OAR 333-061-0235
Operator Certification Requirements, Levels 1–4

Operator certification, as specified in this rule, corresponds to each of the levels of water system facility classification specified in OAR 333-061-0220 (Classification of Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems)(2) through (4).

(1)

To receive certification as specified in this rule, applicants must:

(a)

Provide proof of, including the date of graduation or completion, a high school diploma, GED, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD; and

(b)

Successfully complete an examination for the level and type of certification sought by the applicant.

(2)

Minimum qualifications for water treatment (WT) or water distribution (WD) operator certification are identified in Table 46. Experience or a combination of experience and education is required depending on the certification and level sought. For the purposes of this rule, “post high school education” means that education acquired through programs such as short schools, correspondence courses, trade schools, colleges, universities, formalized workshops or seminars that are acceptable to the Authority and for which college or continuing education credit is issued by the training sponsor.

(a)

Operating experience must have been gained through direct, “hands-on” operation of water system facilities and includes, but is not limited to, decisions related to water quality or quantity that may affect public health. Knowledge gained from the performance of duties as an official, inspector, manager, engineer, or director of public works, and that does not include the actual operation or supervision of water system facilities, does not qualify an individual for certification as prescribed by these rules.

(A)

For water distribution certification, experience in one of the following fields may be accepted, not to exceed one-half of the total experience required: wastewater collection; water treatment; cross connection control; and industrial or commercial process water treatment.

(B)

For water treatment certification, experience in one of the following fields may be accepted, not to exceed one-half of the total experience required: wastewater treatment; wastewater treatment laboratory; water distribution; and industrial or commercial process water treatment.

(C)

One year of experience is equivalent to 12 months of full-time employment with 100 percent of the individual’s time dedicated to activities directly related to the certification for which they are applying.

(D)

Operating experience earned at a water treatment plant or distribution system is considered qualifying experience for certification up to one classification level higher than that of the water system facility where the experience was earned.

(b)

The Authority may, at its discretion, permit the substitution of post high school education for experience. Acceptable fields of study include, but are not limited to: allied sciences, chemistry, engineering, industrial or commercial water processing, wastewater collection, wastewater treatment plant operations, wastewater laboratory analysis, water distribution, and water treatment plant operations.

(A)

Substituted education may not exceed one-half of the experience required for the certification and level sought except for level 1 certification, where an Authority-approved certificate or degree can substitute for all the required operating experience.

(B)

Any degree or accumulation of college credit hours must be from an educational institution accredited through an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

(C)

The following are considered equivalent to 12 months of post high school education:
(i)
One year of college education;
(ii)
Thirty semester hours of college education;
(iii)
Forty-five quarter hours of college education; or
(iv)
Forty-five CEUs.

(D)

College credits and post high school education from other sources may be combined to total 45 CEU.

(3)

Individuals may request credit for on-the-job training as either experience or education, but not both.

(4)

Individuals seeking certification at water distribution and water treatment levels 3 and 4 must possess operational decision-making experience as defined in OAR 333-061-0020 (Definitions)(87). Any work experience as specified in subsection (2)(a) of this rule qualifies as operational decision-making experience if it meets the criteria specified in OAR 333-061-0020 (Definitions)(87).

(5)

To qualify for filtration endorsement certification, as prescribed by OAR 333-061-0220 (Classification of Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems)(4), individuals must:

(a)

Possess WT Level 2 certification;

(b)

Have one year of operational decision-making experience at a water treatment plant utilizing conventional or direct filtration treatment; and

(c)

Successfully pass a filtration endorsement examination.
[ED. NOTE: To view attachments referenced in rule text, click here to view rule.]

Source: Rule 333-061-0235 — Operator Certification Requirements, Levels 1–4, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=333-061-0235.

333‑061‑0005
Purpose 333‑061‑0010
Scope 333‑061‑0015
Adoption by Reference 333‑061‑0020
Definitions 333‑061‑0025
Responsibilities of Water Suppliers 333‑061‑0030
Maximum Contaminant Levels and Action Levels 333‑061‑0031
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Levels 333‑061‑0032
Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Surface Water, Groundwater Under Direct Influence of Surface Water, and Groundwater 333‑061‑0034
Treatment Requirements and Performance Standards for Corrosion Control 333‑061‑0036
Sampling and Analytical Requirements 333‑061‑0040
Reporting and Record Keeping 333‑061‑0042
Public Notice 333‑061‑0043
Consumer Confidence Reports 333‑061‑0045
Variances 333‑061‑0046
Permits 333‑061‑0050
Construction Standards 333‑061‑0055
Waivers from Construction Standards 333‑061‑0057
Voluntary Drinking Water Protection Program 333‑061‑0060
Plan Submission and Review Requirements 333‑061‑0061
Capacity Requirements for Public Water Systems 333‑061‑0062
Land Use Coordination 333‑061‑0063
Environmental Review Process for The Safe Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund Program 333‑061‑0064
Emergency Response Plan Requirements 333‑061‑0065
Operation and Maintenance 333‑061‑0070
Cross Connection Control Requirements 333‑061‑0071
Backflow Prevention Assembly Installation and Operation Standards 333‑061‑0072
Backflow Assembly Tester Certification 333‑061‑0073
Cross Connection Specialist Certification 333‑061‑0074
Cross Connection Training Programs, Course, and Instructor Requirements 333‑061‑0075
Sanitary Surveys of Watersheds 333‑061‑0076
Sanitary Surveys 333‑061‑0077
Composite Correction Program & Comprehensive Performance Evaluations 333‑061‑0078
Coliform Investigations 333‑061‑0080
Role of Counties 333‑061‑0085
Supplemental Fluoridation 333‑061‑0087
Product Acceptability Criteria 333‑061‑0089
Annual Water System Fee 333‑061‑0090
Penalties 333‑061‑0095
Severability 333‑061‑0097
Adverse Health Effects Language 333‑061‑0098
References 333‑061‑0210
Operator Certification: Scope 333‑061‑0220
Classification of Water Treatment Plants and Water Distribution Systems 333‑061‑0225
General Requirements Applying to Water Suppliers and Water Systems 333‑061‑0228
Certification Requirements for Small Water System Operators 333‑061‑0230
Contracting For Services 333‑061‑0232
General Requirements Applying to Water System Operators 333‑061‑0235
Operator Certification Requirements, Levels 1–4 333‑061‑0245
Applications for Certification Levels 1–4 333‑061‑0250
Examinations for Certification, Levels 1–4 333‑061‑0260
Certificate Renewal Levels 1–4 333‑061‑0265
Fees 333‑061‑0270
Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of Certification 333‑061‑0272
Suspension of Certification 333‑061‑0305
Domestic Well Program: Purpose 333‑061‑0310
Scope 333‑061‑0324
Area of Public Health Concern 333‑061‑0325
Domestic Well Tests 333‑061‑0330
Accredited Laboratories 333‑061‑0335
Sample Collection 333‑061‑0400
Reducing Lead in School Drinking Water 333‑061‑0510
Applicability of Cyanotoxin Rules 333‑061‑0520
Definitions 333‑061‑0530
Health Advisory Levels 333‑061‑0540
Cyanotoxin Monitoring 333‑061‑0550
Analytical Methods 333‑061‑0560
Reporting 333‑061‑0570
Public Notification 333‑061‑0580
Record Keeping
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 333-061-0235’s source at or​.us