The program provides professional certification that is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. ITCA contracts with subject matter experts, who are familiar with Tribal systems and have worked in/with Tribal water or wastewater facilities, to provide instruction in the area of their expertise.
What is the ITCA tribal water systems operator certification program?
For more than 15 years, the ITCA Tribal Water Systems Operator Certification Program has been a model for training and certification for Tribal water and wastewater programs nationwide. In fact, the ITCA TOCP served as a template for the U.S. EPA’s National Tribal Operator Certification Guidelines, published in 2006.
Is the ITCA certification available to all tribes?
The ITCA certification program is available to all tribes, nation-wide. The cumulative effect of our program successes was recently expressed in the August 10, 2010 Federal Register, wherein the U.S. EPA National Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program was announced.
What are the different levels of ITCA certification?
ITCA provides training and certification services for the following Level Two categories: The Level Three operator certification is a single 100-question exam. There is only one examination and training necessary to obtain Level Three certifications. ITCA provides training and certification services for the following Level Three categories:
What are the levels of proficiency for tribal water systems operators?
Tribal water systems operator certification is divided into sequential levels of proficiency based upon the degree of complexity of the water/wastewater system being operated. The following is a brief description of this proficiency level system. The Level One operator certification is a single 100-question exam.
How many contact hours are required for ITCA certification?
The minimum level of training required by the ITCA Program for certification renewal is thirty (30) Training Contact Hours that have been approved and accepted by ITCA as renewal Professional Development Hours (PDHs).
What is TWS certification?
The program administers the TWS Operator Certification Program for the operator to be examined and rated, demonstrating his/her level of competency in operating and maintaining Tribal facilities. The certification program was developed exclusively to meet the needs of water and wastewater operators working on Indian lands by providing an equivalent alternative to state operator certification. Water/wastewater operator certification verifies that an operator has obtained a certain level of competency through practical experience and technical training. The program provides professional certification that is approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
What is training manual?
Training manuals are provided for each training module and later serve as a reference for some of the operator basics. By providing the classroom instruction and as much hands-on training as possible, the operators are better prepared to take the certification examinations.
What is TWS in Arizona?
The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. Tribal Water Systems program (TWS) provides trainings for Tribal personnel who are responsible for the production, treatment and distribution of drinking water for public consumption, as well as the collection and treatment of wastewater. The goal of the program is to provide each Tribal utility with the means to protect public health. To achieve this goal, the program makes training available for Tribal drinking water and wastewater system operators; training that allows them to operate their systems to the best of their systems’ capabilities. The program also serves as a clearinghouse of information for the tribes, providing updates on current water and wastewater regulations and providing new trainings on an “as needed” basis.
Do water operators have to continue education?
For the purpose of protecting public health, these guidelines specify that once certified, water operators must continue their education by obtaining a minimum level of approved professional development training as a condition of renewing their operator certification.
Where is the ITCA water system located?
For more information, please contact the ITCA Tribal Water Systems Department by phone at (602) 307-1537; by fax at (602) 258-4825; by mail at 2214 North Central Avenue, Suite 100, Phoenix, Arizona 85004; or by email at:
What is the purpose of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona?
(ITCA) has provided technical assistance to tribes to improve drinking water and wastewater regulatory compliance by Tribal utilities in regards to the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act, with the primary purpose of improving and protecting the health and safety ...
What is a TWS?
The Tribal Water Systems program (TWS) is a Tribally-based drinking water and wastewater training and assistance program initiated and operated by the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. to help address the specific needs of tribes.
What is contact hour in ITCA?
The ITCA Program defines “Training Contact Hour” as a basic unit of measure of training based upon the two fully documented factors of: (1) time spent expanding ones career-based knowledge, and (2) in a distinct subject matter. A full sixty minutes of learning on a specific subject matter, as verified and documented by the trainer or a third party, constitutes a single Training Contact Hour. Based on U.S. EPA guidelines, the ITCA Program established training requirements for eligibility of both new operator certification and renewal of expiring operator certification. Applicants for new operator certification must submit proof of having accrued a minimum number of Training Contact Hours to ITCA to evaluate for approval as Pre-Certification Training Credit. Applicants for renewal of expiring operator certification must submit proof of having accrued a minimum number of Training Contact Hours to ITCA to evaluate for approval as Post-Certification Training Credit (also known as Professional Development Hours or PDHs). In both processes (new certification and renewal), Training Contact Hours must be on topics that are essential to the operation and maintenance of the operator’s utility system(s).
What is a tribal water system?
EPA National Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program application packet states that “a water system with a groundwater supply and only (non-gaseous) chlorination is considered a distribution system, not a water treatment facility” and “a water system with the addition of any chemical to a public water system other than for chlorination shall be considered a treatment facility.” According to the Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program Final Guidelines (U.S. EPA, 2005), a tribal water system may need to be operated by personnel that hold a Water Distribution System Operator Certification, or a Water Treatment Facility Operator Certification, or both, depending on the complexity and characteristics of the water system. Tribal operators of qualifying less-complex water systems may earn a single certification that jointly satisfies both the basic level 1 treatment certification and distribution certification requirements. This joint certification is known as the Very Small Water System (VSWS) Operator Certification. A very small water system is defined by the
What is the Inter Tribal Association of Arizona?
The Inter Tribal Association of Arizona was established in 1952 to provide a united voice for tribal governments located in the State of Arizona to address common issues of concerns. Then, in 1975, a private, non-profit corporation—the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. (ITCA)—was created to provide services that promote Indian self-determination. The work of ITCA staff and its consultants is carried out under the direction and supervision of the Executive Director and is overseen by the Executive Board. Currently, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc. is comprised of 21 Member Tribes located in Arizona. Some of the programs of ITCA provide services to tribes nationwide; an example of which is the ITCA Tribal Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Program.
Can I have more than one certification with ITCA?
Water/wastewater operators that hold more than one certification with ITCA may request for the synchronization of the effective time periods of those certifications. The certifications will have their effective dates truncated to a common time period.
What training is required for a water operator?
Operators are required to take training to qualify for initial certification and to obtain the required number and type of continuing education or contact hours required for certification and recertification to operate and maintain the public water supply system and/or distribution system at which they work.
What is EPA Region 8?
If you are an operator of one or more public water supply systems in Indian Country, EPA Region 8 requires all community and non-transient non-community water systems to have a certified operator.
What is the Wyoming water act?
Regulations promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act require that all public water systems be operated by qualified personnel. If you are an operator of one or more community or non-transient non-community public water systems in Wyoming, you are required to be certified by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ).
Does the EPA offer a small water system?
Both the ITCA and the EPA National Tribal Operator Certification Program offer a Very Small Water System option , which requires only one test for both treatment and distribution and is available for small, less complex systems. Tribal personnel may attend training, apply for operator certification and take certification exams FOR FREE.
What is ADEQ certification?
ADEQ’s Operator Certification Program establishes guidelines to ensure that only certified operators make decisions about process control or system integrity that affects public health. The program establishes minimum standards for certification and recertification of the operators of drinking water and wastewater systems.
Do certifications have an expiration date?
If you are purchasing/activating a new certification and have currently existing certifications, and choose to align the expiration dates, the expiration date will align with your CURRENTLY EXISTING CERTIFICATE. Currently existing certificates will not have a new expiration date pushed out to a future date.
Does ADEQ give grade 1 certification?
The military only has one grade of certifications, therefore, ADEQ will only grant Grade 1 certifications. If you are submitting a reciprocity application and your certificates are close to expiring, please also upload your PDHs to confirm you have done the training hours your certifying agency requires.
Why do I need to be a certified water operator?
Becoming a certified operator also offers individuals the opportunity to make a difference in society on a daily basis . Clean and safe water is essential to everyday life and operators have the ability to regularly impact that need.
How much does a water treatment plant operator make?
Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that in 2018 the average salary for water and wastewater treatment plant operators was $46,780 USD per year.
What is HTO course?
Review information management technologies, both server-based and Web-hosted. Participants will discuss and compare management systems, as well as applications available for collecting and managing performance data and methods available for securing and storing online information. HTO courses can be taken in any order.
What is a certified operator?
Certified operators are a critical part of providing an adequate and safe supply of water. Operators are typically responsible for a variety of tasks centered around operating and maintaining a system or plant. They typically work in a selection of capacities: water treatment, distribution, water collection, or wastewater.
How many hours of training is on WSO?
The WSO Channel includes 60+ full length videos covering 20 hours of certification and training content for operators. Strengthen the practices and procedures of your operator employees.