Wastewater Operator Licenses

Operators qualify for licenses by completing approved training and passing an examination. License types include class I, II, III, and IV for municipal facilities; Basic and Advanced levels for industrial facilities.

Municipal (Apprentice, Class I, II, III, and IV)

Municipal -

an employee with primary responsibility to operate and maintain a wastewater treatment facility that generally includes the treatment of domestic, commercial, and industrial wastes.

Class 0 – Apprentice

• Temporary license; issued only once for a maximum of six months. The receiving operator must have never been previously licensed. It allows an individual to work for a facility as the operator while acquiring state certification.

Class I

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent years of work experience
• Satisfactory completion of 40 hours of approved training or equivalent, as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Pass the Class I Exam

Class II

• Class I license
• Carried out the duties of a Class I operator
• Satisfactory completion of 80 hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Two years experience
• Pass the Class II Exam

Class III

• Class II license
• Carried out the duties of a Class II operator
• Satisfactory completion of 120 hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Three years experience (with one year in treatment plant operation)
• Pass the Class III Exam

Class IV

• Class III license held for at least three years
• Carried out the duties of a Class III operator
• Satisfactory completion of 200 hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Six years experience in wastewater treatment (with at least two years in direct charge of a plant or one of the major components)
• Pass the Class IV Exam

Industrial (Apprentice, Basic, and Advanced)

Industrial -

an owner or employee with primary responsibility to operate and maintain a privately owned wastewater treatment plant for treating liquid wastes resulting from any process, manufacture, trade or business or the development of any natural resources.

Apprentice

• Temporary license; issued only once for a maximum of six months. The receiving operator must have never been previously licensed. It allows an individual to work for a facility as the operator while acquiring state certification.

Basic

An operator with this license must be prepared to deal with car washes, sedimentation, oil and grease separation, pH adjustment, aeration ponds, or similar basic wastewater treatment processes. Requirements include:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• Satisfactory completion of 12 hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Pass the Industrial Wastewater Exam

Advanced

An operator with this license must be prepared to deal with active sludge, treatment of metal finishing waste streams, sedimentation/clarification with chemicals, dissolved air flotation, or similar advanced wastewater treatment processes. Requirements include:

• Basic industrial license
• Satisfactory completion of 24 hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee
• Pass the Advanced Industrial Wastewater Operator Exam