DEQ Training
Installer and Maintenance Provider Certification Classes: Under OAR 340-071-0650, beginning on March 1, 2006, installer and maintenance provider certification is required. The Department of Environmental Quality has an interagency agreement with Chemeketa Community College to provide a program to train and certify onsite system installers and maintenance providers as described in OAR 340-071-0650. Students who complete the 6-hour course and pass the certification test (a passing grade equals a score of 70% or better), or who can provide proof of having previously passed the exam, will be mailed a serial-numbered, laminated certification card.
Installers: under OAR 340-071-0650 a person who supervises or is responsible for construction or installation of onsite systems must be a certified installer unless the person is the permittee for construction or installation of the system or the permittee's regular employee.
Maintenance Providers: under OAR 340-071-0650 a maintenance provider who inspects, maintains, or certifies or supervises maintenance on onsite systems using alternative treatment technologies, recirculating gravel filters, or commercial sand filters must be certified as a maintenance provider unless the maintenance provider owns the system being serviced and has received training from the manufacturer on proper maintenance of the system.
Upcoming Classes:
Installer - Next class date to be announced: December 3rd class has been cancelled. Call 503-399-5181 to register or to get more information about upcoming classes.
Maintenance Operator - To Be Determined; Call 503-399-5181 to be put on a Waiting List.
Installer and Maintenance Provider Recertification: Under OAR 340-071-0650, installer and maintenance provider recertification is required every three years following initial certification. Chemeketa Community College will extend certification to certified onsite system installers and maintenance providers who complete 18 hours (1.8 Continuing Education Units, CEU’s) of approved continuing education following their most recent certification and to each formerly certified person who completes these requirements within six months after his certification expires. Certified persons who complete 18 hours (1.8 CEU’s) of approved courses will be mailed a serial-numbered, laminated certification card.
For continuing education courses to qualify toward recertification they must be approved by the Oregon Environmental Services Advisory Council (OESAC) and listed on their website. If you or your organization are holding, or have held, a class that you would like to be evaluated for qualification toward recertification you must submit an application to OESAC. If you want to see if a course you have taken will qualify toward recertification you can view the list of approved courses at the OESAC website.
One way to keep abreast of possible courses is to become a member of Oregon’s onsite professional organization, the Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association (O2WA). O2WA’s mission is to give a voice to members of all disciplines and trades, to encourage the free exchange of ideas, to upgrade skills through education and training, and to promote the development of new and improved practices, policies and uniform standards. O2WA deals with pertinent issues in the Onsite industry and also provides a quarterly newsletter to all members that often contain availability of upcoming training resources. Installers and Maintenance Providers are not required to become a member of O2WA, however, this organization is a source of information for onsite professionals and continuing education courses.
Information on O2WA can be found on their internet site at www.oronsite.org
One to two months prior to initial certification expiration Installers and Maintenance Providers will receive notice by mail from Chemeketa Community College (CCC) that will tell you when your initial certification expires. This letter will include instructions on how and what to send CCC to get recertified. That letter will require you to submit documentation that you have received 18 hours of continuing education. That documentation will be in most cases the course completion certificate that the course providers should give to you following successful completion of the course. You are the person responsible for keeping track of your course completion certificates.
A detailed letter was sent out by the DEQ in April 2008 explaining the recertification process. This letter was sent to all certified Installers and Maintenance Providers. If you have further questions this letter should help to inform you additionally about the recertification process.
Chemeketa Community College intends to host some OESAC approved classes through the Oregon Community College Network in fall of 2008 and winter of 2009. These classes will allow for Installers and Maintenance Providers to get a approximately 6 hours of continuing education to apply toward their required 18 hours. Class times and locations will be made available on this website in early fall of 2008. Please check back here as that time approaches.
Please contact us at the Center for Business & Industry (formerly the TED Center) for more information: 503-399-5181
If you have questions about the requirements of the DEQ class, and your status regarding the course and test requirement, please check out the DEQ website:
http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/onsite/docs/testscores95_98.pdf
Please also refer to the DEQ website for an updated list of certified installers and maintenance providers that includes certification expiration dates: http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/onsite/onsite.htm
If your information has changed due to moving, or if you find errors on the list of certified installers and maintenance providers, please contact us. We use this list to generate mail-outs and to keep you informed about getting recertified.
Thank you,
Larry Ralphs
Project Coordinator
Chemeketa Community College
rall@chemeketa.edu
Updated April 4, 2007 by the College Advancement Department.