Education & Experience Requirements for Full Operator Certification

Education & Experience Requirements for Full Operator Certification

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.

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