California Code of Regulations
Title 22 - Social Security
Division 4 - Environmental Health
Chapter 13 - Operator Certification
Article 4 - Operator Certification Criteria and Applications
Section 63805 - Eligibility Criteria for Distribution Operator Certification

Universal Citation: 22 CA Code of Regs 63805

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

(a) In order to be eligible for certification as a D1 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade D1 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification.

(b) In order to be eligible for certification as a D2 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade D2 operator examination within the three years prior to submitting the application for certification.

(c) In order to be eligible for certification as a D3 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade D3 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 D2 operator, interim D3 or higher operator, or temporary D3 operator for a D2 system or higher, or a system that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a D2 system or higher pursuant to section 64413.3.

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

(d) In order to be eligible for certification as a D4 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade D4 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 D3, interim D4 or higher operator, or temporary D4 operator for a D3 system or higher, or a system that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a D3 facility or higher pursuant to section 64413.3, and

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

(e) In order to be eligible for certification as a D5 operator, an applicant shall have passed a Grade D5 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 certified D4, interim D5 operator, or temporary D5 operator for a D4 or D5 system, or a system that, prior to January 1, 2001, would have met the criteria for classification as a D4 or D5 system pursuant to section 64413.3, and

(2) At least three additional years of operator experience working as a distribution 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 or distribution 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 or quantity related projects or research.

1. New 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 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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