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The WV Operator Certification Program is one of
the oldest in the nation and requires all public water system operators
complete education, training and certification requirements covering basic
knowledge of water treatment concepts and regulations. US EPA approved
the WV Operator Certification Program February 20, 2002, which is run by
the Certification & Training Section within the Source Water Assessment
and Protection Program of the WV Department of Health and Human Resources
(WV DHHR). Title 64 Legislative Rules of the Bureau for Public Health,
Series 4 contain the Public Water Systems Operators regulation for the
program. The WV DHHR recently
revised the current regulation, which became effective April 18, 2007.
WV recognizes six classes of public
water systems; 1D, WD, and Class I-IV. Classification is a descriptive
definition based on source, population served, and treatment
requirements. There are seven classes of certified operators; 1D, WD, OIT,
and Class I-IV. The general education, experience and training
requirements for each operator certification are as follows.
|
Class |
Education
|
Experience* |
CEHs |
|
1D
|
8th Grade, 1 day class, pass
exam
|
None
|
None |
|
OIT
|
12th Grade or GED**,
on-the-job experience under supervision of Chief Operator
|
None
|
6 and attempt WD or Class I exam |
|
WD
|
12th Grade or GED, approved
class, pass exam
|
1,000 hours
|
6 |
|
Class I
|
High School
|
2,000 hours
|
12 |
|
Class II
|
High School
|
6,000 hours
|
24 |
|
Class III
|
High School and 90 Continuing
Education Units
|
10,000 hours
|
24 |
|
Class IV
|
High School and 180 continuing
education Units
|
12,000 hours |
24 |
*In some cases, experience requirements are specific to the system
classification where it was obtained and it is possible to substitute
education and experience
**Can be waived to a
minimum age of 16 and completion of 10th grade where eligible.
All operator certifications are
sequential and require renewal every 2 years. There are no fees for
operator initial certification or renewal. In most cases, renewal
requires completion of continuing education hours (CEHs) to promote
continued learning.
If you have any questions, please contact
Mary Lowe (304-558-6988) or Phil Martino (304-558-6986) for additional
information on PWS operator certification.
Table 64-4B
CEUs
FOR COURSES AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE
|
Ten (10)
Classroom Hours |
1 CEU
|
|
One (1)
College Semester Credit Hour |
1.5 CEU |
|
One (1)
College Quarter Credit Hour |
1 CEU |
|
Any
Public Water System Operator Course sponsored by the
Commissioner (no credit issued for repeating the same course) |
4 CEU |
|
One (1)
Public Water System Operators Seminar sponsored by the
Commissioner |
1 CEU |
|
*Two-thousand
(2,000) hours of experience |
*45 CEU |
*Note: All courses will be
evaluated by the commissioner and 100% credit will be awarded for
those deemed to be directly related to water treatment and
distribution (examples are mathematics, science, and business
courses). If the Commissioner deems the course not directly
related, 50% credit will be awarded. |
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