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

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

Effective Date: August 1, 2015.

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.

Summary:

The amendment eliminates the need for an applicant for a conventional onsite sewage system installer license, who is applying for waiver of the examination, to provide documentation of experience attained working with professionals from a specific list.

Summary of Public Comments and Agency's Response: No public comments were received by the promulgating agency.

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 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; or

b. Have two years of full-time experience 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; or

c. 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 for work performed after June 30, 2009. The 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 shall be certified by either a licensed alternative onsite soil evaluator, a licensed conventional or alternative onsite sewage system installer, or a Virginia licensed professional engineer;

b. Provide contractor completion statements and associated operation permits issued by the VDH for work performed on or before June 30, 2009. The 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 shall be certified by either an authorized onsite soil evaluator or a Virginia licensed professional engineer;

c. Have two years of full-time experience installing sewage systems as a properly licensed contractor holding a sewage disposal system (SDS) specialty issued by the Virginia Board for Contractors 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 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 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 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.

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.

[ FORMS (18VAC160-20)

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Certificate of Completion, 19CPE (rev. 5/09)

Application for Training Course Approval, 19CRS (rev. 5/09)

Experience Verification Form, 19EXP (eff. 7/09)

Experience Verification Application – Onsite Sewage System Applicants Only, A436-19EXP (rev. 10/12)

Education & Training Substitution Form, 19ET_SUB (eff. 7/09)

Licensure Fee Notice, 19FEE (eff. 7/09)

Interim Onsite Soil Evaluator - VDH Employees Only License Application, 1930LIC (eff. 7/09)

Interim Onsite Sewage System Installer License Application, 1931_32LIC (eff. 7/09)

Interim Onsite Sewage System Operator License Application, 1933_34LIC (eff. 7/09)

Onsite Soil Evaluator Exam & License Application, 1940_41EXLIC (eff. 7/09)

Onsite Sewage System Installer Exam & License Application, A465-1944EXLIC (rev. 12/12)

Onsite Sewage System Operator Exam & License Application, 1942_43EXLIC (eff. 7/09)

Suspension of Examination – Conventional Onsite Sewage System Installer License Application, 1944WAIV (eff. 07/12)

Suspension of Examination – Conventional Onsite Sewage System Installer License Application, A436-1944WAIV-v4 (eff. 8/15)

Onsite Sewage System Operator - Exam & License Application, A465-1942EXLIC-v3, (eff. 7/13) ]