State Board of Examiners for Certification of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Laboratory Analysts- Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Reimbursement Opportunity!

Did you know that Community Water Systems (CWS) and Nontransient Noncommunity Water Systems (NTNCWS) serving a population of 3,300 persons or fewer are eligible for reimbursement of the expenses related to drinking water operator training, certification, and re-certification? Reimbursement is available through the Operator Certification Reimbursement Program administered by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources. Eligible expenses include drinking water operator certification/re-certification training through classes or conferences, mileage to and from training and licensing examination sites, and licensing-related fees such as examination application, examination fee, wall certificate fee, and duplicate ID card fee. Per diem may apply.

Please visit the GA EPD website at http://www.gaepd.org/Documents/op_cert.html or call Rebecca Mason at 404-657-7665 for further details.

1. What are the Board’s office hours?

The office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST

2. How do I apply for an examination?

Applied Measurement Professionals (AMP) administers the Board examinations. Applications can be obtained from the Board website at Download Forms or by calling AMP at (800) 345-6559 to have an application mailed.

AMP will automatically send applications for re-examination with failing examination scores. The examinations are given 6 times a year (Examination Information), and the application deadline is 45 days prior to the examination day.

3. What are the requirements for taking an examination?

Each category of certification has specific education, training, experience, and licensure requirements. These are described in Board Rule Chapter 750-3-.04 Requirements at this website. These must be met by the day of the examination. All classes of certification require passage of an examination.

4. How do I apply for Certificate?

AMP will send an application for certificate to candidates with their passing examination score. Completed applications for certificate, including all required documentation, must be submitted within 6 months after passing the examination.

Do not take the examination unless you have met the eligibility requirements. This means you must have completed the qualifying experience, education, training, and applicable certification requirements for the class and category of examination you are taking prior to the day of the examination. To be eligible to take the Class 1 Water examination, you must hold a Class 2 Water certificate; to take the Class 2 Water examination you must hold a Class 3 Water certificate; to take the Class 1 Wastewater examination, you must a hold Class 2 Wastewater certificate; to take the Class 2 Wastewater examination, you must hold a Class 3 Wastewater certificate. Each prerequisite class of certificate must have been issued to you by the Board prior to the day you take the examination for the next class of certificate. At the examination, you will be required to sign a statement affirming that you have met the eligibility requirements for the class and category of examination you are taking. When you apply for certification after the examination, you will be required to submit to the Board your application, an application fee of $25.00 (non-refundable), and documentation showing that you have met all of the prerequisite requirements for the examination prior to the day you took the examination. Failure to have met these requirements by the examination day will result in your having to take and pass the examination again after meeting the prerequisite requirements.

5. What are the Boards Endorsement (Reciprocity) requirements?

The Board may, upon application, issue a certificate without examination to any person who holds a certificate in good standing issued by another country or by state, territory, or possession of the United States when the following criteria are fulfilled:

· The country, state territory, or possession of the United states has, in the opinion of the Board, requirements substantially similar to those of the Board:

· The applicant must submit a complete application for certificate by endorsement (Application for Endorsement); these are available for downloading at this website or from the Board office.

· An endorsement affidavit form must be completed by the state of certification specifying that the applicant has a current certification and is in good standing.

· The applicant must submit an employment verification form completed by his/her employer.

· The applicant must submit an application fee of $100.00 (non-refundable).

· The applicant must have earned a minimum of a high school diploma or GED certificate.

· Please Note: The affidavit and employment verification forms should be mailed back to the applicant so the applicant can submit a complete application to the Board office along with all required documentation and application fee. If the Board office does not receive a complete application, the application and all supporting documentation will be returned to the applicant until a complete application is received.

6. How do I keep my license current?

You must apply for renewal prior to the expiration date. All licenses expire on June 30 of odd numbered years. A postcard is mailed to all current licensees at the address of record approximately 8 to 10 weeks prior to the expiration date with instructions of how to renew your certificate(s) online. You should keep the Board office informed of your current address. The renewal fee for a two-year period is $65.00.

7. How do I receive a renewal application?

On-line renewal and hard copy renewal applications are available 8 to 10 weeks prior of a renewal period. On-line renewal applications are available at this website at (Online License Renewal). To request a renewal application to be mailed to you, call (404) 463-1100 and follow the prompts. Please Note: The on-line renewal process takes minutes to be completed and it will be mailed within 3 to 5 business days. A hard copy renewal application takes a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks to be processed and mailed.

8. At renewal time, if my certificate has been issued less then 2 years, do I have to renew it?

Yes, regardless of when it was issued or if no additional CE points are needed to be eligibility for renewal, all certificates must be renewed bi-annually and pay a renewal fee. The only certificates which receive an expiration date over 2 years are those certificates that are issued in the last quarter of a renewal period.

9. How many continuing education points must I have?

The following chart lists the required numbers of points for each renewal certification.

CLASS CONTINUING EDUCATION POINTS (CE)

W & WW Class 1 18 (CE Points)

W & WW Class 2 12 (CE Points)

W & WW Class 3 6 (CE Points)

W & WW Class 4 2 (CE Points)

W & WW Lab Analyst 12 (CE Points)

W Distribution 6 (CE Points)

WW Industrial 12 (CE Points)

WW Collection 6 (CE Points)

10. How many continuing education points do I need to renew my licenses if I hold more than one class of license?

You must have earned the highest number of continuing education points required for the highest class of license held.

Training course work required to be eligible for an examination, which has also been approved by the Board for a specified number of recertification points, may be used for renewal of currently held certificates. If the currently held certifications require a higher number of continuing education points for renewal than the course work was approved for, then additional continuing education points must be acquired to fulfill the full amount of continuing education points required for renewal of currently held certifications.

If both a water and wastewater certificate is held, then the continuing education course material can pertain to either category. Only one set of continuing education points needs to be acquired regardless if both a water and wastewater certificate is held or if two water certificates are held.

11. Can I substitute passing an examination for continuing education?

An individual who passes an examination required by the Board for certification is exempt from all continuing education requirements for only that certificate for the first renewal period after initial issuance of the certificate.

1. 12. Can I attend the same continuing education class more then once?

If more then one continuing education course is needed to equal the required continuing education points to be eligible for a renewal, then the same course cannot be attended more than once to equal the required continuing education points in the same renewal period. However, the same continuing education course can be attended during a different renewal period.

1.13. Do I need to submit proof of meeting CE requirements?

No, you only need to submit proof of meeting CE requirements if you are randomly chosen for a renewal audit. Please see Board Rule 750-6-.05(1)(2)(3) Documentation of Continuing Education

2.14. Where can I locate a list of Board approved course providers for the continuing education points or basic/advance training hours that I need to obtain?

The list of Board approved course providers for CE points and/or basic/advance training hours can be found at the Board website, Continuing Education, Basic and Advance Training Course Providers. Also, a list of how many training course hours or CE points the Board approved for each Sacramento manual is available on the Board website at the Continuing Education link, Sacramento California State University.

1115. How do I apply to be a Board approved course provider?

Complete an Application for Approval of Program for Continuing Education, Re-certification, Basic Training or Advance Training. The application will provide you with all the information you will need to submit an application. Upon receipt it will be reviewed at the next scheduled Board Meeting and you will receive a written response within 2 weeks of the meeting date. All course approvals shall expire on or before January 31 of even-numbered years.

2.16. How do I reinstate an expired license?

If your certificate expired less then 2 years since the expiration date, obtain the CE which would have been required if the certificate had been maintained in a current status and complete an Application for Reinstatement of Certification along with the $165.00 fee.

If your certificate expired more than 2 years since the expiration date, retake/pass the examination and complete an Application for Reinstatement of Certification along with the $165.00 fee.

3.17. If I previously held a certificate and it has an expired status, can I apply with an Application for Certificate?

No, only by submitting a Reinstatement Application, proof of required documentation or re-exam (if over 2 years expired), and fee can a previously held expired certificate be changed to an active status.

1. How can I determine if someone is licensed?

You can conduct a search for a particular licensee by simply clicking on the License Verification link on the Board main menu. You may search the License Verification database by last name or certification number. Licensees are encouraged to check the information on their own certificates to insure it is correct.

2.18. How can I obtain a Board certified license verification?

Please ensure that it is necessary to request this service because most other state Boards and businesses will accept a print out of the on-line License Verification with the Secretary of State logo. However, if you do need a Board certified license verification, put your request in writing along with a payment made payable to the GA State Board of W/WW in the amount of $25.00. The process time for this service is a minimum of 2 to 4 weeks.

3119. How do I change my address or name?

If you are a licensee, you can change your address from the Board website main menu by clicking on the link to Submit a Change of Address.

If you have a name change, submit a Change of Address Form and include a copy of the legal document that changed your name.

If you are an examination applicant and have not yet received your examination results, you will need to contact AMP at (800) 345-6559 and provide them with your address change.

4 20. How can I order a copy of the Board Law?

Contact Lexis-Nexis at (800) 833-9844

5. 21. How can I order a copy of the Board Rules?

Contact Darby Printing Company at (404) 344-2665 or (800) 241-5292 Ext. 228 or 266

6. 22. How can I order an 8½” x 11” wall certificate for my license?

An 8½” x 11” Wall Certificate Application (Application for 8 1/2" x 11" Wall Certificate) can be found at this website under Download Forms. Submit a completed application along with a $25.00 application fee to the Board Office. Delivery is a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks.