Authority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-3; IC 13-18-11-13

Affected: IC 13-18-11

Sec. 9. (a) Educational and experience requirements necessary to become a certified operator in each of the classes of wastewater treatment plants are as follows:

1. (1) Class I-SP and Class A-SO certified operator applicants must have attained the following:

   1. (A) A high school diploma or equivalent education.
   2. (B) Three (3) months of full-time acceptable experience at a wastewater treatment plant.

2. (2) Class I and Class A certified operator applicants must have attained the following:

   1. (A) A high school diploma or equivalent education.
   2. (B) Nine (9) months of full-time acceptable experience at a wastewater treatment plant.

3. (3) Class II and Class B certified operator applicants must have attained the following:

   1. (A) A high school diploma or equivalent education.
   2. (B) Two (2) years of full-time acceptable experience at a wastewater treatment plant.

4. (4) Class III and Class C certified operator applicants must have attained the following:

   1. (A) A high school diploma or equivalent education.

   2. (B) Three (3) years of full-time acceptable experience with two (2) of the three (3) years in a position of responsible charge operator at a wastewater treatment plant of one (1) or more of the following classes:

      1. (i) Class II.
      2. (ii) Class III.
      3. (iii) Class IV.
      4. (iv) Class B.
      5. (v) Class C.
      6. (vi) Class D.

5. (5) Class IV and Class D certified operator applicants must have attained the following:

   1. (A) One (1) or more of the following educational degrees:

      1. (i) A bachelor's degree with a major in engineering, chemistry, or a biological science.
      2. (ii) An associate degree in a curriculum related to wastewater treatment.

   2. (B) Five (5) years of full-time acceptable experience with two (2) of the five (5) years in a position of responsible charge operator at a wastewater treatment plant of one (1) or more of the following classes:

      1. (i) Class III.
      2. (ii) Class IV.
      3. (iii) Class C.
      4. (iv) Class D.

(b) In Class III, Class C, Class IV, and Class D wastewater treatment plants, the individual supervising and responsible for a major section of the plant or an operating shift may be credited with experience as responsible charge operator to meet the requirements of subsection (a)(4) and (a)(5).

(c) Part-time experience shall be credited at a proportionally lower rate.

(d) Educational and experience requirements may be met by substitution of other education or experience in accordance with section 10 of this rule.

(Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-23-9; filed Nov 6, 2023, 10:44 a.m.: 20231206-IR-327180365FRA; readopted filed Oct 18, 2024, 1:57 p.m.: 20241113-IR-327230810RFA)