Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) serve an essential function to protect public health and the environment, including Washington's rivers, lakes, streams, and Puget Sound. The certification of wastewater treatment plant operators helps make sure they are knowledgeable, and that WWTPs are properly operated and maintained.
Wastewater Operator Certification Program Draft Fee Schedule
We propose to maintain wastewater operator certification (OpCert) program fees at their current level.
The public comment period is now open for the OpCert program draft fee schedule. We will accept public comments from March 31, 2021 through 11:59 pm on May 15, 2021, as required by WAC 173-230-240.
Draft Fee Schedule for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
| Category |
Fiscal Year 2022
July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022
|
Fiscal Year 2023
July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
|
| Group I and Group I OIT Applications |
$50 |
$50 |
|
Groups II - IV and
Groups II - IV OIT
Applications
|
$67 |
$67 |
| Renewals |
$98 |
$98 |
How to comment?
We prefer to receive comments on the Draft Fee Schedule through our online comment form.
However, we will accept emailed comments to opcert@ecy.wa.gov and written comments sent to:
Poppy Carre
PO Box 47696
Olympia WA 98504-7696
Please contact opcert@ecy.wa.gov or Poppy Carre at 360-407-6889 with any questions.
Frequently asked questions: coronavirus impacts to the OpCert Program (updated April 6, 2021)
No. The exams are secure and confidential and only authorized personnel can administer or proctor the exams. We're complying with the Safe Start approach and will not travel to proctor exams until Phase 3 or 4.
Test centers are open. They have to comply with social distancing and sanitization requirements, which means there are less testing stations and, as a result, less testing availability. The best way to schedule your exam is through AMP's website.
Email opcert@ecy.wa.gov to request an extension if you were approved prior to COVID-19.
You will automatically receive a six month extension when you’re approved to take the exam. Instead of having one year to take the exam you will have one year and six months to take the exam.
No, there are many approved online and correspondence courses. There are also approved WEF and PNCWA webinars. OpCert program staff will shift their priority to review online training course requests ahead of classroom training requests.
The Approved Course List is available on our Professional Growth and Training webpage (see Where can I find approved courses or trainers?). Continue to submit your completion certificates to opcert@ecy.wa.gov.
Yes, we do not have a lot of flexibility to make adjustments to the professional growth requirement. With the online and correspondence courses, and webinars that are available, operators should be able to continue to meet the professional growth requirements. We will follow the closures closely and revisit this decision if necessary.
Yes. We're working with trainers that have approved classroom trainings to modify their courses so they can administer them via webinar or other remote learning methods.
Yes, the OpCert program put together an emergency on-call list of wastewater operators who are willing to help answer questions, or may be able to help with the operations of a wastewater treatment plant, in a time of emergency.
If you are a wastewater operator certified in Washington and are willing to help in this capacity, please send an e-mail to opcert@ecy.wa.gov, and include the following information.
- Name: First, middle initial, last
- City
- Certification number
- Certification level
- Phone number
- Cell phone number
- Primary e-mail address
- Secondary e-mail address
You can find the list on the OpCert webpage. Being on the list does not represent a commitment to an emergency.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification Program Guidance
We adopted changes to chapter 173-230 WAC Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants in 2019. This:
- Established a fee schedule in rule as directed by the Legislature in 2018.
- Included multiple changes, such as:
- Providing for an Operator in Training and respective education and experience qualifications for Groups II-IV.
- Acknowledging new technologies in wastewater treatment.
- Creating stand-alone sections where more information and clarity were needed.
- Clarifying rule language to codify existing program practice.
Find out more about the new fees and Operator in Training Group levels II-IV from our focus sheet.
To learn even more, visit the rulemaking webpage.