Section 11-61-4 - Education and experience requirements for wastewater treatment plant operator certification(a) In order to take the grade I examination, the applicant shall submit with the application, proof that the applicant has graduated from high school or equivalent satisfactory to the board, and has one year of operating experience (See definition of "operating experience" in section 11-61-2 ).(b) In order to take the grade II examination, the applicant shall submit with the application, proof that one of the following combinations of training and experience has been met: (1) Graduation from high school or equivalent satisfactory to the board, and two full years of operating experience and six educational points; or(2) One and one-half years of operating experience while in possession of a grade I certificate.(c) In order to take the grade III examination, the applicant shall submit with the application, proof that one of the following combinations of training and experience has been met: (1) An associate degree including fifteen units of basic science from an accredited community college or two years at an accredited college or university including fifteen units of basic science, and two years of operating experience;(2) Graduation from high school or equivalent satisfactory to the board, three years of operating experience and a minimum of sixteen educational points; or(3) Two and one-half full years operating experience while in the possession a of grade II certificate.(d) In order to take the grade IV examination, the applicant shall submit with the application, proof that one of the following combinations of training and experience has been met: (1) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major related to the wastewater treatment field and one full year operating experience;(2) An associate degree including fifteen units of basic science from an accredited community college or two years at an accredited college or university, including fifteen units of basic science, and four full years of operating experience;(3) Graduation from high school or equivalent satisfactory to the board, five full years operating experience and a minimum of thirty-two educational points; or(4) Four full years operating experience while in the possession of a grade III certificate.(e) Experience equivalence. (1) Experience shall not be substituted for educational points. Education may substitute for experience within the limits specified.(2) One full year of operating experience is required before a person can apply for an examination.(3) After the requirement of paragraph (2) is met, a maximum of sixteen educational points may be substituted for experience to qualify for an examination. Any educational points used to substitute for experience to qualify for examination shall not also be used to meet minimum educational point requirements for that examination.(4) Credit for education shall be allowed as follows: (A) Sixteen educational points may be substituted for one year of operating experience.(B) One three-unit semester accredited college course related to wastewater treatment shall be equivalent to eight points.(C) Other training courses equivalent to a three-unit semester accredited college course, and approved by the board, shall be equivalent to eight points.(D) Training courses in water quality control conducted by a community college adult evening school for twenty-four weeks or a semester shall be equivalent to eight points.(E) Short courses as approved by the board, shall be equivalent to one point per eight hours of training, with a maximum of three points per course.(F) In-house training courses shall be assigned points based upon length of course and course content.(f) High school equivalency may be obtained by substituting six educational points for each uncompleted year of school through grade twelve or by passing an approved GED test.(g) Educational point evaluation criteria. (1) Courses directly related to wastewater treatment shall receive full point value. Courses indirectly related to wastewater shall receive educational points at one-half value.(2) College courses (including extension and correspondence courses taken for credit). Eight educational points shall be allowed for a three unit semester course which is directly related to wastewater treatment. For courses with more or less credit units or with credit given in quarter units, educational points shall be calculated to the nearest one-half point on a proportional basis. (A) Directly related courses for all grades: (i) Courses in wastewater collection and treatment or water quality control. Any number allowed if not duplicated.(ii) Sanitation microbiology. Maximum of three semester units.(iii) Sanitary engineering course in the wastewater treatment field. Any number allowed if not duplicated.(iv) Chemistry of wastewater. Maximum of three semester units.(B) Indirectly related courses for all grades (half credit): (i) College chemistry up to twelve semester units.(ii) Mathematics: Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, or statistics. Up to twelve semester units. Does not include basic, introductory, or business math courses.(iii) Biological science: Microbiology, pathogenic bacteriology, etc. Up to nine semester units.(iv) General physics: Up to nine semester units.(v) Engineering: Fluid mechanics, hydraulics, and sanitary engineering courses not directly related. Any number allowed if not duplicated.(C) Indirectly related courses. Grade III and IV only. (i) Technical writing. Maximum of three semester units.(ii) Public or business administration. Up to nine semester units in the area of organization, management, finance, supervision and budgeting, etc.(iii) Public speaking. Up to three semester units.(3) Directly related short courses are equivalent to one point per eight hours of training with a maximum of three points per week. If the course is considered by the board to be indirectly related, one point shall be given for each two days with a maximum of two points per week.(4) California State University, Sacramento, A Field Study Training Program entitled, "Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants Volume I" - six points; "Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume II" - five points; "Advanced Waste Treatment" - five points; "Industrial Waste Treatment Volume I & II" - three points per volume(5) California State University, Sacramento, A Field Study Training Program entitled, "Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems Volume I & II" - four points per volume. "Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volume II" - two points, "Small Water System Operation and Maintenance" - two points, "Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance" - two points, "Utility Management" - one point, and "Collection Systems: Methods for Evaluating and Improving Performance" - two points.(6) Michigan State University correspondence courses entitled, "Supervisory Management in the Water/Wastewater Field" - six points; and "Maintenance Management in the Water/Wastewater Field" - six points.(7) Indiana State University correspondence course entitled, "Supervision and Management for Working Professionals, Volume I & II" -five points per volume.(8) In-house training of a formal nature shall be evaluated by the board on a case-by-case basis. As a general rule, one point shall be allowed for each twelve hours of instruction for directly related subjects and one point for each twenty-four hours of instruction in indirectly related subjects.(9) One-day training seminars, safety conferences, or educational programs sponsored by the Hawaii Water Environment Association shall receive one point per eight hours of training. A maximum of up to three points shall be awarded.(10) Other extension courses or training of any type which might relate to the operator's duties shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Points shall be allowed based on the material covered, the depth of the coverage, and the time required to complete the course.(h) Any education or training course which is applied to meet the education requirements of this section shall not be acceptable to the board unless the applicant successfully completes the education or training course by receiving a passing grade as defined by the administering educational institution.[Eff. 11/5/81; am and comp 1/22/2002] (Auth: HRS §§ 340B-7, 340B-11) (Imp: HRS § 340B-7)