1. (a) To meet the requirements for certification, the Department will provide an applicant with two different experience tracks.

2. (b) Track I identifies the experience requirement necessary to qualify for certification when the applicant meets the basic educational requirement in § 302.701 (relating to minimum education requirements).

   1. (1) Track I experience requirements for wastewater treatment system operators.

      Class	Minimum Experience
      A	4 years
      B	3 years
      C	2 years
      D	1 year
      E	1 year

   2. (2) Track I experience requirements for water system operators.

      Class	Minimum Experience
      A	4 years
      B	3 years
      C	2 years
      D	1 year
      E	1 year
      Dc	6 months
      Dn	6 months

3. (c) An applicant for operator certification using Track I may supplement up to 50% of the required experience by successfully completing additional education beyond the minimum education requirement defined in § 302.701. One month of experience can be credited for the successful completion of every 10 contact hours of Department-approved training courses in water or wastewater treatment, as applicable, or 1.5 months experience may be credited for the successful completion of one college credit in water or wastewater treatment related courses from an accredited college or university. The Department will approve these courses in accordance with its training approval process guidelines.

4. (d) Track II provides a reduction in the experience requirements defined in subsection (b) when the applicant has successfully earned one of the following:

   1. (1) A certificate of completion of a Department-approved certificate program in water or wastewater treatment, or both (CP). The Department will approve this program in accordance with its training approval process guidelines.
   2. (2) An associate degree in a water or wastewater operations program, or both, approved by the Department (ASP). The Department will approve this program in accordance with its training approval process guidelines.
   3. (3) An associate degree in environmental sciences, physical sciences, engineering or engineering technology not approved by the Department (AS).
   4. (4) A bachelor’s or graduate degree in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, physical sciences, sanitary or environmental engineering or engineering technology from a Nationally accredited college or university (BS/BA).

5. (e) The required experience under Track II is:

   1. (1) Track II experience requirements for wastewater treatment system operators.

      Class	CP	ASP	AS	BS/BA
      A	2 years	1 year	3.5 years	2 years
      B	1 year	6 months	2.5 years	1 year
      C	6 months	6 months	1.5 years	6 months
      D	6 months	6 months	6 months	6 months
      E	6 months	6 months	6 months	6 months

   2. (2) Track II experience requirements for water system operators.

      Class	CP	ASP	AS	BS/BA
      A	2 years	1 year	3.5 years	2 years
      B	1 year	6 months	2.5 years	1 year
      C	6 months	6 months	1.5 years	6 months
      D	6 months	6 months	6 months	6 months
      E	6 months	6 months	6 months	6 months
      Dc	0	0	6 months	0
      Dn	0	0	6 months	0

6. (f) When education is applied to meet the experience requirements for certification under Track II, the credit can only be applied once and is not cumulative.

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 302.104 (relating to certification requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 302.201 (relating to form of application); 25 Pa. Code § 302.303 (relating to issuance of upgraded certificate); 25 Pa. Code § 302.704 (relating to determining qualifying experience); 25 Pa. Code § 302.705 (relating to accelerated certification requirements for system modifications); and 25 Pa. Code § 302.1004 (relating to operator-in-training status).