Section 327IAC5-22-11. Examination of applicants to become a wastewater treatment apprentice or certified wastewater treatment operator

   (a) A standardized examination prepared to reflect the duties and responsibilities required of each classification of wastewater treatment operator shall be:

(1) used to test:

(A) knowledge;

(B) ability; and

(C) judgment;

of an applicant to become a certified wastewater treatment operator;

(2) conducted at least annually; and

(3) held at places and times established by the commissioner:

(A) with at least sixty (60) days advanced announcement; and

(B) except in such cases as may be declared necessary exceptions by the commissioner.

  (b) A person wishing to be examined for wastewater treatment apprenticeship or certification shall fulfill the following requirements:

(1) Complete an application on a form approved by the commissioner that:

(A) contains true and accurate information to the best of the applicant's knowledge; and

(B) is free of omissions and misrepresentations, either of which may result in rejection of the application or revocation of any certificate previously granted.

(2) Submit a completed application, with the necessary fee, to the commissioner not later than forty-five (45) days preceding the date of the examination.

  (c) The commissioner shall:

(1) review an application and supporting documents concerning the eligibility of an applicant for wastewater treatment certification examination; and

(2) issue a written notification in the form of an admission slip providing the time and place of the examination to be presented by an applicant deemed eligible for examination.

  (d) A person who has been notified and scheduled to take an examination:

(1) may submit a written request to the commissioner for a postponement to take the examination one (1) offering later than the examination granted by the commissioner if the:

(A) postponement for a nonemergency reason is requested not later than fourteen (14) days before the examination date noticed to the applicant under subsection (c)(2);

(B) postponement request for an emergency reason is submitted as soon as conditions of the emergency warrant;

(C) applicant provides the commissioner an explicit description of extenuating circumstances necessitating the requested postponement; and

(D) applicant understands that only one (1) postponement shall be allowed; or

(2) will be considered to have failed that examination if one (1) of the following occurs:

(A) The person:

(i) does not attend the examination; and

(ii) has not requested a postponement according to subdivision (1).

(B) The person is caught cheating on an examination, an occurrence that will make an applicant ineligible to take any operator certification examination for a period of two (2) years following the examination date of the incidence of cheating.

  (e) Completed examinations shall be managed by the commissioner according to the following:

(1) Graded in a manner prescribed by the commissioner with a minimum result of seventy percent (70%) needed in order to pass the examination.

(2) The commissioner shall notify an applicant of the examination result:

(A) in writing; and

(B) not later than two (2) months after the date of the examination.

(3) Examination papers shall be retained by the commissioner with an opportunity afforded to an applicant notified of having failed the examination for review of the graded examination until a date ninety (90) days before the next scheduled examination if the applicant submits the following to the commissioner:

(A) A written request for review of the graded examination.

(B) A statement affirming the applicant's understanding that examination review does not include the right to copy, by any means, the examination or any portion of it.

  (f) A person previously certified as a wastewater treatment operator under this rule but who has failed to meet the renewal requirements according to section 14 of this rule must fulfill the following:

(1) Qualify under this rule.

(2) Retake an examination.

  (g) A person may receive wastewater treatment certification without taking an examination if the person seeking wastewater treatment operator's certification by reciprocal recognition or on a provisional basis according to section 13 of this rule files an application required by subsection (b) at the applicant's convenience, subject to applicable expiration dates delineated in this rule. (Water Pollution Control Division; 327 IAC 5-22-11; filed Nov 20, 2000, 4:07 p.m.: 24 IR 968; readopted filed Aug 17, 2006, 10:31 a.m.: 20060830-IR-327060183BFA; filed Mar 18, 2008, 2:55 p.m.: 20080416-IR-327060179FRA; readopted filed Jul 30, 2014, 4:04 p.m.: 20140827-IR-327140189BFA)