Part II. Entry
18VAC160-30-20. Application procedures.
A. All applicants seeking licensure shall submit an application with the appropriate fee specified in 18VAC160-30-40. Application shall be made on forms provided by the board or its agent. By submitting the application to the department, the applicant certifies that the applicant has read and understands the applicable statutes and the board's regulations. The receipt of an application and the deposit of fees by the board does not indicate approval of the application by the board.
B. The board may make further inquiries and investigations with respect to the applicant's qualifications to confirm or amplify information supplied. All applications shall be completed in accordance with the instructions contained in this chapter and on the application. Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are received by the board. An applicant will not be permitted to sit for the applicable board-approved examination until the application is complete and approved.
C. The applicant will be notified within 30 days of the board's receipt of an initial application if the application is incomplete. An individual who fails to complete the application process within 12 months of receipt of the application in the board's office must submit a new application. An applicant has 12 months from approval of the application to pass the board-approved examination. Failure to pass the board-approved examination within 12 months of approval will result in the applicant being required to submit a new application to be considered for licensure.
D. The applicant shall immediately report all changes in information supplied with the application, if applicable, prior to issuance of the license or expiration of the application or examination period.
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.
18VAC160-30-30. General fee requirements.
All fees are nonrefundable and shall not be prorated. The date on which the fee is received by the department or its agent will determine whether the fee is on time. Checks or money orders shall be made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia.
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.
18VAC160-30-40. Fee schedule.
| Fee Type | Fee Amount | When Due |
| Initial application (for each profession, class, and category of license) | $100 | With application |
| Renewal (for each profession, class, and category of license) | $80 | With renewal application |
| Reinstatement (for each profession, class, and category of license) | $105 (renewal fee + $25 reinstatement fee) | With reinstatement application |
For wastewater works operator licenses expiring on February 28, 2018, and waterworks operator licenses expiring on February 28, 2019, the renewal fee shall be $50. For reinstatement applications received after February 28, 2018, and on or before February 29, 2020, the total reinstatement fee shall be $75.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-113 and 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2018.
18VAC160-30-50. Examination fee.
The fee for examination or reexamination is subject to charges to the department by an outside vendor based on a contract entered into in compliance with the Virginia Public Procurement Act (§ 2.2-4300 et seq. of the Code of Virginia). Fees may be adjusted and charged to the candidate in accordance with this contract.
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.
18VAC160-30-60. General requirements for licensure.
A. In addition to the specific qualifications for each category and classification of licensure, each applicant for licensure shall meet the requirements provided in this section.
1. The applicant shall be at least 18 years old.
2. The applicant shall disclose the applicant's mailing address. A post office box is only acceptable as a mailing address when a physical address is also provided.
3. In accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia, each applicant shall disclose the following information.
a. All felony convictions.
b. All misdemeanor convictions, except marijuana convictions, in any jurisdiction that occurred within three years of the date of application.
Any plea of nolo contendere or finding of guilt regardless of adjudication or deferred adjudication shall be considered a conviction for the purposes of this section. The record of conviction certified or authenticated in such form as to be admissible in evidence under the laws of the jurisdiction where convicted shall be admissible as prima facie evidence of such guilt.
B. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant in accordance with § 54.1-204 of the Code of Virginia.
C. The applicant shall report any suspension, revocation, or surrender of a license, certification, or registration in connection with a disciplinary action or that has been the subject of discipline in any jurisdiction prior to applying for licensure. The board, at its discretion, may deny licensure to any applicant based on prior suspensions, revocations, or surrenders of licenses based on disciplinary action by any jurisdiction.
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 38, Issue 6, eff. December 8, 2021.
18VAC160-30-70. Examination procedures and conduct.
A. Upon approval of the application, the board will notify the applicant of his eligibility to take the applicable examination. The license will not be issued prior to receipt of a passing score for the applicable examination.
B. An applicant who does not receive a passing score within one year after the date of approval of the application by the board to sit for the examination, must submit a new application and meet the entry requirements in effect at the time of submittal of the new application.
C. The applicant shall follow all rules established by the board with regard to conduct at the examination. Such rules shall include all written instructions communicated prior to the examination date and all instructions communicated at the site, either written or oral, on the date of examination. Failure to comply with all rules established by the board and the testing organization with regard to conduct at the examination may be grounds for denial of the application, voiding of examination scores, or any combination thereof.
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.
18VAC160-30-80. Individuals certified or licensed in another jurisdiction.
An applicant holding a valid license or certificate in another jurisdiction who meets the requirements of this chapter, including having equivalent experience and education, shall pass a board-approved examination to become licensed.
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.
18VAC160-30-90. License required.
A. No individual shall serve as the operator of a waterworks or wastewater works without possessing a valid category of license issued by the board in a classification equal to or greater than the classification of the applicable waterworks or wastewater works.
B. An individual cannot simultaneously hold two licenses of different classifications in the same category.
C. Experience used to qualify for licensure must be obtained under the direct supervision of an operator holding a valid license of the same category and of a classification equal to or higher than the classification of the waterworks or wastewater works at which the experience was gained.
D. Experience operating and maintaining water distribution systems shall only be considered for Class 5 or Class 6 waterworks operator license applicants.
E. Experience limited solely to the operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems, laboratory work, plant maintenance, and other nonoperating duties shall not be counted as experience as an operator or an operator-in-training.
F. Provisional licensure alone shall not authorize an individual to serve as the operator of a classified waterworks or wastewater works facility.
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.
18VAC160-30-100. Full-time experience or equivalent.
For the purposes of this part, experience requirements are expressed in terms of calendar periods of full-time employment as an operator or as an operator-in-training at a waterworks or wastewater works in the same category for which licensure is sought pursuant to this chapter.
1. A year of full-time employment is defined as a minimum of 1,760 hours during a 12-month period or a minimum of 220 workdays in a 12-month period. A workday is defined as attendance at a waterworks or wastewater works to the extent required for proper operation. More than 1,760 hours or 220 workdays during a 12-month period will not be considered as more than one year of full-time employment.
2. Partial credit may be given for actual hours of work experience if the applicant works as an operator or as an operator-in-training less than full time.
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.
18VAC160-30-110. Qualifications for examination approval.
A. An applicant for licensure as a waterworks or wastewater works operator shall furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met.
| TABLE 1 | |||||
| Classes | Education Required | Current License | Minimum Experience | Facility Type | Experience with Substitutions |
| Class 6 | High school diploma or GED | N/A | Six months | Class 6 or higher facility | N/A |
| No high school diploma or GED | N/A | One year | Class 6 or higher facility | N/A | |
| Class 5 | High school diploma or GED | N/A | Six months | Class 5 or higher facility | N/A |
| No high school diploma or GED | N/A | One year | Class 5 or higher facility | N/A | |
| Class 4 | High school diploma or GED | N/A | Six months | Class 4 or higher facility | N/A |
| No high school diploma or GED | N/A | One year | Class 4 or higher facility | N/A | |
| Class 3 | Bachelor's or master's degree | N/A | Six months | Class 4 or higher facility | N/A |
| Associate's degree | N/A | Nine months | Class 4 or higher facility | Six months | |
| High school diploma or GED | N/A | One year | Class 4 or higher facility | Six months | |
| No high school diploma or GED | Class 4 license | Three years | Class 3 or higher facility | One and one-half years | |
| Class 2 | Bachelor's or master's degree | N/A | One year | Class 3 or higher facility | Six months |
| Associate's degree | N/A | 18 months | Class 3 or higher facility | Nine months | |
| High school diploma or GED | N/A | Two years | Class 3 or higher facility | One year | |
| No High school diploma or GED | Class 3 license | Five years | Class 2 or higher facility | Three and one-half years | |
| Class 1 | Bachelor's or master's degree | Class 2 license | Two years | Class 2 or higher facility | One year |
| Associate's degree | Class 2 license | Three years | Class 2 or higher facility | One and one-half years | |
| High school diploma or GED | Class 2 license | Four years | Class 2 or higher facility | Two years | |
| No high school diploma or GED | Class 2 license | Nine years | Class 2 or higher facility | Four and one-half 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. | |||||
B. The direct supervisor shall certify the experience on the application form as accurate and relevant to the classification and category of license for which is being submitted. In the event that a licensed operator is not available to certify the experience of the applicant, the experience may be certified by a representative of the facility owner with first-hand knowledge of the applicant's experience.
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.
18VAC160-30-120. Provisional licensure for nonclassified facility operation.
An applicant for licensure as a provisional waterworks or wastewater works operator shall furnish acceptable documentation of having met all of the requirements of 18VAC160-30-110 except that the experience requirement may be met through experience gained as an operator or operator-in-training of a nonclassified facility. Such experience must be gained under the following conditions:
1. The experience is obtained at a nonclassified facility that is comparable in size and in treatment process as described in 18VAC160-30-360 and 18VAC160-30-370, as applicable.
2. The experience is obtained while performing nonclassified facility operation duties that provide experience comparable to that obtained at a classified facility. Experience operating and maintaining water distribution systems shall only be considered for a Class 5 or Class 6 provisional waterworks operator license. Experience limited solely to the operation and maintenance of wastewater collection system, laboratory work, plant maintenance, and other nonoperating duties shall not be counted as experience as a provisional operator or operator-in-training.
3. Any individual holding a provisional license may apply for licensure by submitting evidence of having met 50% of the experience required by 18VAC160-30-110 and submitting the appropriate application.
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.
18VAC160-30-130. Experience substitutions.
A. Experience obtained as a licensed alternative onsite sewage system operator before April 1, 2017, or a master alternative onsite sewage system operator may be substituted for the Class 4 wastewater works operator-in-training experience requirements.
B. 18VAC160-30-110 A provides the maximum experience substitutions that may be applied for each applicable class of license.
1. Experience gained in either waterworks or wastewater works operations may be substituted for up to one-half of the required experience in the alternate category so long as the experience was gained in an equivalent or higher class of facility.
2. Education may substitute for part of the required experience in the category of license applied for at a rate of one month of experience credit for each semester hour of college credit. Coursework must be relevant to the category and classification of the license being sought. The college credit must be from an accredited college or university that is approved or accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accreditation agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
3. Board-approved waterworks or wastewater works operator training courses may be utilized for experience at a rate of one month experience for each training credit approved by the board.
C. Substitutions shall not exceed 50% of the total experience required for licensure.
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.
18VAC160-30-140. Education.
A. Applicants seeking to qualify for licensure based on completion of an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree shall submit an official transcript from the school where the applicable degree was obtained. Only degrees from an accredited college or university that is approved or accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, a regional or national accreditation association, or by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education will be considered. Formal education used to meet a specific education requirement for license entry cannot also be used as a training credit for experience substitution.
B. The following degrees shall be considered to qualify in accordance with 18VAC160-30-110:
1. Bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or engineering technology in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science;
2. Bachelor's degree in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science that includes a minimum 40 semester credit hours in any combination of science and math;
3. Master's degree in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science, and a bachelor's degree in any major such that the combined degrees include a minimum 40 semester credit hours in any combination of science and math; or
4. Associate's degree in waterworks, in wastewater works, or in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science that includes a minimum of 20 credit hours in any combination of science and math.
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.