Operator Certification Program - Certification
There are five levels of operator certification (Grades I – V). To receive a certificate, a person must meet the minimum experience and education requirements and pass a written test. Please refer to the Requirements link for a summary of the experience and education necessary for each grade. Please refer to the Examinations link for further information concerning the final filing and examination dates and exam content. Please direct questions about specific education and experience to the Office of Operator Certification.
Qualifying experience may be acquired in two ways:
- A person may
work either part-time
or full-time
performing operator
duties while
holding an Operator-in
Training certificate
or a wastewater
certificate at
a lower grade
level. Part-time
experience will
be prorated,
e.g. two years
of half-time
work = one year
of qualifying
experience.
- A person may use wastewater experience gained outside California, provided they were a certified wastewater operator and performing duties that would require certification in California.
Please note – Operations duties in an agricultural, industrial or manufacturing facility or on a ship are not considered qualifying experience for purposes of the Operator Certification Program.