There are five levels of operator certification (Grades I – V). To receive a certificate, you must meet the minimum experience and education requirements and pass a written test.  Certifications are renewable every 2 years.

Qualifying experience may be acquired in two ways:

• You may work either part-time or full-time performing operator duties while holding an Operator-in-Training (OIT)certificate or a wastewater certificate at a lower grade level. Part-time experience will be prorated, e.g. two years of half-time work equals one year of qualifying experience.
• You may use wastewater experience gained outside California, provided you were a certified wastewater operator and performing duties that would require certification in California.

Grade I:

High School or equivalent and 6 educational points and 1 year of full-time qualifying experience

Fees: OIT – $170, Operator Exam (*includes application processing and exam fees) – $140, Operator Certification- $170, OIT Renewal – $170

Grade II:

High school diploma or equivalent and 9 educational points and 18 months of full-time qualifying experience as a Grade I operator

OR

High school diploma or equivalent and 12 educational points and 2 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Associate’s degree, a higher degree, or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses and 1 year of full-time qualifying experience

Fees: OIT – $230, Operator Exam * – 180, Operator Certification – $230, OIT Renewal – $230

Grade III:

High school diploma or equivalent and 12 educational points and 3 years of full-time qualifying experience as a Grade II operator                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     experience OR

High school diploma or equivalent and 18 educational points and 4 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Associate’s degree, a higher degree, or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses and 2 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree, including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses and 1 year of full-time qualifying experience

Fees:  OIT – $300, Operator Exam * – $350, Operator Certification – $300, OIT Renewal – $300

Grade IV:

High school diploma or equivalent and 32 educational points and 6 years of full-time qualifying experience                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                experience

OR

Associate’s degree, a higher degree, or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses and 4 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree, including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses and 3 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Valid registration as a chemical, civil, or mechanical engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors or by another state, territory, or Indiana tribe and 2 years of full-time qualifying experience

Fees: OIT – $340, Operator Exam – $440, Operator Certification – $340, OIT Renewal – $340

Grade V:

High school diploma or equivalent and 48 educational points and 10 years of full-time qualifying experience                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    experience

OR

Associate’s degree, a higher degree, or a minimum of 60 college semester units, including a minimum of 15 semester units of science courses and 6 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Bachelor’s degree or a higher degree, including a minimum of 30 semester units of science courses and 5 years of full-time qualifying experience

OR

Valid registration as a chemical, civil, or mechanical engineer issued by the California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors or by another state, territory, or Indiana tribe and 4 years of full-time qualifying experience

Fees: OIT – $340, Operator Exam – $440, Operator Certification – $340, OIT Renewal – $340

 

For more information please direct questions to: wwopcertprogram@waterboards.ca.gov