Procedures for Certification of Individual Sewer System Installers

In accordance with legislative rule 64 CSR 9, Sewer Systems, Sewage Treatment Systems and Sewage Tank Cleaners, all individual sewer system installers shall be certified.

An individual sewer system installer is any person engaging in the construction, installation, modification, extension, alteration and location of an individual or an-on-site sewer system, sewage tank, or an excreta disposal system.

Certification is not required of a driver delivering a part or parts of a system, a manufacturer who does not install a part or parts of a system, or
an employee of a contractor holding a certificate, provided that the employee is under the direct onsite surveillance of a certified installer.

Certificates are issued in two classifications:

Class I certificate applies to the installation of standard soil absorption systems, soil absorption beds, holding tanks, effluent lift stations and grey water soil absorption systems.

Class II certificate applies to those systems covered by the Class I certificate plus all alternative and other individual or on-site sewer systems as set forth in legislative rule 64 CSR 47, Sewage Treatment and Collection System Design Standards.

 

Initial Certification - Class I and Class II

Applicant must be at least 18 years old.

Applicant must take a written examination and receive a passing grade of at least 70%.
Oral examinations are available on request.

Examinations are administered at the Central Office in Charleston and at the District Offices.
The only exception is examinations given after a classroom training experience in which the examination is included in the course.

Examinations will be graded as soon as possible.
Graded examinations will be forwarded to the Central Office for final processing. 

Successful applicants will receive by mail a wallet-size certificate and their name will be added to the Public Health Sanitation Division's Online Sewage Installers Database.

Installer Certification is valid for five (5) years from date of issuance.

Only a certified Class I installer may apply for Class II certification.  A Class II certificate is valid for both Class I and Class II systems.

A $150.00 fee is required for the five (5) year certification.  Payment is required at the time of examination.  Check or money order should be made payable to the WV Bureau for Public Health. Cash is not accepted.

When a Class I installer passes the Class II examination, his/her Class I certificate will be upgraded to a Class II with no change in the expiration date.  No fee is required until the certificate expires.

Exception:  If the expiration date of the Class I certificate is sixty (60) days or less from the date the Class II examination was administered, a new certificate will be issued and a $150.00 fee is required.  The new Class II certificate will expire five (5) years from the date the examination was administered.

If an applicant fails an examination, the applicant must wait thirty (30) days before re-examination. The $150.00 fee will be refunded.

If an applicant employs one or more individuals who work in West Virginia, and is in default with unemployment or workers compensation, their application for certification must be denied pursuant to legislative rule 96 CSR 1.  Defaulted employers are listed on the Internet on the Bureau of Employment Programs' web site.

 

Renewal of Certification - Class I and Class II

Approximately thirty (30) days before their certificate expires, Class I and Class II installers will receive by mail an Application for Renewal.

The Application requires the signature and recommendation for renewal of a local health department Sanitarian in a county knowledgeable of the individual’s work.

A $150.00 fee is required for the five (5) year certification renewal, and must be submitted with the Application.  Check or money order should be made payable to the WV Bureau for Public Health. Cash will not be accepted.

NOTE:  If an application for renewal is not submitted within six (6) months after the expiration date, renewal cannot be issued.  The applicant must apply for initial certification and pass a written examination.

Please ensure that you contact the Public Health Sanitation Division in you change your mailing address so you will continue to receive Certification correspondence.

 

Homeowners, Landowners Examination

A homeowner or landowner who wishes to install their own sewer system is not required to be certified as a Class I installer, but must pass a written examination demonstrating knowledge of applicable rules.  The homeowner’s examination may be taken and graded at any local health department, district office, or at the central office.  No fee is required.

 

 

Contact your Local Health Department before installing or modifying any existing onsite sewage disposal system.
 

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