Washington Administrative Code
Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508)
Chapter 173-230 - Certification of operators of wastewater treatment plants
Section 173-230-260 - Education and experience requirements for Groups I through IV OIT certifications
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Applicants who do not meet the requirements in Table 2 but do meet the requirements in Table 3 may apply to become an OIT I through IV, except as described in (a) and (b) of this subsection.
Table 3 Operator in Training Certification Requirements and Substitutions
Operator in Training Certification Requirements and Substitutions |
|||||
Certification level |
Minimum required education |
Substitutions allowed for education |
Minimum required operating experience |
Education substitutions allowed for operating experience |
Relevant experience substitutions allowed for operating experience |
Group I Operator in Training |
High school diploma or GED |
One year of relevant experience for each year of education through twelfth grade |
3 months |
3.0 credits/CEUs |
3 months of relevant experience |
Group II Operator in Training |
High school diploma or GED |
One year of relevant experience for each year of education through twelfth grade |
1 year and 6 months |
Up to 67.5 relevant credits/CEUs |
Up to 1 year and 6 months of relevant experience |
Group III Operator in Training |
High school diploma or GED and 2 years of college (90 credits or CEUs) |
Up to 4 years of excess operating experience: *1 year of excess operating experience for the first 45 credits/CEUs *3 years of excess operating experience for the last 45 credits/CEUs |
2 years |
Up to 90 relevant credits/CEUs |
Up to 2 years of relevant experience |
Group IV Operator in Training |
High school diploma or GED and 4 years of college (180 credits or CEUs) |
Up to 8 years of excess operating experience: *1 year of excess operating experience for each 45 credits/CEUs for the first 90 credits/CEUs *3 years of excess operating experience for each 45 credits for the second 90 credits/CEUs |
2 years |
Up to 90 relevant credits/CEUs |
Up to 2 years of relevant experience |
(2) The department will issue OIT certificates to applicants who pass the exam as described in WAC 173-230-270.
(3) An existing certified operator continues to hold their full certification as well as the OIT certification until they upgrade from an OIT certification to a full certification, or until their OIT certificate expires.
(4) OIT professional growth and renewal requirements: