Title of Regulation: 18VAC160-20. Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals Regulations (amending 18VAC160-20-10, 18VAC160-20-97).

Statutory Authority: §§ 54.1-201 and 54.1-2301 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Hearing Information:

December 18, 2013 - 10:30 a.m. - Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 200, Board Room 2, Richmond, VA 23233

Public Comment Deadline: February 14, 2014.

Agency Contact: Trisha Henshaw, Executive Director, Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-8595, FAX (866) 350-5354, or email waterwasteoper@dpor.virginia.gov.

Basis: Subdivision 5 of § 54.1-201 of the Code of Virginia states that the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals has the power and duty "To promulgate regulations in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) necessary to assure continued competency, to prevent deceptive or misleading practices by practitioners and to effectively administer the regulatory system administered by the regulatory board." Section 54.1-2301 D of the Code of Virginia states that, "The Board, in consultation with the Board of Health, shall adopt regulations for the licensure of (i) onsite soil evaluators; (ii) installers of alternative onsite sewage systems, as defined in § 32.1-163; and (iii) operators of alternative onsite sewage systems, as defined in § 32.1-163."

Purpose: The proposed amendments reflect current procedures consistent with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) that pertain to the issuance of permits obtained by contractors for the installation of sewage systems, completion statements submitted to VDH by the contractor after the installation, and inspection report and completion statements submitted to VDH by a licensed soil evaluator or a Virginia-licensed professional engineer. The requirement to provide these documents for an installer license will sufficiently demonstrate the individual's installation experience without overburdening him with unnecessary documents such as a system operation permit.

The changes to the regulations are necessary to allow individuals currently working in the water, wastewater, soil evaluation, sewage installation, or sewage operation industry to continue to work if under the direct supervision of a licensed individual. Licensees will supervise both individuals who are seeking experience for licensure as well as individuals who work in the industry but are not seeking licensure. Evaluation, installation, and operation duties will continue to be controlled by a properly licensed person in order to continue to safeguard the public, but persons who are unlicensed and work under the direct supervision of a licensee are not mandated to apply for licensure should they choose not to apply.

One goal of the proposed amendments is to amend current requirements for documenting installation experience so as to make them more consistent with the actual procedures in the onsite sewage system industry. Currently, a contractor completion statement and a separate authorized onsite soil evaluator or a professional engineer (AOSE/PE) inspection report and completion statement is required by VDH after a system installation is complete.

The amendments require a sewage system installer license applicant to submit copies of the contractor completion statements, corresponding inspection report and completion statements, and a signed statement from a supervisor within the company that performed the installation. This process is a standard that applies to all installer applicants seeking to prove their qualifications for sewage system installation licensure. The applicant needs to provide copies of documents that are already required by VDH and kept as public records after the installation of a system.

Another goal of the proposed amendments is to allow technically qualified persons to obtain the installer license by proving their experience of installing systems without limiting them to the time period during which the contractor may or may not have had the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty on the contractor license. The current requirements preclude individuals from licensure who might otherwise be qualified, but whose firm may not have had the SDS endorsement on the firm's contractor license during the time period of the employee's experience. The proposed language resolves this issue by separating the experience of the employee from the SDS endorsement on the firm's contractor license. The applicant must have certification of his experience and proof that the firm, of which he is either an employee or a member of responsible management, has a proper Virginia contractor license with the SDS specialty at the time of his individual installer application. This accomplishes two things: it allows minimally qualified individuals to meet the requirements for licensure while simultaneously ensuring continued compliance of existing sewage system installation contractors in Virginia.

Substance: Proposed amendments include (i) removing language from the definitions of "direct supervisor" and "direct supervision," which indicates that such supervision requires that the supervisee must intend to apply for a license, (ii) less restrictive entry requirements for installers, (iii) changes to the documentation requirements for installers to prove experience so that they are consistent with VDH procedures involved in the installation of a sewage system. The proposed amendments, although substantive in nature, are less restrictive than current requirements.

Issues: The primary advantages to the public are less restrictive licensure requirements that still ensure minimum competency within the soil evaluation, septic installation, and septic operation fields. The primary advantage to the Commonwealth is the continuance of a successful licensure program that meets the needs of protecting the public by ensuring minimum competency within the onsite sewage system industry. Simultaneously, the regulated community is not overly burdened in obtaining the licensure required to continue to perform its business in the Commonwealth. No disadvantages to the public or Commonwealth have been identified.

Department of Planning and Budget's Economic Impact Analysis:

Summary of the Proposed Amendments to Regulation. The Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals (Board) proposes to amend its regulations so that: 1) licensees may supervise the work of unlicensed individuals who are not seeking licensure, 2) the experience requirement for licensure as a sewage system installer can be fulfilled with proof of installation jobs performed whether or not they were performed under a contractor's license with a SDS specialty attached and 3) the experience requirements for licensure as an alternate onsite sewage installer require, as proof of experience, paperwork that is already required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) after a system installation is complete.

Result of Analysis. The benefits likely exceed the costs for all proposed changes.

Estimated Economic Impact. Under current regulations, the definitions of direct supervision and direct supervisor only allow licensees to supervise non-licensed individuals who are working to qualify for licensure. The Board proposes to modify these definitions so that licensees can supervise unlicensed individuals whether or not they ever plan on becoming licensed. Since the licensee supervisors are now, and will continue to be, responsible for the work of any individuals that they supervise, it is likely that no entity will incur extra costs on account of this regulatory change. Regulated entities will benefit from the removal of this restriction because it will open up a wider pool of possible employees for their businesses. Individuals who might be interested in this type of employment, but who do not want to work toward licensure, will also benefit as this regulatory change will allow them to work under the supervision of a licensee.

Current regulations require that applicants for licensure as onsite sewage system installers have experience installing onsite sewage systems either under the supervision of a contractor with a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty or actually working as a contractor with an SDS specialty. Because the Board has had contractor applicants who have a proven record of successfully installing onsite sewage systems during a time when they did not have an SDS specialty attached to their license, the Board proposes to change licensure requirements. Under the proposed regulations, applicants for licensure only have to either have a contractor’s license with an SDS specialty, or be working for a contractor with an SDS specialty, at the time they apply for licensure rather than when all experience requirements were met. Contractors who meet the requirements for an SDS specialty can obtain it by checking the correct box on their application for initial licensure or, when they are adding the specialty after initial licensure, by filling out a form and paying a $110 fee. Since all onsite sewage systems are inspected after they are completed, there is likely no public health consequence to allowing less restrictive provisions for gaining experience. Applicants will likely benefit from this proposed change as it will allow them to use all of their experience without having to discount jobs that were not done under a contractor's SDS specialty.

Current regulations that govern licensure for alternate onsite sewage system installers require, in some paths to licensure, proving successful completion of a certain number of onsite or alternate onsite sewage systems installations. The Board currently requires, as proof of completed jobs, paperwork that might be difficult or impossible for applicants to obtain. To solve this problem, the Board proposes to require only the same paperwork that is also required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to prove successful completion of sewage systems jobs. This change will benefit applicants who will no longer be required to provide papers that they don't have or can't get.

Businesses and Entities Affected. The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) reports that there are currently 1,023 licensed sewage systems installers, 958 interim onsite sewage system installers and 1,459 contractors with SDS specialties in the Commonwealth. All of these individuals, as well as any individuals who may wish to be licensed by the Board in the future, will be affected by these proposed regulations.

Localities Particularly Affected. No locality will be particularly affected by this proposed regulatory action.

Projected Impact on Employment. This regulatory action will likely have no impact on employment in the Commonwealth.

Effects on the Use and Value of Private Property. This regulatory action will likely have no effect on the use or value of private property in the Commonwealth.

Small Businesses: Costs and Other Effects. Small businesses in the Commonwealth are unlikely to incur any costs on account of this regulatory action.

Small Businesses: Alternative Method that Minimizes Adverse Impact. Small businesses in the Commonwealth are unlikely to incur any costs on account of this regulatory action.

Real Estate Development Costs. This regulatory action will likely have no effect on real estate development costs in the Commonwealth.

Legal Mandate. The Department of Planning and Budget (DPB) has analyzed the economic impact of this proposed regulation in accordance with § 2.2-4007.04 of the Administrative Process Act and Executive Order Number 14 (10). Section 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include, but need not be limited to, the projected number of businesses or other entities to whom the regulation would apply, the identity of any localities and types of businesses or other entities particularly affected, the projected number of persons and employment positions to be affected, the projected costs to affected businesses or entities to implement or comply with the regulation, and the impact on the use and value of private property. Further, if the proposed regulation has adverse effect on small businesses, § 2.2-4007.04 requires that such economic impact analyses include (i) an identification and estimate of the number of small businesses subject to the regulation; (ii) the projected reporting, recordkeeping, and other administrative costs required for small businesses to comply with the regulation, including the type of professional skills necessary for preparing required reports and other documents; (iii) a statement of the probable effect of the regulation on affected small businesses; and (iv) a description of any less intrusive or less costly alternative methods of achieving the purpose of the regulation. The analysis presented above represents DPB's best estimate of these economic impacts.

Agency's Response to Economic Impact Analysis: The Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals concurs with the economic impact analysis prepared by the Department of Planning and Budget.

Summary:

The proposed amendments change the definitions of "direct supervisor" and "direct supervision," allowing licensees to supervise the work of unlicensed individuals who are not seeking licensure. Also, the requirements for applicants for an individual sewage system installer license are modified to reflect current industry procedures consistent with the Virginia Department of Health. The proposed amendments also change the experience requirement for the individual sewage system installer license to allow an individual's installation experience to fulfill the requirement for licensure as long as the applicant's firm is properly licensed as a Virginia contractor with the specialty of sewage disposal systems at the time he applies for the installer license.

Part I
Definitions

18VAC160-20-10. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Alternative onsite sewage system" means a treatment works that is not a conventional onsite sewage system and does not result in a point source discharge.

"Alternative onsite sewage system installer" means an individual licensed by the board to construct, install, and repair conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems.

"Alternative onsite sewage system operator" means an individual licensed by the board to operate and maintain conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems.

"Alternative onsite soil evaluator" means an individual licensed by the board to evaluate soils and soil properties in relationship to the effect of these properties on the use and management of these soils as the locations for conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems, to certify in accordance with applicable state regulations and local ordinances that sites are suitable for conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems, and to design conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems suitable for the soils.

"Authorized onsite soil evaluator" or "AOSE" means an individual holding an authorized onsite soil evaluator certification issued by the Virginia Department of Health that was valid on June 30, 2009.

"Board" means the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals or any successor agency.

"Category" means waterworks operator, wastewater works operator, onsite soil evaluator, onsite sewage system installer, and onsite sewage system operator.

"Classification" means the divisions within each category of waterworks and wastewater works operators' licenses into classes where Class "1" represents the highest classification.

"Classified facility" means a waterworks that has been granted a classification by the Virginia Department of Health or a wastewater works that has been granted a classification by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"Contact hour" means 50 minutes of participation in a structured training activity.

"Continuing Professional Education (CPE)" means participation in a structured training activity that enables a licensee to maintain and increase the competence required to assure the public's protection.

"Conventional onsite sewage system" means a treatment works consisting of one or more septic tanks with gravity, pumped, or siphoned conveyance to a gravity distributed subsurface drain field.

"Conventional onsite sewage system installer" means an individual licensed to construct, install, and repair conventional onsite sewage systems.

"Conventional onsite sewage system operator" means an individual licensed by the board to operate and maintain a conventional onsite sewage system.

"Conventional onsite soil evaluator" means an individual licensed by the board to evaluate soils and soil properties in relationship to the effects of these properties on the use and management of these soils as the locations for conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems, to certify in accordance with applicable state regulations and local ordinances that sites are suitable for conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems, and to design conventional onsite sewage systems suitable for the soils.

"Department" means the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

"Direct supervision" means being responsible for the compliance with this chapter by any unlicensed individual who, for the purpose of obtaining the necessary competence to qualify for licensure, is engaged in activities requiring an operator, installer, or evaluator license.

"Direct supervisor" means a licensed operator, installer, or evaluator who undertakes the supervision of an unlicensed individual engaged in activities requiring a license for the purpose of obtaining the competence necessary to qualify for licensure and who. The direct supervisor shall be responsible for the unlicensed individual's full compliance with this chapter.

"Distance learning" means participation in a training activity, with or without interaction with an instructor, that utilizes DVD's, videos, or other audio/visual materials, or is computer-based. Documentation of distance learning must meet the requirements of 18VAC160-20-109 D.

"Experience" means time spent learning how to physically and theoretically operate the waterworks, wastewater works, or onsite sewage system as an operator-in-training or time spent operating a waterworks or wastewater works for which the operator is currently licensed for the purpose of obtaining the necessary competence to qualify for a specific license. Experience also means the time spent under the direct supervision of an authorized onsite soil evaluator, onsite soil evaluator licensee, onsite sewage system installer licensee or onsite site sewage system operator licensee for the purpose of obtaining the necessary competence to qualify for a specific license.

"Interim license" means a method of regulation whereby the board authorizes an unlicensed individual to engage in activities requiring a specific license provided for in this chapter for a limited time to obtain the necessary competence to qualify for that specific license.

"Interim licensee" means an individual holding a valid interim license.

"Licensed operator" means an operator with a license in the category of onsite sewage systems operator, waterworks operator, or wastewater works operator. For waterworks operators and wastewater works operators, the license classification must be equal to or higher than the classification of the waterworks or wastewater works being operated.

"Licensee" means an individual holding a valid license issued by the board.

"Licensure" means a method of regulation whereby the Commonwealth, through the issuance of a license, authorizes a person possessing the character and minimum skills to engage in the practice of a profession or occupation that is unlawful to practice without a license.

"Maintenance" or "maintain" means performing adjustments to equipment and controls and in-kind replacement of normal wear and tear parts such as light bulbs, fuses, filters, pumps, motors, or other like components. Maintenance includes pumping the tanks or cleaning the building sewer on a periodic basis. Maintenance shall not include replacement of tanks, drain field piping, distribution boxes, or work requiring a construction permit and a licensed onsite sewage system installer.

"Nonclassified facility" means a facility located in Virginia that has not been classified by the Virginia Department of Health or a facility that has not been classified by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

"Onsite sewage system" means a conventional onsite sewage system or an alternative onsite sewage system.

"Operate" means any act of an individual that may impact on the finished water quality at a waterworks, the plant effluent at a wastewater works, or the effluent at an onsite sewage system.

"Operating staff" means individuals employed or appointed by an owner to work at a waterworks or wastewater works.

"Operator" means any individual employed or appointed by any owner, and who is designated by such owner to be the person in responsible charge, such as a supervisor, a shift operator, or a substitute in charge, and whose duties include testing or evaluation to control waterworks, wastewater works operations, or to operate onsite sewage systems. Not included in this definition are superintendents or directors of public works, city engineers, or other municipal or industrial officials whose duties do not include the actual operation or direct supervision of waterworks or wastewater works.

"Operator-in-training" means an individual employed by an owner to work under the direct supervision and direction of an operator holding a valid license in the proper category and classification for the purpose of gaining experience and knowledge in the duties and responsibilities of an operator of a waterworks, wastewater works, or onsite sewage system. An operator-in-training is not an operator.

"Owner" means the Commonwealth of Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof, any public or private institution, corporation, association, or any other entity organized or existing under the laws of this Commonwealth or of any other state or nation, or any person or group of persons acting individually or as a group, who own, propose to own, manage, or maintain waterworks, wastewater works, or onsite sewage systems.

"Provisional licensee" means an individual holding a valid provisional license issued by the board.

"Provisional licensure" or "provisional license" means a method of regulation whereby the Commonwealth recognizes an individual as having met specific standards but who is not authorized to operate a classified facility until he has met the remaining requirements for licensure and has been issued a license.

"Renewal" means continuing the effectiveness of a license for another period of time.

"Responsible charge" means the designation by the owner of any individual to have the duty and the authority to operate a waterworks, wastewater works, or onsite sewage system.

"Sewage" means water-carried and nonwater-carried human excrement, kitchen, laundry, shower, bath or lavatory wastes separately or together with such underground, surface, storm or other water and liquid industrial wastes as may be present from residences, buildings, vehicles, industrial establishments or other places.

"Sewage handler" means any person who removes or contracts to remove and transports by vehicle the contents of any septic tank, sewage treatment plant, privy, holding tank, portable toilet, or other treatment or holding device, or any sewage, septage or sewage sludges and who is permitted under the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610) or successor regulation.

"Sewerage system" means pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and force mains, and all other construction, devices and appliances appurtenant thereto, used for the collection and conveyance of sewage to a treatment works or point of ultimate disposal, as defined in the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610).

"Structured training activity" means a formal educational process designed to permit a participant to learn a given subject or subjects through interaction with an instructor in a course, seminar, conference, or other performance-oriented format, or distance learning.

"Training credit or education credit" means a unit of board-approved training or formal education completed by an individual that may be used to substitute for experience when applying for a license. Formal education used to meet a specific education requirement for license entry cannot also be used as a training credit for experience substitution.

"Transportation" means the vehicular conveyance of sewage, as defined in § 32.1-163 of the Code of Virginia.

"Treatment works" means any device or system used in the storage, treatment, disposal or reclamation of sewage or combinations of sewage and industrial wastes including, but not limited to, pumping, power and other equipment and appurtenances, septic tanks and any works, including land, that are or will be (i) an integral part of the treatment process or (ii) used for ultimate disposal of residues or effluent resulting from such treatment.

"VDH" means Virginia Department of Health.

"Wastewater works" means a system of (i) sewerage systems or sewage treatment works serving more than 400 persons, as set forth in § 62.1-44.18 of the Code of Virginia; (ii) sewerage systems or sewage treatment works serving fewer than 400 persons, as set forth in § 62.1-44.18 of the Code of Virginia, if so certified by the State Water Control Board; and (iii) facilities for discharge into state waters of industrial wastes or other wastes, if certified by the State Water Control Board.

"Wastewater works operator" means any individual employed or appointed by any owner, who is designated by such owner to be the person in responsible charge, such as a supervisor, a shift operator, or a substitute in charge, and whose duties include testing or evaluation to control wastewater works operations. Superintendents or directors of public works, city engineers, or other municipal or industrial officials whose duties do not include the actual operation or direct supervision of wastewater works are not included in this definition.

"Waterworks" means a system that serves piped water for drinking or domestic use to (i) at least 15 connections or (ii) at least 25 of the same individuals for more than six months out of the year. The term waterworks shall include all structures, equipment, and appurtenances used in the storage, collection, purification, treatment and distribution of pure water, except the piping and fixtures inside the building where such water is delivered.

"Waterworks operator" means any individual employed or appointed by any owner, who is designated by such owner to be the person in responsible charge, such as a supervisor, a shift operator, or a substitute in charge, and whose duties include testing or evaluation to control waterworks operations. Superintendents or directors of public works, city engineers, or other municipal or industrial officials whose duties do not include the actual operation or direct supervision of waterworks are not included in this definition.

18VAC160-20-97. Qualifications for licensure - onsite sewage system installers.

A. Each applicant shall make application in accordance with 18VAC160-20-76 and shall meet the specific entry requirements provided for in this section for the license desired.

B. Each applicant holding a valid interim onsite sewage system installer license shall submit documentation of compliance with the continuing professional education requirements of this chapter at the time of application.

C. Specific entry requirements.

1. Conventional onsite sewage system installer. Each individual applying for an initial conventional onsite sewage system installer license shall pass a board-approved examination and shall meet one of the following requirements:

a. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years under the direct supervision of a properly licensed contractor holding a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors and be currently employed by a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty; or

b. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years as a properly licensed contractor holding a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors and be a member of responsible management in a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty; or

c. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing alternative or conventional onsite sewage systems during the last four years working under the direct supervision of, or working as, a properly licensed Virginia contractor with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty; or

d. Have documentation certifying that the applicant is competent to install conventional onsite sewage systems. Certification must be provided by any combination of three of the following individuals:

(1) VDH Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluators (AOSE) for work performed prior to July 1, 2009;

(2) Licensed interim onsite soil evaluators;

(3) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluators;

(4) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installers; or

(5) Virginia licensed professional engineers.

2. Conventional onsite sewage system installer. The examination requirement provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection shall not apply to applicants seeking initial licensure as a conventional onsite sewage system installer provided that:

a. The applicant is able to satisfactorily demonstrate that he has been actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system installer, as defined in this chapter, for at least eight years within the 12-year period immediately preceding the date of application. Documentation of being actively engaged in performing the duties of a conventional onsite sewage system installer, as defined in this chapter, for at least eight years within the 12-year period immediately preceding the date of application shall be provided by one or more of the following:

(1) VDH Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator (AOSE) for work performed prior to July 1, 2009;

(2) Licensed interim onsite soil evaluator;

(3) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite soil evaluator;

(4) Licensed conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer; or

(5) Virginia licensed professional engineer; and

b. The department receives a completed application no later than June 30, 2016. An individual who fails to have his application in the department's possession by June 30, 2016, shall be required to pass the board-approved examination provided for in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

3. Alternative onsite sewage system installer. Each individual applying for an initial alternative onsite sewage system installer license shall pass a board-approved examination and shall meet one of the following requirements:

a. Provide contractor completion statements and associated operation permits issued by the VDH each corresponding professional engineer's or onsite soil evaluator's inspection report and completion statement for work performed after June 30, 2009. Where applicable, a VDH inspection report shall accompany the corresponding contractor completion statement in lieu of a professional engineer's or a non-VDH onsite soil evaluator's inspection report and completion statement. The contractor completion statements and permits must verify that the applicant had successfully installed 36 onsite sewage systems during the preceding three years, six of which must be alternative systems. All contractor completion statements and associated VDH operation permits professional engineer, onsite soil evaluator, and VDH inspection reports and completion statements shall be certified by either a licensed alternative onsite soil evaluator, a licensed conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer an authorized VDH employee, or a Virginia licensed professional engineer, as appropriate;

b. Provide contractor completion statements and associated operation permits issued by the VDH each corresponding AOSE/professional engineer inspection report and completion statement for work performed on or before June 30, 2009. The contractor completion statements and permits must verify that the applicant successfully installed 12 alternative onsite sewage systems during the past three years. All contractor completion statements and associated VDH operation permits AOSE/professional engineer inspection reports and completion statements shall be certified by either an authorized onsite soil evaluator or a Virginia licensed professional engineer;

c. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems as a properly licensed contractor holding a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors, be a member of responsible management in a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty, and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems;

d. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems under the direct supervision a properly licensed contractor holding a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors, be currently employed by a firm holding a current and valid Virginia contractor license with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty, and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems; or

e. Have two years of full-time experience successfully installing sewage systems during the last four years working under the direct supervision of, or working as, a properly licensed Virginia contractor with the sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems; or

e. f. Have two years of full-time experience as a licensed or interim licensed conventional onsite sewage system installer and provide certification by at least three interim or alternative onsite soil evaluator licensees, Virginia-licensed professional engineers, or any combination thereof, that the applicant is competent to install alternative onsite sewage systems.

If the applicant is not listed on the completion statement but did perform the installation, then the individual named on the contractor's completion statement and associated operation permit issued by the VDH may certify the applicant's work performed on an alternative onsite sewage system that was installed prior to June 30, 2009, provided that the application is received by the department no later than June 30, 2010. Each applicant applying under subdivision 3 a or b of this subsection shall provide written and signed verification from a supervisor within the company that is listed on each contractor completion statement. The verification must explicitly show that the applicant was employed by the company that performed the installation as well as show that the applicant himself performed the installation.

D. Education and training substitution. Each individual applying for a conventional or an alternative onsite sewage system installer license may receive credit for up to half of the experience required by this section for:

1. Satisfactory completion of postsecondary courses in wastewater, biology, chemistry, geology, hydraulics, hydrogeology, or soil science at the rate of one month per semester hour or two-thirds of a month per quarter hour; or

2. Satisfactory completion of board-approved onsite sewage system installer training courses at the rate of one month for each training credit earned. Up to one training credit is awarded for each 10 hours of classroom contact time or for each 20 hours of laboratory exercise and field trip contact time. No credit towards training credits is granted for breaks, meals, receptions, and time other than classroom, laboratory and field trip contact time.