Wash. Admin. Code § 246-292-060 – Minimum education and experience requirements to become a certified operator

(1) Minimum education and operating experience requirements for a water treatment plant operator are in Table 5.

Table 5

WTPO Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Certification Level	Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents)	Minimum Experience Requirement
WTPO 1	12 years	12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant.
WTPO 2	12 years	•	18 months operating experience in a water treatment plant; and
		•	18 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WTPO 3	14 years	•	24 months operating experience in a Class 2 or higher rated water treatment plant; and
		•	24 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WTPO 4	16 years	•	24 months operating experience in a Class 3 or higher rated water treatment plant; and
		•	24 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.

(2) Minimum education and operating experience requirements for WDS and WDM certification levels are in Table 6.

Table 6

WDS and WDM Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Certification Level	Minimum Education Requirement (see Table 7 for equivalents)	Minimum Experience Requirement
WDS	12 years	6 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system.
WDM 1	12 years	12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system.
WDM 2	12 years	•	12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
		•	24 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WDM 3	14 years	•	12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
		•	36 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.
WDM 4	16 years	•	12 months operating experience in a water treatment plant or distribution system; and
		•	36 months additional water-related experience.
		•	Relevant excess education may substitute for additional water-related experience requirement.

(3) OIT requirements. Applicants for a WTPO or WDM OIT certification must meet the following requirements:
1. (a) Level 1 must meet the minimum education identified in Table 5 or 6 and either:
  1. (i) Three months operating experience in a distribution system or in a water treatment plant;
  2. (ii) Three months water-related experience; or
  3. (iii) Three relevant college credits or thirty hours (three CEUs) of relevant training.
2. (b) Levels 2 through 4 must meet the minimum education and water-related experience requirements identified in Table 5 or 6 for the applicable certification level, excluding the operating experience requirements.
(4) The minimum education and operating experience requirements for a CCS are:
1. (a) Twelve years of education (refer to Table 7 for equivalent education requirements); and
2. (b) At least six months water-related experience.

(5) A BAT shall have at least twelve years of education (refer to Table 7 for equivalent education requirements).

Table 7

Minimum Education Requirements and Equivalent Education and Substitutions

Minimum Education Requirement	Equivalent Education and Substitutions
12 years of education	•	High school diploma or GED;
	•	One year of water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
14 years of education	•	High school diploma or GED, and one of the following:
		•	A two-year college degree;
		•	60 college semester credits;
		•	90 college quarter credits; or
		•	90 CEUs from relevant water system training.
	•	One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
	•	Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education.
16 years of education	•	High school diploma or GED, and one of the following:
		•	A four-year college degree;
		•	120 college semester credits;
		•	180 college quarter credits; or
		•	180 CEUs from relevant water system training.
	•	One year of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of education through twelfth grade.
	•	Two years of operating experience or water-related experience may substitute for each year of college education.

(6) Water-related experience used to substitute for the minimum education requirements must exceed the minimum experience requirements for certification in Tables 5 and 6 before the experience is used as an equivalent education substitution in Table 7.
(7) The department may approve an applicant's relevant excess education or water-related experience that meets the requirements in Tables 5, 6, and 7.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119.050. WSR 17-23-119, § 246-292-060, filed 11/17/17, effective 12/18/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119.050 and chapter 70.119 RCW. WSR 14-01-003, § 246-292-060, filed 12/4/13, effective 1/4/14. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.119 RCW and Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Law 104-182; 64 F.R. 5916 - 5921. WSR 01-02-070, § 246-292-060, filed 12/29/00, effective 1/29/01. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.119 RCW. WSR 94-04-004, § 246-292-060, filed 1/20/94, effective 2/20/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. WSR 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-292-060, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.119.050. WSR 78-10-053 (Order 1343), § 248-55-070, filed 9/22/78.]