WAC 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. 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. 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: (a) Level 1 must meet the minimum education identified in Table 5 or 6 and either: (i) Three months operating experience in a distribution system or in a water treatment plant; (ii) Three months water-related experience; or (iii) Three relevant college credits or thirty hours (three CEUs) of relevant training. (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: (a) Twelve years of education (refer to Table 7 for equivalent education requirements); and (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. 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.