SES Qualified Source Testing Individual Exam s Frequently Asked Questions ( Updated August 2007 ) Why has SES implemented a QSTI Program? Som e of the end users of stack test results, federa l and State regulatory agencies in particular, are considering source testing company accreditation programs to help ensure the quality of em issions measurement data

. Anticipating that such programs will rely on verify ing the abilities of individuals involved in source testing, th e SES me mb ership approved and developed the SES QSTI program as a voluntary program for our members to demonstrate knowledge and experience with test procedures. Is SES Qualification Required? We are not aware of any regulatory

agencies who have required the SES QSTI exams, specifically ; althoug h, proposed revisions to part 75 (August 22, 2006, 71 FR 49300), if finalized, would require that a qualified individual oversee certain stack tests, including mercury and non

me rcury RATAs. Additionally , the ASTM Standard D7036

- 04 specifies that accredit ed testing organizations have on staff individuals who are qualified through exams that demonstrate knowledge of methods and basic field testing principles. W e believe that the SES QSTI program is one way

to satisfy

that standard, and potentially new EPA regulations, as the SES QSTI exams are designed to cover the areas of competence and basic methods described in the ASTM standard.
Why should I become qualified now? To advance y our professional credentials in emissions testing and address potential futu re individual certification and company accreditation needs

. Do I have to pass more than one exam to receive a n SES QSTI certificate?
No. The SES QSTI review committee will issue you a certificate for each exam yo u pass and upon review and approval of yo ur completed application. There was discussion during developm ent of the program to require successful completion of a basics exam plus a specific me thods group exam before SES would issue a certificate . This step was considered as a way to address co mp any

accreditation needs; however, the scope of the SES QSTI program should be lim ited to dem onstrating individual qualifications and not try to anticipate or define company accreditation requirements. In addition, t he SES QSTI exams include questions on basic source testing procedures in each exam. As future accreditation programs develop and needs are more clearly defined, individuals can always provide SES QSTI certificates for the multiple exams in verify ing the qualifications needed for any specific accreditation program. How much will the exam cost? We are initially

offering the exam as follows: Initial exam (basic methods): $140 for SES members (add $15 for non

- me mb ers*). *Includes 1

- ye ar SES membership. AL WA YS check with Eastern Technical A ssoci ates for current exam fees. Where will the exam be offered? At any of Eastern Technical Associates = national smoke school locations. See www.eta

- is

opacity .com for further information.
Who developed and validated the questions? The SES solicited questio ns from the SES members and from U.S. EPA and the SES QSTI review com mi ttee continually reviews and vets questions for the exams

.Does SES Qualification satisfy the NELA C accreditation program?

There is no NELAC accreditation program for source emissi ons testing at this point. SES is encouraging NELAC to accept SES QSTI program for individual knowledge requi rements that ma y be included a national accreditation program. Does SES satisfy any State accreditation programs? Not at this point. SES is enco uraging states to accept SES QSTI program for individual knowledge requi rements that may be included a national accreditation program. Would someone who was already certified for QSTI for the first three modules be automatically qual ified for certification as QSTO for those modules ? Our current direction is that a QSTI certificate will suffice in dem onstrating that the QSTI is also qualified as an observer or a QSTO. W e believe that the experience necessary to l ead a test program that we expect from a QSTI would also qualify that person to observe and assess the abilities of a third party

conducting a test. On the other hand, the person experienced only as an observer, having received a QSTO, is not necessarily qualified to operate sampling trains, conduct the QA/QC protocols, write a test report, or demonstrate the other skills we expect from a QSTI. W e, the SES QSTI/QSTO review board, will be looking for a different set of qualities from the QSTO applicant who has only testing o bserver experience. Such qualities would com plem ent those of a field test team leader but would necessarily be lim ited. At least, that is our direction at this time. As we put this program into place mo re completely , we will probably issu e some guidance on this and related points. I reside and work outside the United States. The SES Qualification A pplication requires my signature to be notarized. Is it OK to have it notarized by a notary from my country?
You m ay use a notary from wit hin your country . Please be sure yo ur notary provide his or her license number and expiration date along with the appropriate stamp or seal. Instead of a notary , you ma y have you r signature to an application witnessed (in person) by a current Officer or Mem ber of the Board of Directors of SES. I am filling out the Official A pplication for SES Emission Tester Qualification Examination. In the Professional Development section, how should I list conferences and workshops that I attended and/or was a speaker , instructor or co - author? For conferences and workshops y ou attended, provide a short list of those y ou feel are most relevant to stack testing qualification (name of conference/workshop, city , state/province, country , date). For those occasions where y ou served as a presenter, instructor or co

- author, list these like a publication citation (i.e., authors/coauthors, title of the presentation or course, conference/workshop name, city , state/province, date). This would be the appropriate format also for a ny published papers (i.e., in conference proceedings or in a journal). List as many as you think are relevant. I have a resume which lists my employment history and summarizes experience. Can I just attach that to my application to support the experienc e requirement? You need to com plete a ll of the application forms and we strongly recommend that y ou not attach resumes or test reports in lieu of entering information on application. Generally , personnel or proposal resumes do not contain the specific de tails needed to demonstrate experience in each of the experience areas. Further, the SES QSTI review board is not equipped to handle sensitive and potentially

confidential business information as might be contained in test reports. S im ply attaching your resume outlining your y ears of em ploy me nt and experience or site

- specific testreports will not satisfy this application requirement. Instead, you need to write information on your application that clearly demonstrate s yo ur experience in each of the appli cable areas as listed on the second page of the application plus those listed under Demonstrated Skills (see checklist below). Sim ply say ing you have experience is generally not sufficient. For example, to demonstrate experience in Procedure s Compliance , you should provide specific examples , such as internal or external technical systems audits, external performance audits, or State observed tests, which dem onstrate that you followed the procedures required in the test methods and protocols. Those descr iptions should clearly identify your roles in those activities, your abilities to solve problems, and the quality

of the results. Since reports may be accepted by

agencies without tests being observed, simply

say ing m any

reports were accepted by agencies does not necessarily dem onstrate that procedures were followed. Experience checklist (give specific examples to clearly demonstrate your level of experience in each area; be sure to indicate y our direct role, why you chose specific approaches, how y ou acc om plished activities, etc.): Test Methods (methods with which y ou have experience) Calibration/preparation/packing (calibration equipment, procedures, pre

- test activities) Set

- up at test site (logistics, challenges, best practices) Sam ple Analysi s (lab interface, analy tical equipm ent, sample preparation, selection of me thods for purpose, interferences, detection limits vs. sampling times, validation, etc.) Procedure Compliance (test protocols, SSTPs, TSAs, SOPs, external audits, etc.) Data Red uction (calculations, special corrections, nondetects, QA/data quality objectives, etc.) Troubleshooting (equipment malfunction, delay s, sampling locations, interferences, calibration, data acquisition, etc.) Training (education, classes, seminars, wor kshops, conferences, committees, professional societies; experience as instructor) Equipm ent Operation/Data Recording (ty pes of equipment, meter boxes, CEMS, data logging/acquisition, etc.) Sam ple Recovery

/handling/custody

(procedures, reagents, storag e, shipping, DOT, hold tim es, sign

- off, etc.) QA/QC (QAPPs, SOPs, QA/QC samples, planning, audits, organization, validation) Reporting (ty pes of reports, scope and purpose, use of templates, publications, etc.) Safety Training (safety

seminars, PPE, workshops, tailgate meetings, certifications, application to adverse situations, HAZW OPR, refinery safety , confined spaces, DOT shipping, EHS compliance, site

- specific safety orientations, etc.) Critical thinking (aty pical sampling requirements, data int epretation, engineering analysis, etc.) Verbal & written communication skills (publications, reports, oral presentations, negotiations, etc.) Technical/science skills (math, engineering, chemistry , mechanics, electrical, electronics, etc.) Selection and knowledge of test methods and their application and limitations (regulations, deviations, modifications, detection limits, interferences, etc.) Selection, calibration, setup, use and operation of testing equipment for different applications and condi tions (test objectives, measurements, location elevation/access, stack gas characteristics, weather, safety , etc.) Source ty pes and characteristic sampling conditions and challenges (process ty pes, flows, temperatures, pressures, concentrations, variabil ity , etc.) Sam ple analysis and special considerations for different applications (lab interface, analy tical equipm ent, sample preparation, selection of methods for purpose, interferences, detection limits vs. sampling times, validation, etc.). Test met hod modifications and deviations needed for different applications (high or low concentrations, interferences, pressure, etc.). Data quality

metrics and implications (QAOs, DQOs, blanks, audit samples, precision, accuracy , bias, statistical analysis, etc .).EXAMPLES OF THE PROJECT EXPERIENCE PORTION OF THE APPLICATION ARE AVAILABLE ON THE W EBSITE. PLEASE REFER TO THESE EXAMPLES FOR HELP IN THIS AREA.