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