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Click here for information on the Operator Program at the BCWWA Annual Conference in Whistler in April. Or check the BCWWA website. 2008 Operator Certification Annual Membership and Dues 2008 Vic Terry Award Nominations The EOCP is once again accepting nominations for the 2008 Vic Terry Award (Operator of the Year). Submissions will be accepted at the EOCP Office until January 31, 2008. For more information, check the Operator Award page. Continuing Education Requirement Letter New EOCP Database Search Web Page The EOCP recently added new features and information on the EOCP web, including a database search page. Part of the 2005 EOCP Business Plan included incorporating the ability for people to search part of the EOCP database online. The new online database search allows regulators, operators, facility owners and managers, and staff to quickly ascertain operator certification levels and facility classification levels. The database search is categorized in two areas – searching operators and searching facilities. Each search can be cross referenced. Operators can be searched by name or the facility where they work, while facilities can be searched by the facility name, owner or city. The database is in a ‘beta’ stage, and will grow and improve as information and search functions are added. Operators who notice information that is incorrect on the database are asked to email or contact the Board Office with any corrections. Some other new additions to the EOCP web page include the revised Program Guide which includes information updated to November 2006. The Program Guide includes all the information on the certification program to assist operators, managers and regulators understand how certification is attained and how facilities are classified. As well, there are new pages devoted to continuing education and CEU requirements for certified operators. These new pages provide background information on CEU’s, requirements by January 2008 for operators, and lists of courses and the allocated CEU amounts for each course. There is also a new page that has lists of operators who recently became certified or who updated their certification level; and lists of new facilities and their classification. EOCP Extends CEU Deadline The EOCP Board has revisited the timing of the implementation of the continuing education (CEU) requirement for certified operators. The Board received considerable comments with respect to CEU’s as a requirement for operator re-certification. While there is full support of the requirement by many people, the Board also heard that scheduling and budgeting for the initial phase may cause hardship for a number of individuals and employers. Therefore the Board has extended the implementation phase, recognizing that a number of individuals and employers have already begun their compliance. The date for the completion of the first 2.4 CEU requirement (1.2 CEU’s for Small Water System and Small Wastewater System operators) has been extended from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2008. This means that a certified operator has from September 1, 2004 to January 1, 2008 to accumulate 2.4 CEU’s (1.2 CEU’s for Small Water System and Small Wastewater System operators) of approved training as described in earlier announcements. For further information or clarification, please contact the EOCP office at 604 874-4784 or 1 866 552-3627. New Continuing Education Requirements for Operators At the February 2, 2004, Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP) Board meeting, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to implement a program of mandatory continuing education units (CEU's) for all certified operators, based on recommendations presented by a sub-committee appointed in 2003 to draft the new requirements. The new program takes effect on January 1, 2005, and will be similar to other certification authorities throughout North America. In the next several months the Board will be communicating the specifics of this decision to all holders of water and wastewater permits, all chief administrative officers of cities, towns, districts, villages and regional districts, regulatory agencies, educational institutions and others that may be affected. The purpose of requiring continuing education units is to ensure that certified operators remain well trained and are capable of operating and maintaining their facilities in a responsible and professional manner. Payment of annual dues alone does not provide EOCP with the assurance that public health and the environment are protected by those who are responsible for the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities in BC. As a result, it has been decided to implement the continuing education requirements to ensure that EOCP is fulfilling its responsibilities to governments and the public regarding mandatory certification, by only certifying those who meet prescribed standards. The establishment of standards for certification and membership in EOCP has been entrusted to the Board of Directors as per Sec. 5.6(b) of its Constitution. Commencing on January 1, 2005, operators certified as Small System Operators in water and wastewater facilities will be required to take 12 hours of continuing education (1.2 CEU's) every 2 years in order to hold a valid certificate. Operators certified at Level 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be required to take 24 hours of continuing education (2.4 CEU's) every 2 years in order to hold a valid certificate. To implement the new requirements, operator certificate renewals will be based on 2 year terms instead of the current 1 year. With the new requirements taking effect on January 1, 2005, the above continuing education will be required between then and January 1, 2007, and every 2 years thereafter. When operators pay their dues late in 2006, they must list the applicable continuing education they have taken since January 1, 2005. The number of hours must meet the above requirements in order to remain a certified operator. General guidelines have been developed to identify which training will be acceptable to meet the new requirements. The term "continuing education unit" is defined as "ten contact hours of participation in an organized, continuing education experience under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction." Continuing education must therefore conform to this definition, and be relevant to the certificate it applies to. Examples of continuing education that will qualify include:
Since many operators hold more than one certificate, the continuing education requirement will not require those operators to take the required number of hours for each certificate they hold. A minimum of 25% of the requirement must apply to each certificate held. For example if an operator holds Wastewater Treatment Level 1 and Wastewater Collection Level 1 certificates, he/she will be required to show a total of 24 hours of continuing education per two year period, of which a minimum of 6 hours must be in wastewater treatment and a minimum of 6 hours must be in wastewater collection training. The balance of 12 hours per 2 years can be made up of other related and approved training that is common to both certificates. The new continuing education requirements do not apply to certification in chlorine handling, independent systems, or operator-in-training certificates. Should certified operators fail to take the required amount of continuing education; their certification will be revoked until the requirements are met. |
