Authority: IC 13-14-8; IC 13-18-11-1.5; IC 13-18-11-13

Affected: IC 13-18-11

Sec. 4. (a) A standardized examination prepared to reflect the duties and responsibilities required of each grade of water treatment plant and water distribution system certified operator shall be as follows:

1. (1) Used to test knowledge, ability, and judgment of an applicant to become a water treatment plant or water distribution system certified operator.
2. (2) Conducted at least annually.

3. (3) Held at places and times established by the commissioner:

   1. (A) with at least sixty (60) days advanced announcement; and
   2. (B) except in such cases as may be declared necessary exceptions by the commissioner.

(b) A person wishing to be examined for water treatment plant or water distribution system certification shall fulfill the following requirements:

1. (1) Complete an application on a form approved by the commissioner that:

   1. (A) contains true and accurate information to the best of the applicant's knowledge; and
   2. (B) is free of omissions and misrepresentations, either of which may result in rejection of the application or revocation of any certificate previously granted.
2. (2) Submit a completed application, with the necessary fee, to the commissioner postmarked not later than forty-five (45) days preceding the date of the examination.

(c) The commissioner shall do the following:

1. (1) Review an application and supporting documents concerning the eligibility of an applicant for water treatment plant or water distribution system certification.
2. (2) Issue a written notification in the form of an admission slip, providing the time and place of the examination, to be presented by an applicant deemed eligible for examination.

(d) A person who has been notified and scheduled to take an examination:

1. (1) may submit a written request to the commissioner for a postponement to take the examination one (1) offering later than the examination granted by the commissioner if:

   1. (A) the postponement:

      1. (i) for a nonemergency reason is requested not later than fourteen (14) days before the examination date noticed to the applicant under subsection (c)(2); and
      2. (ii) request for an emergency reason is submitted as soon as conditions of the emergency warrant; and

   2. (B) the applicant:

      1. (i) provides the commissioner an explicit description of extenuating circumstances necessitating the requested postponement; and
      2. (ii) understands that only one (1) postponement shall be allowed; or

2. (2) will be considered to have failed that examination if the person:

   1. (A) does not attend the examination and has not requested a postponement according to subdivision (1); or
   2. (B) is caught cheating on an examination, an occurrence that will make an applicant ineligible to take any operator certification examination for a period of two (2) years following the examination date of the incidence of cheating.

(e) Completed examinations shall be managed by the commissioner according to the following:

1. (1) Graded in a manner prescribed by the commissioner with a minimum result of seventy percent (70%) needed in order to pass the examination.

2. (2) The commissioner shall notify an applicant of the examination result as follows:

   1. (A) In writing.
   2. (B) Not later than two (2) months after the date of the examination.

3. (3) Examination papers shall be retained by the commissioner with an opportunity afforded to an applicant notified of having failed the examination for review of the graded examination until a date ninety (90) days before the next scheduled examination if the applicant submits the following to the commissioner:

   1. (A) A written 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, by any means, the following:

      1. (i) The examination.
      2. (ii) Any portion of the examination.

(f) A person previously certified as a water treatment plant or water distribution system operator under this rule but who has failed to meet the renewal requirements within a grace period of one (1) year according to section 7(e)(4) of this rule must retake an examination.

(Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 8-12-4; filed Sep 24, 1987, 3:00 p.m.: 11 IR 723; filed Sep 19, 1990, 3:00 p.m.: 14 IR 265; filed Dec 12, 1994, 4:39 p.m.: 18 IR 1235; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:11 p.m.: 24 IR 984; filed Oct 24, 2006, 3:03 p.m.: 20061122-IR-327050255FRA; readopted filed Oct 18, 2024, 1:57 p.m.: 20241113-IR-327230810RFA)