Part IV. Onsite Sewage System Operators
18VAC160-40-170. License required.
A. No individual shall operate a conventional or alternative onsite sewage system without a valid onsite sewage system operator license issued by the board in the appropriate class.
B. An individual cannot simultaneously hold valid master and journeyman onsite sewage system operator licenses in the same class. Issuance of a master onsite sewage system operator license in a specific class shall void the journeyman onsite sewage system operator license in the same class.
C. An individual cannot simultaneously hold valid conventional and alternative master onsite sewage system operator licenses or conventional and alternative journeyman onsite sewage system operator licenses. Issuance of a master alternative onsite sewage system operator license shall void the conventional onsite sewage system operator license.
D. A journeyman onsite sewage system operator must work under the direct supervision of a licensed master onsite sewage system operator with the appropriate class of license. A master onsite sewage system operator is responsible for supervising the operation of the onsite sewage system by any journeyman onsite sewage system operator under his responsibility.
E. Experience used to qualify for licensure cannot be verified by a journeyman onsite sewage system operator.
F. No individual shall act as an alternative onsite sewage system operator of an alternative onsite sewage system that exceeds 10,000 gallons per day design flow without possessing a Class 4 or higher wastewater works operator license in addition to an alternative onsite sewage system operator license.
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.
18VAC160-40-180. Qualifications for journeyman coventional onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator shall furnish acceptable documentation that the following qualification has been met:
| Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience |
| None | No | No | Six months of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an onsite soil evaluator, an onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
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.
18VAC160-40-190. Qualifications for master conventional onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master conventional onsite sewage system operator shall furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
| Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
| 1. | Wastewater works operator license | Yes | No | None |
| 2. | No | Yes | 10 hours of education approved by the board covering the basics of operation and maintenance of conventional onsite sewage systems | Six months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an onsite soil evaluator, an onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 3. | No | Yes | No | One year of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an onsite soil evaluator, an onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
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.
18VAC160-40-200. Qualification for exemption from examination for master conventional onsite sewage system operator applicants.
Applicants seeking licensure as a master conventional onsite sewage system operator may be exempt from the examination provided the applicant:
1. Is able to satisfactorily demonstrate that he has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system operator for at least four years. Documentation of qualifying experience may be verified by a master conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluator, a master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator; and
2. Meets the requirements of 18VAC160-40-60.
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.
18VAC160-40-210. Qualifications for journeyman alternative onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman alternative onsite sewage operator shall furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
| Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
| 1. | None | No | 20 hours of education approved by the board covering the basics of operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems | One year of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 2. | None | No | None | Two years of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
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.
18VAC160-40-220. Qualifications for master alternative onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master alternative onsite sewage system operator shall furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following has been met:
| Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
| 1. | Held or holds a conventional onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | 10 hours of training approved by the board covering the basics of operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems | One year of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 2. | Held or holds a conventional onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | No | 18 months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 3. | None | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board covering the basics of operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems | Two years of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 4. | Wastewater works operator license | Yes | No | Six months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of onsite sewage systems verified by one or more of the following: an alternative onsite soil evaluator, an alternative onsite sewage system operator, a professional engineer, or an authorized onsite soil evaluator |
| 5. | Wastewater works operator license | Yes | 20 hours of training approved by the board in basics of operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems | No |
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.