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here are approxi-mately 10,000 operators in Ontario, many holding multiple types of certifi-cates and licences. Every year, approximately

4,300 certificates are issued to new operators, and to operators upgrading to a higher class level. At the same time, approximately 4,500 operator certificates and licences are renewed.

Since April 2009, the Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO) has been administering the certification and licensing program on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC). For an operator, the certification/licensing* process most often begins with the taking of an Operator in Training (OIT) exam. Applicants must submit the appropriate fee as well as proof of their high school diploma or equivalent with their examination registration form. “Once they have their OIT and one year of operations experience, operators can apply to upgrade to a Level 1 certificate/licence,” explains Brian Murphy, current Program Manager of OWWCO. “Water operators also require the Entry Level Drinking Water Operator course to apply for their Level 1.” There are different requirements for applying to upgrade to a Level II, including passing an exam, earning a certain amount of experience, and obtaining a specific number of continuing education credits. In addition to this, Levels III and IV also require a minimum number of hours as an operator-in-charge.

OWWCO is responsible for reviewing applications, processing payments and administering certification exams, while the content of the exam is approved by the MOECC. Regular exam sessions are held across the province 12 months of the year. At each exam session, all the different types of exams can be written. Monthly sessions

are offered in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with exams held every three or four months in other areas. “Our goal is that every month there is always an exam being held within a three hour drive,” says Murphy, adding that this is a little more challenging to achieve in Northern Ontario. An exam schedule is available on the OWWCO website.

Proctors hired by OWWCO invigilate the three-hour exams, which are then marked with the results sent to the operators. According to the official guidelines, operators can expect to receive their results within 30 days. In reality, the results are usually available within a week. “That’s our operational goal,” says Murphy. Since its inception in 2009 OWWCO has strived to shorten all timelines and find efficiencies associated with operator certification. For example, students enrolled at certain colleges, may be able to write a proctored electronic exam at the college and see their results immediately.

Murphy explains that operators must renew their certificate/licence every three years. In order to renew their drinking water certificate, opera-tors must provide proof that they have completed the mandatory renewal course from the Walkerton Clean Water Centre (the course is available both on site and through correspondence).

Operators renewing their drinking water certificate must also provide proof that they have completed the required number of Director-Approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and on-the-job training hours. A specific number of CEUs and on-the-job training hours are required for each level of certification/licensing. Training required for wastewater operators is not required to be Director-Approved.

When upgrading a certificate/licence, all post-secondary training is taken into consideration. Even when not directly related to an operator’s duties, training may qualify for a portion of a CEU. If they are uncertain, operators can contact OWWCO to confirm the degree of recognition for

which the training qualifies. OWWCO applies criteria established by the MOECC to determine whether a course or training session qualifies as a CEU.

“Every time an operator upgrades one of their licences or certificates, we do a full CEU assessment of all the cer-tificates they have given to us and that we have on file,” says Murphy. “We are able to send them that information any time they wish.”

Along with successfully completing the exam and obtaining a specific number of CEUs, achieving each level of certification requires a certain amount of experience, including a specified number of hours as Operator-in-Charge (OIC) for levels III and IV. OWWCO verifies that the experience component has been completed in a classified facility. In addition to administrating operator and water quality analyst certification, OWWCO is responsible for reviewing applications and issuing certificates of classification to drinking-water subsystems and wastewater facilities on behalf of the MOECC, which sets policy and criteria.

One of OWWCO’s other responsibilities is maintaining operator access to the Water Wastewater Operator Certification System (WWOCS). All operators can obtain a user ID and password to access their records on the

OVERSEEING OPERATOR CERTIFICATION

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website. The system stores important information such as exam marks and Director-Approved CEUs acquired, as well as an operator’s certificate/licence expiry dates. OWWCO does send out renewal notices to operators but it is ultimately the responsibility of all operators to keep track of renewal deadlines of their certificates/licences.

As well, OWWCO works with municipalities who have staff to help operators with filling and submitting forms. “Only a few municipalities have a compliance person,” notes Murphy. “We certainly like it when they do. It is great to have a point person who under-stands the certification program and deals directly with us to address the many questions and situations opera-tors might have.”

Operators can order resource material from OWWCO and can also call the customer service information telephone line directly. Murphy enjoys this part of his work. Having worked in the Examination, Renewal and Upgrade departments, as well as invigilating exams, he has had plenty of interaction with operators over the years. Even as Program Manager, he sometimes responds directly to operator inquiries. “What I try to do for operators is to explain what their next step will be,” he says.

Because of its direct contact with operators and related stakeholders, OWWCO also plays an important role in identifying operator certifica-tion issues and raising them with the MOECC. “In many ways we are the Ministry’s ear to the operating industry,” says Murphy. “We have an excellent working relationship with the Ministry and this helps to ensure that operators get a consistent answer to their certification questions.”

The Ministry is responsible for setting policy and providing overall direction for the future of the licencing and certification program. The Direc-tor, who is an employee of the Minis-try, also approves the issuance of each operator certificate. As administrator, OWWCO also plays an important role in the future of the program – and the industry – by ensuring that operators receive excellent service.

The Ministry and OWWCO work closely with operators to make sure the program addresses the needs of the operators, today and tomorrow.

Through the Operator Certification Working Group, associations such as the WEAO and the Ontario Water Works Association have a voice in decisions related to the program. “All significant administrative and policy decisions are vetted through the Working Group to ensure operator perspectives are taken into account,” notes Murphy.

OWWCO has consistently received very positive feedback from its twice-annual customer satisfactions surveys. Suggestions from the surveys have also influenced many program improve-ments. The goal is to continue improv-ing operators’ understanding of the

OWWCO maintains membership in the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) on behalf of the Ministry. Ontario’s certification program is based on the model provided by ABC www.abccert.org. ABC is an association that provides guidance and resources to certification authorities across North America. Ontario uses the ABC Canadian Standardized Exam or variations of the standardized exam.

program while reducing the complexity of administrative requirements for the certification and licensing process.

If the staff at OWWCO ever needs inspiration to fulfill its mission of con-tinuous improvement, they need look no further than the people they serve. “It’s a type of employment in which you are continuously learning,” says Murphy. “Just like for the operators, for us, the learning never stops.”

* According to the respective regulations that govern their practice, wastewater operators obtain ‘licences’ while water operators obtain ‘certificates.’ Technically, these two terms are interchangeable.

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If the challenge involves water, we’re up for it.

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