WAC 173-230-080   Certificate term and renewal conditions.  An owner may request a temporary certificate for an individual when the designated certified operator unexpectedly vacates the position. This request must be made in writing to the wastewater certification coordinator and must include an application and fee. The department may issue a temporary certificate at its discretion. A temporary certificate may not exceed a one-year period, is nonrenewable, and cannot be transferred to another individual.

     (1) Except for a temporary certificate, a certificate is valid from January 1 until December 31 of the same year or the year designated by the department.

     (2) Except for a temporary certificate, a certificate is renewable only when the certificate holder demonstrates and provides documentation to the department of continued professional growth in the field. The department will mail renewal notices to all certificate holders eligible to renew before the certificate expires.

     (3) Each certificate holder must accomplish one of the following activities during a three-year period ending December 31, 1979, and each three-year period after that date.

     (a) Accumulate a minimum of three CEUs or college credits in coursework relevant to the field;

     (b) Advance by exam to a higher level of certification in Washington's wastewater treatment plant operator's certification program. Advancement from OIT to Group I certification will not fulfill this requirement;

     (c) Achieve certification by examination in the waterworks certification program administered by the Washington department of health in the water treatment plant operator, water distribution manager, or the cross connection control specialist classifications;

     (d) Achieve certification by examination or advance by examination to a higher level in Washington's voluntary wastewater collection system operator's certification program administered by the Washington Wastewater Collection System Personnel Association.

     (4) It is the responsibility of each certificate holder to meet the professional growth requirement and document that growth to the department before December 31 of the last year of the three-year period described in subsection (3) of this section. The department will mail a written notice to each certificate holder who has not fulfilled the continued professional growth requirement. If this requirement is not satisfied, the certificate is not renewable. Failure to renew a certificate for any reason will be handled as described in WAC 173-230-100.

     (5) The department may collect renewal fees for a period not to exceed three calendar years. The department will notify certificate holders who are eligible for renewal as described in subsection (2) of this section the amount of fees owed and the date the fees must be paid.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95B RCW. 99-24-117 (Order 98-18), § 173-230-080, filed 12/1/99, effective 1/1/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.95B.040. 87-22-006 (Order 87-36), § 173-230-080, filed 10/23/87. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95B RCW. 82-09-056 (Order DE 82-07), § 173-230-080, filed 4/16/82; Order 73-30, § 173-230-080, filed 11/9/73.]