Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities
Please note that if you are going for a treatment license your experience must be in treatment. If you are going for a distribution license your experience must be in distribution.
You must pass the examination for the grade for which you are applying. For example, if you are going for a grade 2 you must pass the grade 2 exam. If you are going for a grade 4 you must pass the grade 4 exam. Passing only a grade 4 exam does not cover all lower grade tests.
You must pass examinations sequentially. For example, if you plan to take the grade 2 exam, you must first pass the grade 1 exam and meet the education requirements. If you plan to take the grade 4 exam, you must pass the grade 1, 2, and 3 exams and meet the education requirements. Additional information about the requirements needed to take operator examinations can be found on the Board's website.
Grade VSS
| If you have: | You need: |
|---|---|
| High School diploma or equivalent | 6 months experience in at least a grade VSS facility |
Grade 1
| If you have: | You need: |
|---|---|
| High School diploma or equivalent | 2 years full time experience in at least a grade 1 facility |
| Water tech certificate or at least one year college in the sciences | 1 year full time experience in at least a grade 1 facility |
Grade 2
| If you have: | You need: |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3 years full time experience in at least a grade 2 facility |
| Water tech certificate or at least one year college in the sciences | 2 years full time experience in at least a grade 2 facility |
| A.S. degree or two years college in the sciences | 1 year full time experience in at least a grade 2 facility |
| A Grade 1 full license | To hold that license for one year and work full time for one year in at least a grade 1 facility |
Grade 3
| If you have: | You need: |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 5 years full time experience in at least a grade 3 facility |
| Water tech certificate or at least one year college in the sciences | 4 years full time experience in at least a grade 3 facility |
| A.S. degree or two years college in the sciences | 3 years full time experience in at least a grade 3 facility |
| B.S. degree or 4 years college in the sciences | 1 year full time experience in at least a grade 3 facility |
| A Grade 2 full license | To hold that license for two years and work full time for two years in at least a grade 2 facility |
Grade 4
| If you have: | You need: |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | You cannot jump into this grade without first holding a grade 3 |
| Water tech certificate or at least one year college in the sciences | 5 years full time experience in at least a grade 4 facility |
| A.S. degree or two years college in the sciences | 4 years full time experience in at least a grade 4 facility |
| B.S. degree or 4 years college in the sciences | 2 years full time experience in at least a grade 4 facility |
| A Grade 3 full license | To hold that license for one year and work full time for one year in at least a grade 3 facility |