Pennsylvania Operator Certification Overview

Pennsylvania requires properly certified operators for most drinking water and wastewater systems. Operator certification helps ensure that individuals making important treatment and process-control decisions have demonstrated the required knowledge, experience, and qualifications for the systems they operate.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, commonly called DEP, administers the operator certification program together with the State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators. The detailed requirements are established in Pennsylvania law, regulations, and DEP program guidance.

The Basic Certification Structure

Pennsylvania operator certification is built around two major ideas:

• classification, which generally reflects the size or type of system an operator is qualified to operate;
• subclassification, which identifies the treatment technologies or specialized functions for which the operator is certified.

An operator must hold the appropriate certification class and applicable subclassifications to make process-control decisions for the system.

Holding a certificate does not automatically qualify an operator to make every process-control decision at every Pennsylvania facility. The certificate must match the system's classification and treatment technologies.

Drinking Water and Wastewater Certifications

Pennsylvania maintains separate certification structures for drinking water and wastewater operators.

For conventional treatment systems, the major operator classes are:

• Class A;
• Class B;
• Class C;
• Class D.

Special classifications also exist for certain distribution, collection, consecutive, and small drinking water systems.

The exact certification an operator needs depends on the system where the operator works and the treatment processes used there.

Operator Class and System Size

For standard drinking water and wastewater treatment classifications, DEP assigns system class largely according to system size.

• Class A: greater than 5 MGD.
• Class B: greater than 1 MGD but no more than 5 MGD.
• Class C: greater than 100,000 gallons per day but no more than 1 MGD.
• Class D: no more than 100,000 gallons per day.

An operator must hold a certification class appropriate for the system. A higher operator class can generally satisfy the class-size requirement for a smaller system, provided the operator also holds the required subclassifications.

Subclasses Represent Treatment Technologies

A system can use several different treatment technologies. Pennsylvania therefore uses subclassifications to identify the processes for which an operator is qualified.

Wastewater examples include:

• activated sludge;
• fixed-film treatment;
• treatment ponds and lagoons;
• collection systems;
• laboratory supervision.

Drinking water has its own set of technology subclassifications covering filtration, disinfection, chemical treatment, distribution-related technologies, and other treatment processes.

A facility may have more than one subclassification. Operators responsible for process-control decisions must hold the subclassifications that correspond to the technologies they control.

How Initial Certification Works

The Pennsylvania initial-certification process generally includes four major requirements:

1. Meet the applicable education requirement.
2. Pass the required certification examination or examinations.
3. Meet the required operating-experience qualifications.
4. Apply for certification and receive approval from the State Board.

Passing an examination alone does not automatically make a person a certified operator. Examination, experience, education, application requirements, and Board approval are separate parts of the certification process.

Education Requirement

DEP states that an applicant generally must be a high school graduate, possess a GED, or qualify under the applicable provision for individuals who were working in a water or wastewater system before February 21, 2002.

Education beyond the minimum requirement can also be relevant because qualifying education may supplement some operating-experience requirements.

The exact experience credit available depends on the applicable certification requirements and the education or training being claimed.

Certification Examinations

For drinking water Classes A, B, C, and D, an operator generally must pass the Part 1 General Exam and the applicable Part 2 technology-specific examination or examinations.

The same basic structure applies to wastewater Classes A, B, C, and D.

Special stand-alone examinations exist for certain certifications, including distribution, collection, and qualifying small drinking water systems.

The examinations an operator should take therefore depend on the desired certification and the treatment technologies at the system.

Know the System Before Choosing Exams

An operator preparing for certification should determine:

• whether the system is drinking water or wastewater;
• the system classification;
• the treatment technologies used;
• the corresponding subclassifications;
• which General, technology-specific, or stand-alone exams apply.

DEP advises operators to obtain this information from appropriate system or DEP resources rather than choosing exams based only on job title.

A wastewater operator working at an activated sludge plant, for example, needs to know that the facility uses activated sludge technology. A drinking water operator needs to know which filtration, disinfection, chemical treatment, or distribution technologies apply to that facility.

Operating Experience

Passing the required exams is only one part of certification. Applicants must also demonstrate the required operating experience for the certification level requested.

The State Board awards certification based in part on the applicant's documented experience.

The amount and type of experience required can vary with the certification class and subclass. Education may substitute for part of the required experience in certain circumstances, but applicants must document qualifying experience and education appropriately.

Applying for Certification

After meeting the required examination and qualification requirements, the applicant submits an application for certification.

DEP currently states that the initial certification application includes:

• the certification application;
• documentation needed to demonstrate qualifications;
• the applicable fee;
• a criminal history record report from the Pennsylvania State Police.

The completed application is reviewed through the certification program and presented to the State Board for approval.

The applicant becomes certified only after the Board approves the application and the appropriate certificate is issued.

The State Board

The State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators performs an important role in Pennsylvania certification.

The Board considers certification applications and determines whether applicants meet the requirements for the certification requested.

DEP publishes Board meeting schedules and application submission deadlines. Applications received after an applicable deadline may be considered at a later Board meeting.

Operators planning an initial certification or upgrade should therefore pay attention to current application deadlines rather than assuming approval will occur immediately after submitting paperwork.

Process-Control Decisions

A central concept in Pennsylvania operator certification is the process-control decision.

DEP describes a process-control decision as an action to maintain or change the quality or quantity of water being treated.

Certified operators with the appropriate class and subclassifications are responsible for making the process-control decisions required by the system.

Not every employee working at a water or wastewater facility must be certified. However, non-certified employees cannot independently make process-control decisions that require certified-operator authority.

Available Operators

Pennsylvania systems must have appropriately certified operators available to make required process-control decisions.

DEP states that a certified operator does not necessarily need to be physically on-site 24 hours per day, but an appropriately certified operator must be available to be contacted when a process-control decision is required.

The operator's certification must match or exceed the required system class and include the applicable treatment subclassifications.

Detailed available-operator and owner-duty requirements are covered later in this Study Guide.

Certification Is Specific to Qualifications, Not One Facility

An operator certificate represents the operator's qualifications rather than being limited automatically to one facility.

For example, DEP states that Class A, B, C, or D certifications may be used at other facilities when the operator's class is sufficient for the new system and the operator holds the required subclassifications.

Moving to another plant may therefore require reviewing the new facility's class and treatment technologies even when the operator already holds a Pennsylvania certificate.

Upgrading a Certification

An operator may later qualify for a higher certification class or additional subclassifications.

DEP currently distinguishes between upgrading class size and adding treatment subclasses.

Operators generally do not need to retake examinations simply to upgrade from one standard class size to a higher class when they have obtained the required qualifying experience. Additional technology subclassifications, however, require passing the applicable subclass examination and applying for the certification upgrade.

The exact upgrade requirements should always be checked against current DEP instructions.

Maintaining Certification

Certification continues to carry obligations after the initial certificate is issued.

Pennsylvania certified operators must complete required continuing education during their certification cycles and satisfy renewal requirements.

DEP currently uses three-year certification cycles and establishes different continuing-education requirements according to certification class and cycle.

Certified operators are also required to complete DEP's system-security course as specified by the certification program.

Continuing education, renewal, reciprocity, and certification maintenance are covered in detail in a later article.

DEP-Approved Training

Pre-certification training is not generally required simply to sit for the certification examination, but DEP strongly recommends preparation.

DEP provides training modules and approves training programs that can help operators prepare for examinations and maintain continuing-education requirements after certification.

Training completed for official Pennsylvania credit must meet the applicable DEP approval requirements.

The Regulatory Framework

Pennsylvania's operator certification requirements are primarily administered under the Water and Wastewater Systems Operators' Certification Program.

Detailed administrative requirements are contained in 25 Pa. Code Chapter 302.

Chapter 302 addresses subjects including:

• applications;
• Board procedures;
• certification examinations;
• education and experience;
• continuing education;
• system classification;
• operator classes and subclasses;
• system-operation requirements.

Operators should distinguish between study guidance and the actual regulatory requirements. When a certification question depends on a legal requirement, current DEP instructions and the applicable Pennsylvania regulation should control.

Certification and Job Titles Are Not the Same Thing

A job title such as operator, technician, mechanic, supervisor, or plant manager does not by itself determine certification authority.

The important questions are:

• What certificate does the person hold?
• What class is shown on the certificate?
• What subclassifications are shown?
• What process-control decisions are being made?
• What certification does the system require?

An experienced employee without the required certification cannot simply assume certified-operator authority based on job experience or seniority.

Common Certification Misunderstandings

• Assuming that passing an exam automatically creates certification.
• Assuming that one operator certificate covers every treatment technology.
• Confusing the system class with the treatment subclass.
• Choosing exams without confirming the system's actual technologies.
• Assuming every plant employee must be certified.
• Allowing a non-certified employee to independently make process-control decisions that require certification.
• Assuming a Class D certificate qualifies an operator for a Class A system.
• Assuming a higher class eliminates the need for the correct subclassifications.
• Forgetting that experience requirements remain after examinations are passed.
• Assuming certification remains valid indefinitely without renewal and continuing education.

A Practical Certification Roadmap

1. Determine whether you are pursuing drinking water or wastewater certification.
2. Identify the system class and applicable treatment technologies.
3. Determine the General, subclass, or stand-alone examinations required.
4. Prepare for and pass the required examinations.
5. Document qualifying operating experience and education.
6. Complete the certification application and required supporting documentation.
7. Submit the required fee and other current application materials.
8. Receive State Board approval and the appropriate certificate.
9. Work only within the authority of the certification class and subclasses held.
10. Complete continuing education and renewal requirements to maintain certification.

What to Remember for the Exam

• Pennsylvania certifies drinking water and wastewater operators through DEP and the State Board for Certification of Water and Wastewater Systems Operators.
• Certification class generally relates to system size or special system type.
• Subclassifications identify treatment technologies or specialized functions.
• The operator must hold the appropriate class and applicable subclasses to make required process-control decisions.
• Classes A, B, C, and D correspond to progressively smaller standard system-size ranges from A to D.
• Initial certification generally requires education, examinations, qualifying experience, application, and Board approval.
• Passing an examination alone does not make an applicant a certified operator.
• For standard Class A-D drinking water and wastewater certifications, operators generally pass a General Exam plus applicable technology-specific exams.
• Special stand-alone certifications also exist.
• Non-certified employees may work at a system but cannot independently make process-control decisions requiring certified-operator authority.
• An appropriately certified operator must be available when process-control decisions are required.
• A higher class does not eliminate the need for the correct subclassifications.
• Additional subclassifications generally require the applicable subclass examinations.
• Certified operators must satisfy continuing-education and renewal requirements.
• 25 Pa. Code Chapter 302 contains the core Pennsylvania administrative regulations for the operator certification program.