Nebraska Administrative Code › Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM › Title 179 - PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS › Chapter 10 - LICENSURE OF WATER OPERATORS › Section 179-10-005 - INITIAL CREDENTIAL

Current through June 17, 2024
005.01
				Qualifications
To receive a credential to practice as a licensed operator,
				  an individual must meet the following qualifications:
1.
Age and Good
				Character
: Be at least 19 years old and of good
				character;
2.
Citizenship/Resident Information:
Be a citizen of the
				United States, an alien lawfully admitted into the United States for permanent
				residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and who is eligible
				for a credential under the Uniform Credentialing Act, or a nonimmigrant whose
				visa for entry, or application for visa for entry, is related to employment as
				a credential holder in the United States.
3.
Education, Experience, and
				Examination Required
: All applicants for licensure, except those
				for provisional licensure (See 179 NAC 10-005.01 item 7), must meet the
				following education and experience requirements prior to examination for the
				appropriate grade requested. The Department offers six grades of licensure:
				five grades to public water system operators, and one grade of licensure to
				public water system authorized backflow preventer testing and repair
				technicians, in accordance with the following criteria. Any individual who
				tests or repairs backflow preventers with test ports, installed to protect a
				public water system from backflow, is required to hold a Grade VI license.
NOTE: The Department, with the advice of the Council, may
				  accept a substitution for required experience or education for Grades I, II,
				  III and IV water operators when deemed equivalent to the requirements of 179
				  NAC 10-005 and when the applicant for licensure requests substitution and
				  submits documentation of appropriate education or experience. Experience that
				  is used to meet the experience requirement for any grade of licensure may not
				  be used to meet the education requirement. Education that is used to meet the
				  education requirement for any grade of licensure may not be used to meet the
				  experience requirement.
a. Grade I
				Licensure -
(1) Prior successful completion
				of a Grade II licensure examination and successful completion of a validated
				examination on the subject of operation of a public water system recommended by
				the Advisory Council on Public Water Supply and approved by the Director;
				and
(2) A degree of Bachelor of
				Science (with special courses in sanitary sciences) and three years in
				responsible charge or operation of a public water system or three years as a
				regulatory agent of public water systems (e.g., State or Federal Safe Drinking
				Water Act enforcement experience); or three years as a provider of technical
				assistance to public water systems; or
(3) Four years of college and four years of
				responsible charge of a public water system or four years as a licensed
				operator of a public water system; or four years as a regulatory agent of
				public water systems (e.g., State or Federal Safe Drinking Water Act
				enforcement experience); or four years as a provider of technical assistance to
				public water systems; or
(4) High
				school diploma or equivalent and six years responsible charge of a Class II or
				III public water system or eight years operation of a system under the
				supervision of a person possessing a license as a Grade I operator or eight
				years as a licensed operator of a public water system or eight years as a
				regulatory agent of public water systems (e.g., State or Federal Safe Drinking
				Water Act enforcement experience); or eight years as a provider of technical
				assistance to public water systems.
b. Grade II Licensure -
(1) Prior successful completion of a Grade
				III licensure examination and successful completion of a validated examination
				recommended by the Advisory Council on Public Water Supply and approved by the
				Director; and
(2) Two years of
				college, plus three years responsible charge of a public water system or three
				years as a licensed operator of a public water system; or three years as a
				regulatory agent of public water systems (e.g., State or Federal Safe Drinking
				Water Act enforcement experience); or three years as a provider of technical
				assistance to public water systems; or
(3) High school diploma or equivalent and six
				years responsible charge of a Class III public water system or six years
				operation of a system under the supervision of a person possessing a license as
				a Grade I or Grade II operator or six years as a regulatory agent of public
				water systems (e.g., State or Federal Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement
				experience) or six years as a provider of technical assistance to public water
				systems, or six years as a licensed operator of a public water
				system.
c. Grade III
				Licensure -
(1) Successful completion of a
				validated examination recommended by the Advisory Council on Public Water
				Supply and approved by the Director; and
(2) High school diploma or equivalent and two
				years responsible charge of a community water system; or
(3) High school diploma or equivalent, and
				three years operation of a system under the supervision of a person possessing
				a license as a Grade I, Grade II, or Grade III operator of a public water
				system; or four years as a regulatory agent of public water systems (e.g.,
				State or Federal Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement experience); or four years
				as a provider of technical assistance to public water systems, or four years as
				a licensed operator of a public water system.
d. Grade IV Licensure -
(1) High school diploma or equivalent
				and
(2) Successful completion of a
				validated examination following
(a) Six months
				experience as a water operator; or
(b) A basic training course for water system
				operators recommended by the Council and approved by the Director; or
(c) A correspondence course recommended by
				the Council and approved by the Director.
e.
				Grade V Licensure -
(1) Successful completion
				of an examination that demonstrates ability in the collection of water samples,
				interpretation of results of biological examination and the maintenance of
				required records.
f.
				Grade VI Licensure -
(1) A minimum 32 hour
				course which includes hands-on instruction, and successful completion of an
				examination recommended by the Council and approved by the Director on the
				subject of cross connections, backflow preventer operation, maintenance,
				testing, and repair. Such examination must include a written test as well as a
				hands-on portion to test actual testing and repair proficiency.
4. In adequate physical condition;
5. Able to read and write the English
				language;
6. Able to maintain logs
				and records of operation and perform maintenance consistent with the grade
				applied for;
7. Compliance with the
				requirements of 179 NAC 10-005 in regard to the appropriate grade with the
				exception that the Department may issue a provisional license to any applicant
				for a Grade I, II, III, or IV license for that period in which experience is
				being acquired. All education and experience requirements must be met during
				the provisional period.