Part V. Onsite Soil Evaluator
18VAC160-40-230. License required.
A. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 4 (§ 54.1-400 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, no individual may perform the duties of an onsite soil evaluator without possessing a valid license issued by the board.
B. A journeyman onsite soil evaluator must work under the direct supervision of a master onsite soil evaluator with the appropriate class of license. A master onsite soil evaluator of an equal or greater class is responsible for supervising the provision of onsite soil evaluations and designs by any journeyman onsite soil evaluator under the master onsite soil evaluator's responsibility.
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.
18VAC160-40-235. Documented qualifying experience for onsite soil evaluators.
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 soil evaluator.
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.
18VAC160-40-240. Qualifications for journeyman conventional onsite soil evaluator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman conventional onsite soil evaluator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | Professional soil scientist license | No | No | No |
2. | No | No | No | 18 months of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design of conventional onsite sewage systems |
3. | No | No | VDH onsite sewage system training program | One year of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design of conventional 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.
18VAC160-40-250. Qualifications for master conventional onsite soil evaluator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master conventional onsite soil evaluator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | No | Yes | Master's or bachelor's degree | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing conventional onsite sewage systems |
2. | No | Yes | Associate's degree | 30 months of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing conventional onsite sewage systems |
3. | No | Yes | VDH onsite sewage system training program | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing conventional onsite sewage systems |
4. | Journeyman conventional onsite soil evaluator | Yes | No | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing conventional onsite sewage systems |
5. | Professional soil scientist license | Yes | No | One year of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing conventional 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.
18VAC160-40-260. Qualifications for journeyman alternative onsite soil evaluator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a journeyman alternative onsite soil evaluator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | Professional soil scientist license | No | No | One year of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design of alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | Possess or held a valid conventional onsite soil evaluator license | No | No | One year of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design of alternative onsite sewage systems |
3. | No | No | VDH onsite sewage system training program | One year of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design of alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | No | No | No | Two years of full-time experience assisting in the evaluation of site and soil conditions and design 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; Errata, 33:15 VA.R. 1905 March 20, 2017; amended, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-270. Qualifications for master alternative onsite soil evaluator licenses.
An applicant for licensure as a master alternative onsite soil evaluator must furnish acceptable documentation that one of the following qualifications has been met:
Prerequisites | Exam Required | Education Required | Documented Qualifying Experience | |
1. | No | Yes | Master's or bachelor's degree | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing alternative onsite sewage systems |
2. | No | Yes | Associate's degree | 30 months of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing alternative onsite sewage systems |
3. | No | Yes | VDH onsite sewage system training program | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing alternative onsite sewage systems |
4. | Held or holds a master conventional onsite soil evaluator license or a journeyman alternative onsite soil evaluator license | Yes | No | 18 months of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing alternative onsite sewage systems |
5. | No | Yes | No | Three years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing alternative onsite sewage systems |
6. | Professional soil scientist license | Yes | No | Two years of full-time experience evaluating site and soil conditions and designing 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.
18VAC160-40-275. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 33, Issue 11, eff. April 1, 2017; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 42, Issue 7, eff. December 17, 2025.
18VAC160-40-280. Acceptable degree programs and verification procedures.
A. Applicants seeking to qualify for licensure based on completion of an associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree must submit an official transcript from the school where the applicable degree was obtained. Only a degree 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. The following degrees will be considered to qualify in accordance with 18VAC160-40-250 and 18VAC160-40-270:
1. Bachelor's, master's, or associate's degree in soil science, biology, chemistry, engineering, engineering technology, environmental science, geology, agronomy, earth science, environmental health, wastewater works, or applied sciences.
2. Bachelor's degree in a related physical, biological, environmental, or chemical science that includes a minimum of 40 semester credit hours in any combination of science and math.
B. Any applicant who has earned a degree from an institution outside of the United States must have the degree authenticated and evaluated by an education credential evaluation services. The board reserves the right to reject any evaluation submitted by the applicant.
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.