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- Become an Operations & Maintenance Specialist (For Professionals)
Become an Operations & Maintenance Specialist (For Professionals)
Licensing Procedures
Applicant must:
Take an exam and receive a passing score of 70% or higher.
Upon Passing, applicant must:
- Complete an application for license and pay an annual licensing fee to Whatcom County Health and Community Services. File with Whatcom County Health and Community Services a surety bond, minimum $2,000, specifically for Operation and Maintenance activities.
- The test is valid for 90 days. After receiving a passing score, you have 90 days to complete the licensing requirements. Any attempt to become licensed after 90 days will require a new test be paid for and passed.
Examination procedures
Exams are given by appointment only. Contact Whatcom County Health and community Services at (360) 778-6000 for exam cost and to schedule an appointment. The exam has a three-hour time limit.
It is highly recommended you attend training classes prior to examination.
Classes are available through WSEHA – Washington State Environmental Health Association and WOSSA – Washington On-site Sewage Association. It is also recommended that applicants be familiar with solving timer problems.
WSEHA – Washington State Environmental Health Association
Phone: (360) 738-8946
Website: www.wseha.org
WOSSA – Washington On-site Sewage Association
Phone: (253) 770-6594
Website: wossa.org
Recommended Study Materials
- Whatcom County Code 24.05: On-Site Sewage System Regulations
- Washington Administrative Code Chapter 246-272A: On-Site Sewage Systems
- Recommended Standards and Guidance (RS&G) for On-Site Sewage Systems
- Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: An Operation and Maintenance Service Provider Program - Second Edition, CIDWT, June 2008.
- NOWRA: Wastewater Maintenance & Operation Resources
- Salvato, Joseph A., et al. “Environmental Engineering” 5th Edition, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2003, Chapter 4 Wastewater Treatment and Disposal, pp 535-753.
Electronic Report of System Status (eROSS) Videos - How to do them
eROSS creation and submittal (eROSS application on smartphone)
License Renewals
The O&M Specialist License expires on December 31. Fees are not prorated. At the end of each year, an invoice for renewal is generated.
A licensed O&M Specialist must provide three continuing education units (CEUs) in three years in his field. This verification must be provided no later than December 31st of each third year of being licensed. A person may take as many hours as they wish and it can be applied to future years, not to exceed three years.
Come January 31, if you fail to pay your renewal fee and provide a copy of your bond (if expired), your license will expire and can not be renewed. Also following the third year of being licensed, should you fail to provide verification of CEUs, your license will not be renewed and will have expired effective December 31.
If you want to be licensed again, all testing, application and fees must be completed again to be reinstated.