Alaska Certification Process:
An operator may take any level of exam for which he/she meets the eligibility requirements.
1. Determine which level of examination you may be eligible for.
a. Minimum education requirement for Provisional level, level I, and level II is a high school diploma or GED. Please see the table above for minimum education requirements for level III and IV certification.
b. Provisional level:
* Three months of operating experience OR,
* Completion of a department approved training course is accepted.
* Introductory classroom course. Go to the training calendar (http://www.dec.alaska.gov/water/opcert/trainingcalendar.html) to view available courses. The eligible introductory courses are shaded on the training calendar.
* Correspondence course. To view the department approved prerequisite correspondence courses go here: http://www.dec.alaska.gov/water/opcert/provprereq.html.
c. Level I-IV: See table below
d. Review all operating experience and postsecondary education requirements.
2. Application
a. The “Application for Operator Certification” is available online at http://www.dec.alaska.gov/water/opcert/appforms.htm or by request.
b. The application must be postmarked by the deadline (http://www.dec.alaska.gov/water/opcert/examdates.htm). Faxed, emailed, or late applications are not accepted.
c. When completing the application, ensure the “Work Experience” pages are completed accurately and descriptively. Please ensure percentages are inserted in the % time spent blocks. Job duties and system descriptions need to be as accurate as possible.
d. Incomplete applications will be returned and will delay approval for exams.
e. If you have submitted applications in the past, please review those applications so there are no discrepancies between the current and past applications.
f. Please ensure that you have signed the application on page 6 and your supervisor has completed and signed the “Signature of Supervisor” section also on page 6. If you are currently not employed as an operator, a supervisor’s signature is not required. Unsigned applications will be returned without review.
3. Exams
a. Exams are administered statewide in April and October.
b. Provisional level exams may also be administered at the conclusion of department approved introductory classroom courses.
c. Proctored online exams are available at ten university/college testing centers throughout the state of Alaska. More information is available at http://www.dec.alaska.gov/water/opcert/ProctoredOnlineCertExams.htm.
4. Approval
a. For the written statewide exams, you will be notified via mail of your eligibility status. Notification will include information regarding the location and time of the exam.
5. Questions?
a. Please contact the Operator Certification Program at (907) 465-1139 or via email at dec.opcert@alaska.gov
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) offers certification exams in four different system types: water treatment, water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment. There are five levels of certification in each system type (Provisional, I, II, III, and IV). Operators must meet experience and education requirements before being approved to take a certification exam. The following chart summarizes those requirements for each certification level and system type. The requirements are listed in years.
GENERAL OPERATOR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS* (in years)
Wastewater Collection Provisional I, II, III, IV (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience **)
Wastewater Collection Class I (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 1)
Wastewater Collection Class II (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 3)
Wastewater Collection Class III (Education – Grade 13) (Operator Experience – 4)
Wastewater Collection Class IV (Education – Grade 13) (Operator Experience – 6)
Wastewater Treatment Provisional I, II, III, IV (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience **)
Wastewater Treatment Class I (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 1)
Wastewater Treatment Class II (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 3)
Wastewater Treatment Class III (Education – Grade 14) (Operator Experience – 4)
Wastewater Treatment Class IV (Education – Grade 16) (Operator Experience – 4)
Water Distribution Provisional I, II, III, IV (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience **)
Water Distribution Class I (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 1)
Water Distribution Class II (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 3)
Water Distribution Class III (Education – Grade 13) (Operator Experience – 4)
Water Distribution Class IV (Education – Grade 13) (Operator Experience – 6)
Water Treatment Provisional I, II, III, IV (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience **)
Water Treatment Class I (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 1)
Water Treatment Class II (Education – Grade 12) (Operator Experience – 3)
Water Treatment Class III (Education – Grade 14) (Operator Experience – 4)
Water Treatment Class IV (Education – Grade 16) (Operator Experience – 4)
Notes: Required periods of education and experience are reflected in years. Twelve years of education represents high school diploma or general educational development (GED) diploma. The department will waive the minimum education requirement for the provisional level and level 1 in accordance with 18 AAC 74 (e)(6).
*Additional experience and education criteria and substitution requirements are set out in 18 AAC 74(b) – (g).
**Three months of operating experience or the completion of a department-approved training course, as described in 18 AAC 74(c)(1).
18 AAC 74.120. Classification of water and wastewater systems (1) except as provided in (2) and (3) of this subsection, water distribution and
wastewater collection systems are classified as follows:
(A) systems with 15 to 500 service connections are classified as class I;
(B) systems with 501 to 5,000 service connections are classified as class II;
(C) systems with 5,001 to 15,000 service connections are classified as class III;
(D) systems with more than 15,000 service connections are classified as class IV;
(2) for water distributions systems, the following requirements also apply:
(A) water distribution systems where water is circulated or heated to prevent freezing in the water distribution system will be classified at one class higher
than the class determined under (1)(A) – (C) of this subsection;
(B) water distribution systems with five or more pressure zones will be classified at one class higher than the class determined under (1)(A) – (C) of this subsection;
(C) water distribution systems with five or more pressure zones and where water is circulated or heated to prevent freezing in the water distribution system will be classified at one class higher than the class determined under (1)(A) – (C) of this
subsection;
(3) for wastewater collection systems, the following requirements also apply:
(A) wastewater collection systems where gravity is the only means of wastewater flow will be classified as class I systems, regardless of the number of service connections;
(B) wastewater collection systems with 15 or more main line lift stations will be classified at one class higher than the class determined under (1)(A) – (C) of this subsection.
(b) Water treatment and wastewater treatment systems designated in 18 AAC 74.006 are classified as follows:
(1) wastewater treatment systems that score 1-30 points under (d) of this section,
and where stabilization ponds without aeration are the only means of secondary treatment, are classified as wastewater stabilization pond systems;
(2) water treatment and wastewater treatment systems, other than wastewater
stabilization pond systems, are classified as set out in Table B of this subsection.
TABLE B (CLASSIFICATION RATING SYSTEM – by range of points)
Wastewater Treatment System – (Class I, 1 to 30) (Class II, 31 to 35) (Class III, 56 to 75) (Class IV, 76 and above)
Water Treatment System – (Class I, 1 to 30) (Class II, 31 to 35) (Class III, 56 to 75) (Class IV, 76 and above