California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 4 - Environmental Health
Chapter 13 - Operator Certification
Article 4 - Operator Certification Criteria and Applications
Section 63800 - Eligibility Criteria for Water Treatment Operator Certification

Universal Citation: 22 CA Code of Regs 63800

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 38, September 20, 2024

(a) In order to be eligible for certification as a T1 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade T1 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification.

(b) In order to be eligible for certification as a T2 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade T2 or T3 operator certificate examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification.

(c) In order to be eligible for certification as a T3 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade T3 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification, and shall have completed the following:

(1) At least one year of operator experience working as a certified T2 operator for a T2 facility or higher, or a facility that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a T2 facility or higher pursuant to section 64413.1.

(2) At least one additional year of operator experience working as a certified treatment operator.

(d) In order to be eligible for certification as a T4 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade T4 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification, and shall have completed the following:

(1) At least one year of operator experience working as a shift or chief operator, while holding a valid T3 operator certificate, at a T3 facility or higher, or a facility that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a T3 facility or higher pursuant to section 64413.1, and

(2) At least three additional years of operator experience working as a certified treatment operator.

(e) In order to be eligible for certification as a T5 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade T5 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification, and shall have completed the following:

(1) At least two years of operator experience working as a shift or chief operator, while holding a valid T4 operator certificate, at a T4 facility or higher, or a facility that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a T4 facility or higher pursuant to section 64413.1, and

(2) At least three additional years of operator experience working as a certified treatment operator.

(f) A degree earned at an accredited academic institution may be used to fulfill experience requirements in (c)(2), (d)(2), and (e)(2) as follows:

(1) An Associate degree or certificate in water or wastewater technology that includes at least 15 units of physical, chemical, or biological science may be used to fulfill 1 year of operator experience.

(2) A Bachelors degree in engineering or in physical, chemical, or biological sciences may be used to fulfill 1.5 years of operator experience.

(3) A Masters degree in engineering or in physical, chemical, or biological sciences may be used to fulfill 2 years of operator experience.

(g) A certified operator may substitute on a day-for-day basis the experience requirements in (c)(2) with experience gained while working with lead responsibility for water quality related projects or research.

(h) If the applicant has a bachelor of science or a master of science degree, completion of a comprehensive operator training program may be used to fulfill the operator experience requirements in (c)(1) and (d)(1). Completion of the training shall be verified in writing by the chief operator. The comprehensive operator training program shall be at least 6 months in duration and shall cover the following elements:

(1) California Safe Drinking Water Act and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.

(2) Water treatment calculations.

(3) SCADA operation.

(4) Handling of laboratory chemicals used for drinking water analyses.

(5) Laboratory analyses conducted by operators.

(6) Safety training.

(7) Distribution system operation.

(8) Treatment chemical dosing and monitoring.

(9) Disinfectant dosing and monitoring.

(10) Treatment processes and controls.

(i) Experience gained as a certified waste water treatment plant operator, pursuant to California Water Code sections 13625 through 13633, may be used to fulfill up to two years of the operator experience requirements in (c)(2), (d)(2), and (e)(2). Each two months of experience as a waste water treatment plant operator shall be considered equivalent to one month of water treatment facility operator experience.

1. New article 4 (sections 63800-63835) and section filed 12-26-2000 as an emergency; operative 1-1-2001 (Register 2000, No. 52). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 5-1-2001 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
2. New article 4 (sections 63800-63835) and section refiled 4-25-2001 as an emergency; operative 5-2-2001 (Register 2001, No. 17). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL by 8-30-2001 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
3. Certificate of Compliance as to 4-25-2001 order transmitted to OAL 7-12-2001 and filed 8-13-2001 (Register 2001, No. 33).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 100275 and 106910, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 106875, 106900, 106910 and 116555, Health and Safety Code.

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