Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 11 - Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality › Part 6 - Wastewater Pollution Control Regulations › Chapter 3 - Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality Regulations for the Certification of Municipal and Domestic Wastewater Facility Operators › Rule 11-6-3.6 - Renewal of Certificates

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Subject to the
				provisions of Rule
				3.5.B., certificates may be renewed
				without examination, however, in order to be eligible for certificate renewal,
				a certification renewal application should be filed prior to the expiration of
				the existing certificate. The application must be accompanied by the renewal
				fee and also proof of completing the continuing education requirements found in
				the below paragraph C. Additionally, an operator, if practicing, must have
				demonstrated competency. Certified operators who file renewal applications more
				than sixty (60) days after the expiration of their certificate will be required
				to pass the written exam in order to be eligible for certification.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule
				3.5.A., any wastewater facility
				operator who holds a restricted certificate (i.e., valid only for a particular
				facility and/or class of facilities) may obtain a renewal certificate with
				identical restrictions provided that all conditions of paragraph A. are
				satisfied.
C. Continuing education
(1) Operators must receive thirty six (36)
				hours of related continuing education during the three (3) year period for
				which their certification is valid. A minimum of eighteen (18) of this thirty
				six (36) hours must be satisfied by attending Department sponsored training.
(2) Certified collection system
				operators must receive eighteen (18) hours of related continuing education
				during the three (3) year period that their certification is valid.
(3) Operators who have been certified for
				three (3) consecutive three (3) year periods, must receive twenty four (24)
				hours of continuing education during the fourth and subsequent three (3) year
				periods for which their certificate is valid. A minimum of twelve (12) hours
				must be satisfied by attending Department sponsored training, or Association
				sponsored Short Courses.
(4)
				Exceptions to the twenty four (24) hours of Department sponsored training
				requirement may be considered by the Department in individual cases, such as
				operators who possess valid Mississippi Certificates and are employed and
				reside outside the state of Mississippi, provided they submit proof of
				attendance of equivalent training.
(5) Continuing education credit will be given
				as follows:
(a) Attending one (1) day of
				Department sponsored training will be equivalent to six (6) hours of continuing
				education.
(b) Attending one (1)
				Association sponsored week long wastewater treatment short course will be
				equivalent to thirty two (32) hours of Department sponsored continuing
				education.
(c) Association
				sponsored wastewater continuing education short courses will be evaluated, upon
				request, based on technical content, and Department sponsored continuing
				education credit will be awarded for actual hours attended.
(d) Certified Operators who serve as
				instructors/presenters at Association sponsored training sessions shall receive
				two (2) hours of continuing education for each hour of actual presentation
				time.
(e) Attending one (1)
				Association monthly District meeting will be equivalent of to one (1) hour of
				continuing education. Association District meetings and/or training sessions
				held other than on a monthly basis, will be evaluated, upon request, based on
				technical content, and continuing education credit will be awarded for actual
				hours attended.
(f) Association
				annual conferences will be evaluated, upon request, based on technical content,
				and Department sponsored continuing education credit will be awarded for actual
				hours attended.
(g) Organizations
				that provide technical training, including, but not limited to, the Mississippi
				Water Environment Association and the Mississippi Rural Water Association may
				request Department approval of training for continuing education credit. The
				Department shall consider requests for Department sponsored continuing
				education credit for training in which the Department staff actively
				participate in the continuing education curriculum development, presentation
				and evaluation.
(h) Special
				schools, experience, training, correspondence courses, and/or other education
				and/or experiences may be approved at the discretion of the Department.