§ 23-65-10. Certification. (a) Upon satisfactory fulfillment by an applicant of the provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted by the board, the board shall issue a suitable certificate designating competency. The certificate issued shall indicate the class and type of public water supply facility for which the operator is qualified. Certification shall expire at the end of a three (3) year period, beginning from the date of issuance, and may be renewed at that time, provided the operator is in good stead with board and all conditions outlined in this chapter concerning continuing education are met.

(b) Certificates may be issued, upon application, without examination, in a comparable classification to any individual who holds a certificate issued by any state, territory or possession of the United States, any country, if in the judgment of the board the requirement for certification of operators under which the individual's certificate was issued are equivalent to the requirements of this chapter. A certificate issued under the provisions of this subsection is valid at any water supply treatment facility of that grade or classification as specified by the board.

(c) Certificates will be issued upon application, without examination, to those public water supply treatment plant and distribution system operators employed as of the date of passage of this chapter. However, these certificates shall be issued within the class and type established by the board for the water supply facility or system employing the operator, and at the class certificate required to perform the job currently held by the operator. The certificates granted under this subsection shall not be transferable to any other public water supply facility, and are subject to the renewal conditions of certificates issued by examination or reciprocity.

(d) Certificates will be issued upon application, without examination, to those public water supply treatment plant and distribution system operators employed, as of July 1, 1999, at any community or non-community non-transient water system not using surface water or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water and which serves less than or equal to five-hundred (500) people. However, these certificates shall be issued within the class and type established by the board for the water supply facility or system employing the operator, and at the class certificate required to perform the job currently held by the operator. The certificates granted under this subsection shall not be transferable to any other public water supply facility, and are subject to the renewal conditions of certificates issued by examination or reciprocity.

History of Section. (P.L. 1995, ch. 190, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 201, § 1; P.L. 2000, ch. 286, § 1.)