(1) A fully certified operator shall earn a continuing education credit or credits, as specified in this rule, during each two-year period commencing on July 1 of each even-numbered year as follows:
(a) The department shall count continuing education credits taken by a certified operator in the month of June of each even-numbered year toward satisfying the operator's continuing education requirements for the next continuing education two-year period only.
(b) A certified operator shall submit all continuing education credit report
forms to the department by June 15 of each even-numbered year. If the department has not received
continuing education credit report forms showing that an operator earned
sufficient credits to entitle the operator to renew a certificate during a
continuing education two-year period by June 15 of an even-numbered year, the
department shall, by July 1 of that even-numbered year, mail to the operator,
and every system for which the operator is designated as an operator under ARM
Title 17, chapter 38, subchapter 2, a notice suspending the certificate of the
operator until the department receives a credit report form showing that
sufficient credits were earned by May 31 of the even-numbered year. If the department receives, within 30 days
after the notice of suspension was mailed, a report form showing that a
suspended operator earned sufficient credits during a continuing education
two-year period, and all other requirements for renewal have been met, the
department shall lift the suspension and renew the certificate. The department shall revoke any certificate
that remains suspended for a period of more than 30 days. However, the department, before this
revocation, shall notify the certificate holder by certified mail at the
address on the issued certificate of its intention to revoke, at least 10 days
before the time set for action to be taken by the department on the
certificate.
(c) A Class 1 certified operator shall earn two credits for each certificate
held by the operator for water treatment, or water distribution, or both, and
shall earn two credits for each wastewater certificate held by the operator.
(d) A Class 2, 3 and 4 certified operator shall earn one credit for each
certificate held by the operator for water treatment, or water distribution, or
both, and shall earn one credit for each wastewater certificate held by the
operator.
(e) A Class 5 certified operator shall earn 0.4 credits for each water
certificate held by the operator for water treatment or water distribution.
(2) A credit consists of 10 contact hours, and 1/2 credit consists of five
contact hours. A contact hour is
defined as a 60-minute participation in an approved course.
(a) To determine the number
of credits to be awarded to a certified operator for teaching a course, 0.1 credit
per actual hour of instruction shall be awarded in addition to the credits
earned for attending that course.
(3) Newly certified
operators (previously uncertified) who are certified from January 1 of an
odd-numbered year to June 30 of the following even-numbered year are not
required to earn the credit applicable to each certificate until the next
two-year period.
(4) If an operator upgrades
a certificate or becomes newly certified during the period from January 1 of an
odd-numbered year to June 30 of the following even-numbered year and that
upgrade increases the credit requirement, the operator shall during that same
two-year period earn the lower credit requirement but is not required to meet
the higher credit requirement until the next two-year period commences.
(5) Only an operator who
fulfills the credit requirements before the end of each two-year period may
renew a certificate. Except as provided in (1) and (13) , the certificate of an
operator who does not fulfill the credit requirements expires on June 30 of the
applicable two-year period and the person may receive a new certificate on
submission of an application, payment of the appropriate application and
examination fees, and passage of the appropriate examination.
(6) All subject matter for
which credit will be granted must be relevant to the operation, maintenance, or
safety of water treatment systems, water distribution systems, wastewater
treatment systems, or industrial wastewater treatment systems as classified in
ARM 17.40.202. Eligible topics may include subjects regarding operation and
maintenance of systems and machinery, electrical systems, hydraulics, chemical
treatment, biological testing, disinfection, or use of mathematics and
chemistry where applicable.
(a) A safety course
qualifies for full credits if it is specific to any type of water supply or
wastewater treatment system operation; other safety courses that contain topics
that are generally applicable to water or wastewater treatment system qualify
for half credit.
(b) The department shall
maintain a list of topics that, although not specific to water or wastewater
treatment system operation, are generally applicable and are approved for half
credit.
(7) There are three types
of education offerings that qualify for continuing education credit:
(a) training courses
offered by the department;
(b) courses or conferences
specifically approved for credit by the department; and
(c) training courses or
conferences offered by training providers approved by the department pursuant
to ARM 17.40.215.
(8) In addition to the
requirements in (6) , the subject matter of the educational offering must be
relevant to the particular class(es) of certificates to which the credit is
being applied. An operator may receive credit only for courses approved for
the type of certificate(s) held by that operator.
(9) A correspondence course
that is approved by the department may be used to earn credit. However, the
provider must issue proof of completion to the department before credit may be
awarded.
(10) Fully certified
operators holding both water and wastewater certificates may earn credits
toward the continuing education requirements of both certificates (i.e. dual
credits) by attending a course which has been approved for both classes of
certificates.
(11) Facility-based
training is eligible for credits only if the training meets all other
requirements of this subchapter for continuing education credits.
(12) Vendor shows approved
by the department under this rule qualify for credit. A maximum amount of 0.05
credits per vendor show will be allowed for participation in a
department-approved vendor show. The certified operator will be required to
provide evidence of attendance at the approved vendor show to validate
participation for credit.
(13) The department may, in
individual cases involving hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant an
extension of time of up to one year to fulfill the minimum credit requirements.
Hardship or extenuating circumstances include documented health-related
confinement or other circumstances beyond the control of the certified operator
which prevent attendance at the required activities. All requests for
extensions must be made prior to June 30 of the even-numbered year in which the
credit is required to be submitted for registration.
(14) It is the certified
operator's responsibility to notify the department on the appropriate form of
the credit earned during the period. The credit earned during the period must
be included with the application for renewal.
(15) The continuing
education credit requirements of this rule are waived for one continuing
education two-year period for a certified operator during periods when the
person is a government employee working as an operator and assigned to duty
outside of the United States.
(16) The department shall
temporarily inactivate the certificate of an operator who is on active military
duty if the operator notifies the department in writing of the change in status
and requests inactivation.
(17) The department shall
reactivate the certificate temporarily inactivated under (16) upon the return
of the operator to the continental United States if the operator:
(a) requests in writing
that the department reactivate the certificate(s) ; and
(b) pays to the department
the renewal fee for the year the operator returns.
(18) After a certificate
has been reactivated under (17) , the operator shall meet the continuing
education credit requirements for the current continuing education two-year
period by the June 30 deadline or within 18 months of the operator's return,
whichever is longer.