Continuing Education Requirements | Certification | California-Nevada Section AWWA

APPROVED CERTIFICATION RULE CHANGE

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FOR RENEWAL

Whereas the CA-NV AWWA certification programs for Cross-Connection Control Specialists, Water Distribution Operators/Associates, Water Treatment Operators, and Water Quality Analysts provide for certification of water industry professionals whose duties may have a direct impact on public health, and

Whereas the United States Environmental Protection Agency has, as part of the 1996 re-authorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act, required certified Water Distribution and Water Treatment Operators who, as part of their daily duties, can affect water quantity or quality obtain Continuing Education as a condition of certification renewal;

It is therefore proposed that the Rules Governing the Certification of Cross-Connection Control Program Specialists – Section 1, and Water Distribution Operators/Associates – Section 1, Water Treatment Operators – Section1, and Water Quality Laboratory Analysts – Section 1, be amended as follows:

Contact Hour
"Contact hour" means a minimum 50 minutes of actual time an attendee participates in continuing education offered by an approved provider, on a public water supply related topic.

Continuing Education Course
“Continuing education course” means a presentation given by an accepted provider that transmits information related to the operation of a treatment plant and/or distribution system, including but not limited to, water quality maintenance in the public water supply system, or a similar class from an W.A.C. or IACET accredited college.

Voluntary Temporary Suspensions
A suspension of all rights and responsibilities related to the certificate that is requested by the certificate holder. A statement of illness or other good cause, verified by a corroborating statement from a licensed physician must accompany the request. This suspension can be maintained for a maximum of two years

Waiver
A release from certain requirements granted by the Certification Director as allowed for under specific sections of the Rules.

It is also proposed that the Rules Governing the Certification of Cross-Connection Control Program Specialists, Section 4, and Water Distribution Operators/Associates, Section 5, and Water Quality Laboratory Analysts, Section 6, be amended to include the following:

(1) An initial certificate for any discipline/grade shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance. Any person wishing to maintain a valid certificate shall submit an application for renewal prior to the expiration date, but no more than six months, prior to the expiration date indicated on the certificate. The request for renewal shall include the following:

(a) The applicant’s name, current mailing address, grade, and certificate number.

(c) Proof of continuing education contact hours in amounts required by subsection (2) Table A. For each successfully completed course, the proof of completion shall include the name of the course, the name of the instructor, the location, the date(s), and the number of contact hours provided.

(2) To be eligible for certificate renewal, certificate holders submitting renewal applications after July 1, 2005, shall complete continuing education contact hours since the previous renewal or issuance of the certificate pursuant to Table A. No more than 25% of the contact hours shall be safety courses.

Table A - Required Continuing Education Contact Hours for Certificate Renewal
Cross-Connection Control Specialist (Sec.4)	Contact Hours Required
Certificate	12

Distribution Operators/Associates (Sec.5)	Contact Hours Required
Distribution 1	12
Distribution 2	16
Distribution 3	24
Distribution 4	24

Treatment Operators (Sec.5)	Contact Hours Required
Treatment 1	12
Treatment 2	16
Treatment 3	24
Treatment 4	24

Water Quality Laboratory Analysts(Sec.6)	Contact Hours Required
Water Quality Analyst 1	12
Water Quality Analyst 2	16
Water Quality Analyst 3	24
Water Quality Analyst 4	24

(a) The certificate holder shall retain proof of continuing education as supplied by the acceptable provider for a minimum of four years.

(b) Certificate holders possessing certificates in more than one CA-NV AWWA discipline may apply continuing education credits obtained within a renewal period to all current certificates.

(c) Full semester courses taken at an accredited college, related to the operation and maintenance of public water supply systems, including water quality maintenance in the distribution system, shall be applicable for the hours listed in the accredited college’s course outline.

(d) Any certificate holder selected for an audit of compliance with the continuing education requirement shall submit to the Section a copy of proof of completion provided to the applicant for renewal by the provider of the continuing education since the date of last certificate renewal, within 30 calendar days of notification of selection.

(i) The certificate for any applicant for renewal who is found to have not successfully completed the continuing education requirement of this article will be revoked.

(ii) The applicant shall have the right to appeal such findings to the Section. An appeal shall be requested in writing to the Administrator of the discipline in question.

(e) When applying for renewal of a certificate, an applicant may request a waiver of all or part of the continuing education requirement. To be eligible for a waiver, an applicant shall verify the following in writing to the Section Office:

(i) Residence in another country for at least half the period since the certificate was issued or last renewed, and that this prevented completion of the continuing education requirements; or

(ii) Absence from employment due to military service for at least half the certificate period since the certificate was issued or last renewed, and that this prevented completion of the continuing evaluation requirements; or

(f) When applying for renewal of a certificate, an applicant may request a voluntary temporary suspension of the certificate. To be eligible for a voluntary temporary suspension, an applicant shall verify the following in writing to the Section Office:

(i) Illness or other good cause, verified by a corroborating statement from a licensed physician, that precluded completion of the continuing education requirements. Qualifying illnesses or causes include, but are not limited to:

a) Total physical and/or mental disability of the operator for at least half of the period since the certificate was issued, or if previously renewed, since it was last renewed; or

b) Total physical and/or mental disability of an immediate family member for at least half of the period since the certificate was issued or last renewed, where the applicant has total responsibility for the care of that family member.

(ii) A voluntary temporary suspension of a certificate can extend a maximum of two years. To end a temporary suspension, the applicant must supply verification from a licensed physician that corroborated the reason for the voluntary suspension that the condition has been mitigated.. And meet the continuing education requirements and pay all fees and penalties due.

(3) Each successfully renewed certificate shall be valid for a period of two years.

Reinstatement
(1) A certificate that has been revoked for failure to complete the continuing education contact hours required in Table A may be reinstated within six months if all requirements specified in Table A are met and all penalties as established in the Rules Governing Certification are paid and the renewal application is complete. Contact hours obtained for reinstatement shall not be used to satisfy the requirements of the next renewal period.

(2) A certificate that has been expired for more than one year shall not be renewed.

(3) The expiration date of a certificate that has been renewed pursuant to this section shall remain the same as if the previous certificate had been renewed prior to the expiration date.

Acceptance of Continuing Education Programs
(1) Only providers who offer continuing education programs that meet all of the following criteria shall be accepted:

(a) Use instructors who are competent in subject matter by education, training, or experience, and maintain a brief biography for the instructor,

(b) Offer courses that are a minimum of 50 minutes in duration excluding evaluation by participants of the continuing education program,

(e) Use teaching methods which are consistent with the objectives of the continuing education program; and

(f) Have a method for determining participants’ attendance and/or participation in the class and exams.

(g) Maintain accurate and complete records and copies of all reference materials, handouts and any and all other additional materials provided to and used by the attendees and is able to provide copies upon request.