Part IV. Onsite Sewage System Operators
18VAC160-40-170. License required.
A. No individual may operate or maintain a conventional or alternative onsite sewage system without a valid onsite sewage system operator license issued by the board in the appropriate class.
B. 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 and maintenance of the onsite sewage system by any journeyman onsite sewage system operator under the master onsite sewage system operator's responsibility. A master alternative onsite sewage system operator licensee may supervise a journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator licensee.
C. An alternative onsite sewage system that exceeds 10,000 gallons per day design flow must have operations and maintenance performed by either (i) an individual who is licensed as both an alternative onsite sewage system operator and a Class 4 or higher wastewater works operator or (ii) an individual who is licensed as an alternative onsite sewage system operator and an individual who is licensed as a Class 4 or higher wastewater works operator who are working together pursuant to an employment relationship, contract, or other written agreement.
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.
18VAC160-40-175. Documented qualifying experience for onsite sewage system operators.
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 operator;
3. Master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer;
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 operator.
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.
18VAC160-40-180. Qualifications for journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator must furnish acceptable documentation that the following qualification has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
None | No | Six months of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance 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.
18VAC160-40-190. Qualifications for master conventional onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master conventional onsite sewage system operator must 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 |
3. | Master conventional onsite sewage system installer or journeyman alternative onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | No | Six months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of conventional or alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | No | Yes | No | Nine months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance 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.
18VAC160-40-200. 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 the applicant has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system operator for at least four years immediately preceding application. 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 master conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer, a professional engineer, an authorized onsite soil evaluator, a VDH permitting or inspection official, a professional geologist, a DEQ wastewater official, or, for experience gained outside of Virginia, an equivalent credential to these licenses; 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; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-210. Qualifications for journeyman alternative onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman alternative onsite sewage operator must 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 | Nine months of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | None | No | None | 18 months of full-time experience assisting with the operation and maintenance 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.
18VAC160-40-220. Qualifications for master alternative onsite sewage system operator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master alternative onsite sewage system operator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | Held or holds a master conventional onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | Eight 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 alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | Held or holds a master or journeyman conventional onsite sewage system operator license | Yes | No | 18 months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems |
3. | None | Yes | 16 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 alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | Wastewater works operator license | Yes | No | Six months of full-time experience in the operation and maintenance of alternative onsite sewage systems |
5. | Wastewater works operator license | Yes | 16 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; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.