Certification Process 

1. Submit an Exam Registration Form with a $100* exam fee. Written exams are held twice a year (the second Friday in January and June) at Delaware Technical & Community College, Terry Campus.
2. A confirmation letter will be sent via mail (or e-mail if requested) with the exam date, time, location and map.
3. The exam is multiple choice and true/false. A score of 75% or higher is required to pass.
4. Within four (4) to six (6) weeks of taking the exam, an exam status letter (pass/fail) will be sent via mail (or e-mail if requested). Exam papers and scores will not be returned, simply a pass or fail status.
5. Upon receiving a passing grade, submit an Application for Certification. Test results will be on file for a period of three (3) years.
6. Submit a completed Application for Certification, educational transcripts and a $50* fee.
7. Must be operating in Delaware or have a written job offer to operate in Delaware to receive consideration for a license.
8. If an individual does not meet the experience or educational requirements they may, with the approval of the Board, receive an Operator-In-Training (OIT) license, pending fulfillment of these requirements.
9. If an individual fails the exam for a particular operator class on three (3) consecutive occasions, they will then have to satisfactorily complete an approved education examination review course prior to being considered again to take the exam.

Wastewater Operator Qualifications

(Per Section 6.03 of the Regulations for Licensing Operators of Wastewater Facilities)

Class I – Education – High School Diploma Plus One (1) year of acceptable operating experience

Class II – Education – High School Diploma Plus Three (3) years of acceptable operating experience in Wastewater Facilities of Class I or higher

Class III – Education – High School Diploma and two (2) years of approved college level education in engineering or allied subjects Plus Four (4) years of acceptable operating experience in Wastewater Facilities of Class II or higher; two (2) years of which must have been in a position of Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)

Class IV – Education – A college degree or completion of four (4) years in a standard curriculum in engineering or allied subjects Plus Four (4) years of acceptable operating experience in Wastewater Facilities of Class III or higher, two (2) years of which must have been in a position of Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)

6.02 (d) Where applicable, education may be substituted for a portion of operating experience as specified below:

[i] Where education or training is substituted for operating experience, it shall not exceed an amount

which would reduce the requirement of actual operating experience to less than one (1) year for Class I, or less than two (2) years actual operating experience for Classes II, III, and IV.

[ii] Education applied to the operating experience requirement cannot also be applied to the education requirement.

[iii] College Level education in engineering or allied subjects, or equivalent, as approved by the Board, may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for operating experience (any Wastewater Facility Classification).