Part III. Onsite Sewage System Installers
18VAC160-40-110. License required.
A. No individual may install a conventional or alternative onsite sewage system without a valid onsite sewage system installer license issued by the board in the appropriate class.
B. A journeyman onsite sewage system installer must work under the direct supervision of a licensed master onsite sewage system installer with the appropriate class of license. A master onsite sewage system installer is responsible for supervising the provision of onsite sewage system installations by any journeyman onsite sewage system installers under the master onsite sewage system installer's direct supervision. A master alternative onsite sewage system installer licensee may supervise a journeyman conventional onsite sewage system installer licensee.
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 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-115. Documented qualifying experience for onsite sewage system installers.
A. All qualifying experience submitted by an applicant in accordance with this part must be verified by one or more of the following:
1. Master conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluator;
2. Master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer;
3. Master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator;
4. Professional engineer;
5. VDH permitting or inspection official;
6. Professional geologist;
7. DEQ wastewater official; or
8. For experience gained outside of Virginia, an equivalent credential to these licenses.
B. Experience used to qualify for licensure cannot be verified by a journeyman onsite sewage system installer.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-120. Qualifications for journeyman conventional onsite sewage system installer licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman conventional onsite sewage system installer must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | ||
1. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with a conventional sewage disposal system contracting ( CDS) or alternative sewage disposal system contracting (ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | No | Six months of full-time experience assisting with the installation of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems | |
2. | Master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator license or journeyman conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator license | No | Three months of full-time experience operating conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems | |
3. | None | No | One year of full-time experience assisting with the installation of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
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 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-130. Qualifications for master conventional onsite sewage system installer licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master conventional onsite sewage system installer must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with a conventional sewage disposal system contracting ( CDS) or alternative sewage disposal system contracting (ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board covering basic installation of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems | Six months of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with a conventional sewage disposal system contracting ( CDS) or alternative sewage disposal system contracting (ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | Yes | No | One year of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
3. | Journeyman conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer license | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board covering basic installation of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems | Three months of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | Journeyman conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer license | Yes | No | Six months of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
5. | Master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | No | Three months of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
6. | None | Yes | No | Two years of full-time experience installing conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
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; Errata, 33:16 VA.R. 1944 April 3, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-140. Qualification for exemption from examination for master conventional onsite sewage system installer applicants.
A. Applicants seeking licensure as a master conventional onsite sewage system installer may be exempt from the examination, provided that the applicant meets the requirements of 18VAC160-40-60 and provides documentation acceptable to the board of one of the following:
1. The applicant has completed a minimum of 40 hours of board-approved training and has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system installer for at least six years immediately preceding application; or
2. The applicant has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system installer for at least 10 years immediately preceding application.
B. Documentation of qualifying experience may be verified by a master conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluator, a master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer, a master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, an authorized onsite soil evaluator, VDH permitting or inspection official, professional geologist, DEQ wastewater official, or, for experience gained outside of Virginia, an equivalent credential to these licenses.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Reserved Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; derived from Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-150. Qualifications for journeyman alternative onsite sewage system installer licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman alternative onsite sewage system installer must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | ||
1. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with an alternative sewage disposal system contracting ( ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | No | One year of full-time experience assisting with the installation of alternative onsite sewage systems | |
2. | Master alternative onsite sewage system operator license or journeyman alternative onsite sewage system operator license | No | Three months of full-time experience assisting with the installation of alternative onsite sewage systems | |
3. | None | No | 18 months of full-time experience assisting with the installation of alternative onsite sewage systems |
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 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-160. Qualifications for master alternative onsite sewage system installer licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master alternative onsite sewage system installer must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with an alternative sewage disposal system contracting ( ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | Yes | No | Two years of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | Employee, owner, director, or officer of a properly licensed contractor with an alternative sewage disposal system contracting ( ADS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board covering the basic installation of alternative onsite sewage systems | 18 months of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
3. | No | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board covering basic installation of alternative onsite sewage systems | 30 months of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | I Master conventional onsite sewage system installer or journeyman alternative onsite sewage system installer license | Yes | No | One year of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
5. | Master alternative onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | No | Three months of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
6. | None | Yes | No | Three years of full-time experience installing alternative onsite sewage systems |
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 7, eff. December 17, 2025.