15A NCAC 18D .0201. GRADES OF CERTIFICATION

(a)  Applicants for the various grades of certification shall be at least 18 years' old and meet the following educational and experience requirements:

(1)           GRADE A‑SURFACE shall have one year of acceptable experience at a surface water facility while holding a Grade B‑Surface certificate and have satisfactorily completed an A‑Surface school conducted by the Board.

(2)           GRADE B‑SURFACE shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have six months of acceptable experience at a surface water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a B‑Surface school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Have one year of acceptable experience at a surface water facility while holding a Grade C‑Surface certificate and have satisfactorily completed a B‑Surface school conducted by the Board.

(3)           GRADE C‑SURFACE shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have six months of acceptable experience at a surface water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a C‑Surface school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Be a high school graduate or equivalent, have six months acceptable experience at a surface water facility and have satisfactorily completed a C‑Surface school conducted by the Board.

(4)           GRADE A‑WELL shall have one year of acceptable experience at a well water facility while holding a Grade B‑Well certificate and have satisfactorily completed an A‑Well school conducted by the Board.

(5)           GRADE B‑WELL shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have six months of acceptable experience at a well water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a B‑Well school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Have one year of acceptable experience at a well water facility while holding a Grade C‑Well certificate and have satisfactorily completed a B‑Well school conducted by the Board.

(6)           GRADE C‑WELL shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have three months of acceptable experience at a well water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a C‑Well school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Be a high school graduate or equivalent, have six months of acceptable experience at a well water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a C-Well school conducted by the Board; or

(C)          Hold a Grade A-Surface certification and have satisfactorily completed a C-Well school conducted by the Board.

(7)           GRADE D-WELL shall be a high school graduate or equivalent, have three months of acceptable experience at a well water facility, and have satisfactorily completed a C-Well or D-Well school conducted by the Board.

(8)           GRADE A‑DISTRIBUTION shall have one year of acceptable experience at Class B or higher distribution system while holding a Grade B‑Distribution certificate and have satisfactorily completed an A‑Distribution school conducted by the Board.

(9)           GRADE B‑DISTRIBUTION shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have six months of acceptable experience at a Class B or higher distribution system, have satisfactorily completed a B‑Distribution school conducted by the Board, and shall hold a certificate of completion of trench shoring training conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Have one year of acceptable experience at a Class C or higher distribution system while holding a Grade C‑Distribution certificate and have satisfactorily completed a B‑Distribution school conducted by the Board.

(10)         GRADE C‑DISTRIBUTION shall hold a certificate of completion of trench shoring training conducted by the Board and shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences, or be a graduate of a two year technical program with a diploma in water and wastewater technology, have three months of acceptable experience at a Class C or higher distribution system, and have satisfactorily completed a C‑Distribution school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Be a high school graduate or equivalent, have six months of acceptable experience at a Class D or higher distribution system and have satisfactorily completed a C‑Distribution school conducted by the Board. 

(11)         GRADE D-DISTRIBUTION shall be a high school graduate or equivalent, have three months of acceptable experience at a distribution system, and have satisfactorily completed a D-Distribution school conducted by the Board.

(12)         GRADE CROSS-CONNECTION-CONTROL shall:

(A)          Be a college graduate with a bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or be a graduate of a two-year technical program with a degree in water and wastewater or civil engineering technology, and have satisfactorily completed a cross connection control school conducted by the Board; or

(B)          Be a high school graduate or equivalent, have six months of acceptable experience at Class D -Distribution or higher system or have one year experience in the operations of cross connection control devices, and have satisfactorily completed a cross connection control school conducted by the Board; or

(C)          Be a plumbing contractor licensed by the State of North Carolina and have satisfactorily completed a cross connection control school conducted by the Board.

(13)         APPRENTICE shall be a high school graduate or equivalent.  The apprentice shall have satisfactorily completed a Grade C, Grade D, or CC school conducted by the Board and shall have successfully passed an examination designed for the class of certification for which the applicant is applying.  The apprentice certification may be renewed annually for a maximum of five years, pursuant to the continuing education and renewal requirements of this Subchapter.  An apprentice shall not act as a certified operator or an ORC for a facility.  An apprentice is eligible for Grade C, D, or CC certification after meeting the applicable experience requirements as set forth in this Rule and making application to the Board.

(b)  Applications for certification of an operator certified in a state other than North Carolina shall be submitted on the Board's form. The application shall supply information to assist the Board in determining whether or not the requirements under which the out-of-state certification was obtained are equivalent to those required by the rules of the Water Treatment Facility Operators Board of Certification

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90A‑21(c); 90A‑22; 90A‑23; 90A-24;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. September 1, 1977;

Readopted Eff. March 1, 1979;

Amended Eff. February 1, 2012; May 1, 2006; September 1, 2004; August 1, 2000; August 1, 1998; May 3, 1993; August 3, 1992; July 1, 1991; December 31, 1980.