18VAC160-30-110. Qualifications for examination approval.

An applicant for licensure as a waterworks or wastewater works operator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met.

TABLE 1 Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operator Experience and Education
Classes	Education Required	Current License	Minimum Experience	Facility Type	Experience with Substitutions
Class 6 (Waterworks Operator Only)	High school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Three months	Class 6 or higher facility	N/A
Class 6 (Waterworks Operator Only)	No high school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Six months	Class 6 or higher facility	N/A
Class 5 (Waterworks Operator Only)	High school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Three months	Class 5 or higher facility	N/A
Class 5 (Waterworks Operator Only)	No high school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Six months	Class 5 or higher facility	N/A
Class 4	High school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Six months	Class 4 or higher facility	N/A
Class 4	No high school diploma or equivalent	N/A	One year	Class 4 or higher facility	Six months
Class 3	Bachelor's, master's, or associate's degree	N/A	Six months	Class 4 or higher facility	Three months
	High school diploma or equivalent	N/A	One year	Class 4 or higher facility	Six months
	No high school diploma or equivalent	N/A	One and one-half years	Class 4 or higher facility	Nine months
Class 2	Bachelor's, master's, or associate's degree	N/A	One year	Class 3 or higher facility	Six months
	High school diploma or equivalent	N/A	Two years	Class 3 or higher facility	One year
	No High school diploma or equivalent	Class 3 license	Three years	Class 3 or higher facility	One and one-half years
Class 1	Bachelor's, master's, or associate's degree	Class 2 license	One and one-half years	Class 2 or higher facility	Nine months
	High school diploma or equivalent	Class 2 license	Three years	Class 2 or higher facility	One and one-half years
	No high school diploma or equivalent	Class 2 license	Four years	Class 2 or higher facility	Two years
Where applicable, the current license held, minimum experience, and the facility type must coincide with the category of license for which the application is being submitted.

Statutory Authority

§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 8, eff. January 16, 2026.

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