R317-10-11. Certificates

  A. Certificates are issued by the director and shall indicate one of the following classifications:

  1. Wastewater Treatment Operator - Grades I through IV.

  2. Restricted Wastewater Treatment Operator - Grades I through IV.

  3. Wastewater Collection Operator - Grades I through IV.

  4. Restricted Wastewater Collection Operator - Grades I through IV.

  5. Small Lagoon System Operator - Grade I, Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Combined.

  6. Restricted Small Lagoon System Operator - Grade I, Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Combined.

  B. General.

  1. An applicant shall have the opportunity to take any grade of examination.

  2. Replacement certificates may be obtained by submitting a written request with payment of a duplicate certificate fee.

  c. Restricted and Unrestricted Certificates.

  1. A restricted certificate shall be issued if the applicant passes the exam but review of the application form indicates that the applicant lacks the experience or education required for that particular classification.

  2. An unrestricted certificate shall be issued if the applicant passes the exam and the experience and education requirements appropriate to the particular grade are met.

  3. Restricted certificates shall become unrestricted when an application is submitted to the division showing that the appropriate experience and education requirements are met and a change in status fee is paid.

  4. A restricted certificate does not qualify a person as a certified operator for the classification that the restricted certificate is issued, until the limiting conditions are met, except as provided in Section R317-10-5.

  5. Upon application, a restricted certificate may be renewed subject to the conditions in Subsection R317-10-11.D.

  D. Certificate Expiration and Renewal.

  1. Each certificate shall continue in effect for a period of up to three years, unless revoked prior to that time.

  2. The certificate must be renewed each three years by payment of a renewal fee and submittal of evidence of required CEUs.

  3. The certificate expires on December 31 of the last year of the certificate.

  4. Operators considered in DRC must renew by the expiration date in order for the wastewater works to remain in compliance with this rule.

  5. Request for renewal shall be made on forms approved by the division.

  6. It shall be the responsibility of the operator to make application for certificate renewal.

  E. Reinstatement of Expired Certificate.

  1. An expired certificate may be reinstated within one year after expiration by payment of a reinstatement fee with the renewal application when other renewal requirements are also met.

  2. After one year, an expired certificate cannot be reinstated, and the operator must retest to become certified.

  3. The required CEUs for renewal must be accrued before expiration of the certificate.

  4. When unusual circumstances exist, an operator may petition the council to request additional time to meet the requirements.

  5. Each petition for exception will be considered on its own merits and recommendation made to the director.

  F. CEUs must be earned during the 3 year period prior to the expiration date of the certificate.

  G. The director may, after appropriate review by the council, waive examination of applicants holding a valid certificate or license issued in compliance with other certification plans having equivalent standards, and issue a comparable Utah certificate upon payment of a reciprocity fee.

  1. If the applicant is working in another state at the time of application, or has relocated to Utah but has not yet obtained employment in the corresponding wastewater field in Utah, a letter of intent to issue a certificate by reciprocity may be provided.

  2. When the applicant provides proof of employment in that wastewater field in Utah, and meets all other requirements, a certificate may be issued.

  H. In the past, certain individuals received a grandfather certificate.

  1. A grandfather certificate was originally issued under authority of Subsection 19-5-104(2)(b)(v). The certificate shall be valid only for the wastewater works at which the operator is employed as that facility existed on March 16, 1991. The certificate may not be transferred to another facility or person. If the facility undergoes an addition of a new process, even if the facility classification does not change, or the collection system has a change in rating, the respective operator must obtain a restricted or unrestricted certificate within one year as specified in this rule.

  Grandfather certificates were issued for a period of up to three years and must be renewed prior to the expiration date to remain in effect.

  2. Renewal shall include:

  a. the payment of a renewal fee;

  b. submittal of an application form;

  c. evidence of required CEUs; and

  d. the applicant must meet the requirements of Section 63G-12-104 regarding citizenship or alien identification certification.

  3. The renewal fee shall be the same as that charged for renewal of other wastewater operator certificates.

  4. If the grandfather certificate is not renewed prior to the expiration date, the wastewater works may be considered to be out of compliance with this rule. The operator would then be required to pass the appropriate certification examination to become a certified operator.