To work in a public wastewater treatment
plant or a private wastewater treatment plant regulated
by the PUC, you must have a valid wastewater treatment
plant operator certificate or an operator-in-training
certificate. There are three major things that you must
do to get certified:
- You must take courses in wastewater treatment plant
operations. The number and difficulty depend on the
certificate grade you want.
- You must pass a written exam. Wastewater treatment
plant operator certification exams are given twice
each year, once in early April and once in early October.
Exams for all five grades are given at the same time
at several locations throughout the state. To take
an exam, you must show that you meet the minimum educational
requirements and submit a fee and application.
- You must meet experience requirements and submit
a fee and an application for a certificate. Your experience
must be in the operation of a wastewater treatment
plant with a valid operator certificate or operator-in-training
certificate. You may submit your application for a
certificate up to four years after you pass the written
exam.
If you have no experience as an operator, you must
get an Operator-in-Training (OIT) Certificate. The owners
of the plant do the hiring of operators, usually a city,
county or special district. You need to contact them
to see if there are any jobs available. Other potential
sources of job listings are local newspapers local sections
of the California Water Environment Association.
The State of California Office of Operator Certification
administers the certification program for wastewater
treatment plant operators that work for publicly owned
facilities. California water Environment Association
administers the certification program for operators
of privately-owned industrial wastewater pre-treatment
facilities (these are usually private companies that
use water in some manufacturing process then discharge
the wastewater into a sewer system).
More Information About Operator Careers:
Occupational
Guide for Water and Wastewater Operators
California Office of Operator Certification
Operator Information Brochure [PDF]
Operator Certification Regulations Revisions
The California State Water Resources Control Board
is in the process of revising the Operator Certification
Regulations. A draft was presented to the Wastewater
Operator Certification Advisory on June 7, 2007. The
timeline for public comments on the draft regulations is
to be determined. Please return to this page for more
details as they develop.
Educational Resources for Wastewater
Operators
California State University Sacramento
Office of Water Programs
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
916/278-6142
wateroffice@csus.edu
http://www.owp.csus.edu
CSUS is the standard for self-study water and wastewater
courses.
For more wastewater operator educational opportunities
download Wastewater
Operator Training Directory [PDF].
How to Become Drinking Water Treatment
Plant Operator
Drinking water operator certification is separate from
wastewater operator certification. Drinking water treatment
plant operator certification is required to work as
an operator in a treatment plant that produces water
for human consumption in homes and businesses. Wastewater
treatment plant operator certification is required to
work as an operator in a treatment plant that receives
and treats wastewater from homes and businesses. The
Department of Health Services administers the water
treatment plant operator certification program. They
take applications, give exams and issue certificates
on applicants who meet their requirements. The drinking
water treatment plant operator certification program
may be reached at:
Department of Health Services
Office of Drinking Water
Certification Unit
PO Box 942732
Sacramento, CA 94234-7320
(916) 327-1140
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/publications/opcert/index.htm
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