Operator Certification Program - Operator-In-Training (OIT)

It is illegal to operate a public, or private wastewater treatment plant regulated by the PUC, without a valid certificate. If it takes experience to get a certificate, how can someone without a certificate get experience? The answer is the OIT certificate. The OIT certificate is a valid temporary certificate that allows someone to get experience as an operator.

The regulations define OIT as "any person who operates a wastewater treatment plant under the direct supervision of a certified operator while gaining experience to qualify for an operator certificate."

An OIT can hold any job at a plant for which they are qualified, except as Chief Plant Operator. OITs must be directly supervised by a certified operator at the same grade as the OIT or higher. The OIT has the same responsibilities under the operator certification regulation as a certified operator.

OIT certificates are issued at Grades I through V. You may apply for a Grade I OIT without having passed the examination or meeting the education requirements for a Grade I certificate. You need only have a job as a plant operator. OIT certificates are valid for up to two years. You must take and pass a wastewater examination before your OIT certificate expires. If you have passed a wastewater examination but do not yet have sufficient experience for a regular certificate, your OIT may be renewed once for two more years. However, if you do not pass the examination before your OIT certificate expires, your OIT certificate will not be renewed.

If you apply for an OIT certificate at Grades II through V, you must have passed the test for the grade and be able to meet the experience requirements within four years after you passed the test. Grades II through V OIT certificates are valid for up to two years and may be renewed once for up to two more years. However, you still only have four years after you pass the test to get the required experience for that grade.

Applications for OIT certificates must be signed by the Chief Plant Operator. OIT certificates are issued for an operator position at a specific treatment plant. If you change jobs and begin work at a different treatment plant while an OIT, you need to apply for a new certificate.