NAC445A.6345. Full, operator-in-training and provisional certificates: Indication of discipline; qualifications; validity; expiration; renewal.

     1. All certificates must indicate the discipline for which they were issued as follows:

     (a) Water treatment operator, full;

     (b) Water treatment operator, operator-in-training;

     (c) Water treatment operator, provisional;

     (d) Water distribution operator, full;

     (e) Water distribution operator, operator-in-training; and

     (f) Water distribution operator, provisional.

     2. To qualify for a full certificate, a person must:

     (a) Pass the written examination for the appropriate level and meet all requirements for certification for the discipline and grade level;

     (b) Be certified as an operator-in-training and meet the requirement for experience in operating set forth in NAC 445A.633; or

     (c) Be an operator who holds a current certification by the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association or by reciprocity be certified in another state at full classification if the Division determines, upon review of the application and supporting material required by NAC 445A.6355 that the applicant has:

          (1) Passed an examination that is equivalent to the examination administered pursuant to NAC 445A.631; and

          (2) Obtained the experience in operating required by NAC 445A.633.

     3. A person qualifies for a certificate as an operator-in-training if the person:

     (a) Passes the written examination for certification; and

     (b) Does not have the experience required for a full certificate.

     4. To qualify for a provisional certificate, a person must:

     (a) Be an owner and operator of a public water system or be employed by a public water system that is not designated by the Division as being supplied by surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water;

     (b) Provide a written statement to the Division from the governing board or owner of the public water system that the applicant was in a position of responsible charge of the public water system on January 1, 2000;

     (c) Have been in a position of responsible charge of the public water system before January 1, 2000, and not required to obtain a full certificate before that date;

     (d) Have completed at least 2 days of training that is designed to provide the applicant with basic information on the operation of a public water system, including, without limitation:

          (1) Well design;

          (2) Safety;

          (3) Water quality;

          (4) Monitoring;

          (5) Reporting;

          (6) The Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f et seq.;

          (7) Drinking water standards;

          (8) Health effects of chemical and bacterial contamination; and

          (9) The Total Coliform Rule; and

     (e) Have submitted the initial application not later than December 31, 2000.

     5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, a provisional certificate is only valid:

     (a) During the period that the operator remains in the position of responsible charge for which the operator received the provisional certificate; and

     (b) At the public water system where the operator was employed on January 1, 2000.

     6. A provisional certificate is not valid if the classification of the treatment facility or distribution system changes to a level which is higher than the level for which the certificate was issued.

     7. All certificates expire on December 31 of each year.

     8. A certificate may be renewed if:

     (a) The fee for renewal has been submitted pursuant to NAC 445A.651;

     (b) An application for renewal was made on the forms supplied by the Division; and

     (c) The applicant submits evidence of compliance with the requirements of continuing education set forth in NAC 445A.639.

     (Added to NAC by Environmental Comm’n by R129-05, eff. 10-31-2005)