(A) A person employed as an operator of a public water treatment facility must hold a water treatment operator license issued by the board in the certification class required by this section. The required certification class must be determined based upon the treatment group of the public water system treatment facility where the operator is employed, as established by the Department of Health and Environmental Control pursuant to Section 44-55-40(K). The certification class required for each treatment group is as follows:

1. (1) Group I treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "E' ' certification.
2. (2) Group II treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "D" certification.
3. (3) Group III treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "C" certification.
4. (4) Group IV treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "C" certification.
5. (5) Group V treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "B' ' certification.
6. (6) Group VI treatment facilities require operators with at least a Class "A" certification.

(B)

1. (1) To be licensed by the board as a Trainee Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) be at least eighteen years of age;
   2. (b) have completed high school or the equivalent; and
   3. (c) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

2. (2) To be licensed by the board as a Class "E" Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) hold a valid Trainee Operator license;
   2. (b) pass an examination approved by the board;
   3. (c) have completed at least six months of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water treatment facility; and
   4. (d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

3. (3) To be licensed by the board as a Class "D" Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) hold a valid Class "E" operator certification;
   2. (b) pass an examination approved by the board;
   3. (c) have completed at least one year of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water treatment facility or the equivalent; and
   4. (d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

4. (4) To be licensed by the board as a Class "C" Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) hold a valid Class "D" operator certification;
   2. (b) pass an examination approved by the board;
   3. (c) have completed at least two years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water treatment facility or the equivalent; and
   4. (d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

5. (5) To be licensed by the board as a Class "B" Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) hold a valid Class "C" operator certification;
   2. (b) pass an examination approved by the board;
   3. (c) have completed at least three years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water treatment facility or the equivalent; and
   4. (d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

6. (6) To be licensed by the board as a Class "A" Water Treatment Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) hold a valid Class "B" operator certification;
   2. (b) pass an examination approved by the board;
   3. (c) have completed at least four years of actual operating experience as an operator of a public water treatment facility or the equivalent; and
   4. (d) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.

7. (7) To be licensed as a Bottled Water Class Operator, an applicant must:

   1. (a) pass an examination approved by the board;
   2. (b) have completed high school or the equivalent; and
   3. (c) submit an application on forms approved by the board and the prescribed fee.