Title: Section 5-4.8 - Renewal/recertification requirements

5-4.8 Renewal/recertification requirements.

(a) Renewal requirements.

(1) A request for renewal of a certificate must be submitted, by each operator, to the department, on a form prescribed by the department, at least one month before the certificate expiration date. All operators will have a fixed renewal cycle of three years.

(2) All renewal requests from grandparented operators may be approved after the operator has completed the required renewal training, as set forth below in Table 5-4.8; satisfactorily operated his/her facility during each three-year grandparenting period; and all other renewal conditions prescribed by the Department.

(3) To qualify for renewal, a grade A, B, C, or D water treatment operator, water treatment assistant operator, or distribution system operator must have successfully completed the following equivalent Continuing Education Unit (CEU)training requirements, as set forth below in Table 5-4.8, within the previous three years. All renewal training courses must be approved by the Department.

(4) The Department may require any person applying for renewal of certification as a water treatment operator, water treatment assistant operator or distribution system operator to take a written, oral and/or practical skills validated examination to determine the applicant’s skills, knowledge, ability and judgement. The results of the examination, and the requirements of section 5-4.8, will serve as the basis for approval or disapproval of such application.

Table 5-4.8 – Renewal Requirements

(5) If dual certification is held, then the operator must obtain the number of CEU’s corresponding to the highest grade of certification held, as outlined in Table 5-4.8.

(b) Recertification requirements.

(1) An individual that allows his or her certification renewal to lapse after the expiration date is no longer certified to operate a water treatment plant and/or distribution system. When the individual meets the requirements outlined in section 5-4.8(a), the certification will be reinstated.

(2) An individual who allows his or her certification renewal to lapse, for more than one year, will be required to repeat the type and amount of experience, training and validated examination as contained in sections 5-4.3(b) and 5-4.5 of this Subpart.