Education and Experience Qualifications for Certification

All applicants applying for certification shall pass the appropriate certification examination that corresponds to the grade and type of certificate for which the applicant applied and shall meet the following education and experience requirements as stated in 236 CMR 4.01. The applicant's experience shall be in the same field as the type of certificate for which the applicant has applied (distribution or treatment). An applicant who has passed the appropriate certification examination, but who does not meet the education and/or experience requirements specified in 236 CMR 4.01 for the grade of examination passed, shall be issued an Operator-in-training Certificate. (1) Water Vending Machine Grade VND - 1T through Grade VND-4T (Treatment) and Grade VND-1D through Grade VND-2D (Distribution). In order to qualify for a Grade VND-1T through Grade 4T Full Operator certificate and Grade VND-1D through Grade VND-2D Full Operator certificate, applicants must provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Taken and passed the corresponding operator examination, and (b) Three months of vending machine operation experience or a certificate of proficiency from a vending machine organization such as National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) and a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED). (2) Grade Very Small Systems (VSS). In order to qualify for a Grade VSS Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade VSS examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Six calendar months of acceptable experience operating a very small water system or higher grade public water system and a high school diploma or its equivalent (GED); or (b) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and demonstrate an ability to operate a very small public water system. (3) Grade 1 Distribution (D1). In order to qualify for a Grade 1D Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade D1 examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and two years full-time experience in the distribution segment of a public water system; or (b) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the distribution segment of a public water system. (4) Grade 1 Treatment (T1). In order to qualify for a Grade 1T Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade T1 examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (Mass. Register #1558, 10/10/2025) (a) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and two years full-time experience operating a public water system treatment process; or (b) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the distribution segment of a public water system. (5) Grade 2 Distribution (2D). In order to qualify for a Grade 2D Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 2D examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 1C or Grade 1D Full Operator certificate with evidence satisfactory to the Board of continuous full-time employment in the operation of a Class I or higher public water system distribution system for one additional year after certification; or (b) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and three years full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system distribution system; or (c) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and two years full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system distribution system; or (d) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system distribution system. (6) Grade 2 Treatment (2T). In order to qualify for a Grade 2T Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 2T examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 1C or Grade 1T Full Operator certificate with continuous full- time employment in the operation of a Class I or higher public water system treatment process for one additional year after certification; or (b) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and three years full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system treatment process; or (c) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical, or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and two years full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system treatment process system; or (d) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical, or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system treatment process. (7) Grade 3 Distribution (3D). In order to qualify for a Grade 3D Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 3D examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 2C or Grade 2D Full Operator certificate with continuous full- time employment pursuant to 236 CMR 4.01(11)(c) in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system distribution system for two additional years after certification; or (b) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and five years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system distribution system; or (c) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one year of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical, or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and four years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system distribution system; or (d) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and three years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system distribution system or (e) A Bachelor of Science degree or four or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system distribution system. (8) Grade 3 Treatment (3T). In order to qualify for a Grade 3T Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 3T examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 2C or Grade 2T Full Operator certificate with continuous full- time employment pursuant to 236 CMR 4.01(11)(c) in the operation of a Class II or higher public water system treatment process for two additional years after certification; or (b) A high school diploma or its equivalent (GED) and five years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system treatment process; or (c) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and four years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system treatment process system; or (d) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and three years full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system treatment process; or (e) A Bachelor of Science degree or four or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and one year full-time experience in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system treatment process. (9) Grade 4 Distribution (4D). In order to qualify for a Grade 4D Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 4D examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 3C or Grade 3D Full Operator certificate with continuous full- time employment pursuant to 236 CMR 2.01(11)(c) in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system distribution system for one additional year after certification; or (b) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and five years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system distribution system; or (c) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and four years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system distribution system; or (d) A Bachelor of Science degree or four or more years of college (120 credit hours or equivalent) with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and two years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system distribution system. (10) Grade 4 Treatment (4T). In order to qualify for a Grade 4T Full Operator certificate, applicants must pass the grade 4T examination and provide evidence satisfactory to the Board that they have: (a) Possession of a Grade 3C or Grade 3T Full Operator certificate with continuous full- time employment pursuant to 236 CMR 4.01(11)(c) in the operation of a Class III or higher public water system treatment process for one additional year after certification; or (b) A certificate of competency in water treatment technology or other related technical fields or one or more years of education beyond high school with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and five years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system treatment process; or (c) An Associate of Science degree or two or more years of college with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and four years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system treatment process; or (d) A Bachelor of Science degree or four or more years of college (120 credit hours or equivalent) with courses in the physical and/or biological sciences (courses shall be in the areas of sanitary, civil, chemical or environmental engineering, public health, biology, chemistry, or other discipline acceptable to the Board) and two years full-time experience in the operation of a Class IV public water system treatment process. Substitutions. The following substitutions or equivalents for required education, experience or training may be accepted by the Board. For Grade 1 and lower, no substitutions shall be permitted. (a) Courses in the physical and/or biological sciences as defined in 236 CMR 4.01 shall equal 30 credit hours in order to qualify as one year of educational substitutions. (b) In exceptional cases as determined by the Board, two years of experience operating a public water system may be substituted for one year of high school education, with a limit of four years of high school education. (c) Part-time experience must be converted to full-time equivalent experience on the basis of a 2000-hour work year. The Board secretary shall record in the Board's meeting minutes the substitute qualifications that have been accepted by the Board in the issuance of any certificate. The Board may waive the education and/or experience requirements in exceptional situations as determined by the Board. Special Provisions for Small System Operators - Class 1 and 2 Systems. 236 CMR 4.01(14) applies to operators who work for a public water system that has a distribution and treatment classification equal to or less than a Class II. The Board may allow an operator presently works in a Class I or II public water system who routinely performs both treatment and distribution duties to combine his/her treatment and distribution experience to meet the experience requirements for certification as specified in 236 CMR 4.01(3) through (6) provided that: (a) The operator applying for either a Grade 1 distribution or Grade 1 treatment certification meets the following conditions: 1. The operator meets the educational requirements for the grade, for which he/she is applying as specified at 236 CMR 4.04(3) or (4); 2. The operator presently works in a Class I public water system; and 3. The operator has routinely performed distribution duties for any part of a day for 500 days and treatment duties for any part of a day for 500 days (250 days with a one year certificate or one year of acceptable college). These days may run concurrently; or (b) The operator applying for either a Grade 2 distribution or Grade 2 treatment certification meets the following conditions: 1. The operator meets the educational requirements for the grade for which he/she is applying as specified at 236 CMR 4.04(5) or (6); 2. the operator presently works in a Class II public water system; and 3. the operator has routinely performed distribution duties for any part of a day for 750 days and treatment duties for any part of a day for 750 days concurrently (500 days with a one year certificate or one year of acceptable college; 250 days with two years of acceptable college or an Associate’s of Science Degree). These days may run concurrently.