrator approved by the commissioner.

(b) A person seeking to take the examination must meet the following requirements:

1. (1) Complete an application on a form approved by the Indiana archives and records administration (IARA) for use by the department as described in section 11(g) of this rule, or complete an application on a form approved by the IARA for use by the department as described in section 11(f) of this rule, as appropriate, that:

   1. (A) contains true and accurate information to the best of the knowledge of the applicant; and

   2. (B) is free of omissions and misrepresentations, either of which may result in:

      1. (i) rejection of the application; or
      2. (ii) revocation of a certificate previously granted.

2. (2) Submit the application and fee to the commissioner as follows:

   1. (A) If applying to take the examination administered on paper, the application must be submitted not later than forty-five (45) days preceding the date of the examination.
   2. (B) If applying to take the examination electronically, there is no application deadline.
3. (3) The fee described herein is separate and distinct from a fee that may be charged to the applicant by the authorized third party administrator for taking the examination.

(c) The commissioner shall:

1. (1) review the application and supporting documents concerning the eligibility of the applicant for wastewater treatment certification examination; and

2. (2) when an application demonstrates the applicant meets all of the requirements, issue a written notification in the form of an admission slip:

   1. (A) providing the time and place of the examination to be presented by the applicant at the examination; or
   2. (B) authorizing the applicant to schedule a location and time for the electronic examination with the approved independent third party administrator.

(d) An applicant who has received an approval letter to take an examination may submit a written request to the commissioner for a postponement to take the examination as follows:

1. (1) Only one (1) postponement for each applicant is allowed.

2. (2) The written request for postponement must be submitted prior to the expiration date of the approval letter:

   1. (A) except in the case of a demonstrated emergency; or
   2. (B) when a person is prevented from taking the examination in a timely manner due to U.S. military deployment.

(e) An applicant who has received an approval letter to take an examination is considered to have failed that examination if any of the following occurs:

1. (1) The applicant:

   1. (A) does not attend the examination; and
   2. (B) has not requested a postponement in accordance with subsection (d).
2. (2) The applicant is caught cheating on an examination, which will make an applicant ineligible to take a wastewater operator certification examination for a period of two (2) years following the examination date.
3. (3) The applicant scores less than seventy percent (70%) correct answers.

(f) The commissioner shall manage completed examinations as follows:

1. (1) The commissioner shall notify an applicant of the examination result in writing or electronically.

2. (2) The commissioner and the third party administrator shall retain examination papers or electronic records with an opportunity afforded to an applicant for review of the graded examination up to ninety (90) days after the date the applicant completed the examination if the applicant submits the following to the commissioner:

   1. (A) A written or electronic request for review of the graded examination.
   2. (B) A statement affirming the applicant's understanding that examination review does not include the right to copy or transmit, by any means, the examination or any portion of it.

(g) A person previously certified as a wastewater treatment plant operator in accordance with this rule who has failed to meet the renewal requirements in section 11(h) of this rule must fulfill the following to obtain a new certification:

1. (1) Meet the qualifications of this rule.
2. (2) Except as described in subsection (h), retake an examination and achieve a passing score.

(h) A person who was prevented from taking the examination in subsection (g)(2) in a timely manner due to U.S. military deployment may request a waiver from the requirement to retake the examination for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the end date of the deployment.

(i) A person who obtains a wastewater treatment plant operator certification by reciprocal recognition or a provisional wastewater treatment plant operator certificate in accordance with section 18 of this rule is not required to take an examination.

(Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-23-13; filed Nov 6, 2023, 10:44 a.m.: 20231206-IR-327180365FRA; readopted filed Oct 18, 2024, 1:57 p.m.: 20241113-IR-327230810RFA)