Rhode Island Code of Regulations › Title 250 - Department of Environmental Management › Chapter 150 - Water Resources › Subchapter 10 - Wastewater And Storm Water › Part 6 - Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems › Section 250-RICR-150-10-6.11 - Obtaining a Class I, II, III or IV License

Current through June 14, 2024
A. Class I, II,
				  or IV License
1. Examination - Any individual
				  seeking a Class I, II, or IV license under these Rules will be required to pass
				  the appropriate examination administered or sanctioned by the Department. An
				  examination shall be given for each class at least once per year. Each
				  applicant for an examination shall submit a completed application to the
				  Director, which shall include the non-refundable examination and new license
				  application fee. In the event that an individual fails an examination given
				  pursuant to these Rules, the individual shall pay the examination and new
				  license fee for each subsequent time an examination is taken.
2. Minimum Qualifications - In order to
				  qualify for an examination, the applicant must demonstrate to the Department
				  with appropriate documentation that the minimum qualifications below are met
				  for the respective examination:
a. Class I - A
				  valid Installer's License authorizing the installation of OWTSs pursuant to
				  §
												6.14
				  of this Part, or registration as a Professional Land Surveyor with the Rhode
				  Island State Board of Registration for Professional Land Surveyors.
b. Class II - Registration as a Professional
				  Land Surveyor with the Rhode Island State Board of Registration for
				  Professional Land Surveyors.
c.
				  Class IV
(1) The minimum qualifications for
				  the Class IV exam shall be satisfied by meeting any one (1) of the following:
(AA) Registration as a professional soil
				  scientist by the Society of Soil Scientists of Southern New England or the
				  American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy, Crops and
				  Soils;
(BB) Four (4) years
				  professional experience in soil studies for OWTS design in Rhode Island or in
				  soil classification, mapping, interpretation or a combination thereof; and
				  successful completion of nine (9) semester hours in soil science from an
				  accredited college or university; or
(CC) Two (2) years professional experience in
				  soil studies for OWTS design in Rhode Island or in soil classification,
				  mapping, interpretation or a combination thereof; and a bachelor's degree or
				  graduate degree from an accredited college or university in soil science,
				  geology, engineering or similar discipline with successful completion of nine
				  (9) semester hours in soil science.
(2) The Director reserves the right to
				  determine which courses are acceptable in meeting the requirement for nine (9)
				  semester hours in soil science in §§
													6.11(A)(2)(c)(1)(b) and
				  (c) of this Part above. The Director may
				  determine that certain courses or training other than those from an accredited
				  college or university are an equivalent and acceptable alternative to all or
				  part of the requirement in §§
													6.11(A)(2)(c)(1)(b) and
				  (c) of this Part above for nine (9) semester
				  hours in soil science.
3. Examination Descriptions
a. The examination for a Class I Designer's
				  License shall be a written examination that, at minimum, addresses the
				  following:
(1) Principles of onsite wastewater
				  treatment and dispersal;
(2)
				  Understanding of the applicable State rules;
(3) Analysis of OWTS failures; and
(4) Design and construction of OWTS repairs,
				  with consideration given to soil types and related constraints.
b. The examination for a
				  Class II Designer's License shall, at minimum, address the following:
(1) Principles of onsite wastewater treatment
				  and dispersal;
(2) Analysis of OWTS
				  failures;
(3) Design and
				  construction of OWTS repairs, with consideration given to soil types and
				  related constraints;
(4) Advanced
				  principles of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal;
(5) Understanding of the applicable State
				  rules; and
(6) Design and
				  construction of new OWTSs, including constraints to design imposed by
				  soils.
c. The
				  examination for a Class IV License shall have a written and field component,
				  each of which shall be graded separately. The written and field examinations
				  for Class IV do not have to be passed concurrently. However, if more than three
				  (3) years elapse after the applicant passes one (1) of the components of the
				  examination, the applicant must retake that portion of the examination
				  originally passed more than three (3) years earlier. The Class IV License
				  examination shall at minimum address the following:
(1) Principles of onsite wastewater treatment
				  and dispersal;
(2) Understanding of
				  the applicable State rules;
(3)
				  Geology and soils of Rhode Island;
(4) Soil textural analysis and profile
				  descriptions;
(5) Estimating mean
				  seasonal high groundwater elevations using soil morphology; and
(6) Soil moisture and drainage
				  characteristics of soils.
4. Examination Application Submission -
				  Completed applications for examinations, fees and evidence that the applicant
				  meets the minimum qualifications specified in §
											6.11(A)(2)
				   of this Part shall be received by the DEM at
				  least forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the applicable examination.
				  Within thirty (30) days of receipt of an application for an examination, the
				  applicant shall be notified as to whether the minimum qualifications in §
											6.11(A)(2)
				   of this Part have been met, if more
				  information is needed, or if the applicant is eligible for the examination. If
				  the applicant is determined ineligible, the Department shall provide the
				  applicant with reasons for the determination. The applicant may appeal the
				  Director's decision of ineligibility with the Administrative Adjudication
				  Division.
5. Examination Results -
				  The Department shall notify the applicant of examination results no later than
				  sixty (60) days after the examination date. Minimum passing score for an
				  examination shall be a seventy percent (70%) correct response for all questions
				  comprising the examination. For those applicants that pass the examination, the
				  notification will include a license application form.