CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program

1. CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program Gary B. Scott, CPMM Glenbard Wastewater Authority CSWEA Illinois Section Safety Chair WEF Safety, Security & Occupational Health Committee Phone: 630-790-1901 x124 E-mail: GSCOTT@GBWW.ORG

2. WEF/ABC/CSWEA Goal • EPA State Section license programs exist for: • Collection System Operators • Cross-Connection Inspectors • Water and Wastewater Treatment Works Operators • Industrial Waste Disposal • Water and Wastewater Laboratory Technicians (Voluntary) • Biosolids Land Application • CSWEA participated in ABCVoluntary Laboratory Certification Program-- Early 90’s -- Discontinued in 1997. Many in Wisconsin still have these reciprocal certifications. • In 2007 WEF in partnership with ABC proposed a standardized PlantMaintenance Technologist certification program for Drinking Water and Wastewater Maintenance Technicians. Association of Boards of Certification

3. Who is ABC ? • Association of Boards of Certification • Organized in 1972 to assist states and provinces with environmental certification programs • An organization devoted entirely to certification issues • Ensure the competence of Operating, Maintenance and Laboratory personnel in environmental control agencies. Association of Boards of Certification

4. What Has ABC Done ? • Assist agencies develop valid certification exams • Water Treatment, Distribution and Backflow Prevention • Wastewater Treatment Operations and Collection Systems • Industrial Waste Disposal • Laboratory Analysis • Biosolids Land Application • Water/Wastewater Plant Maintenance (In Development) • Who uses ABC exams? • Over 90 Certifying Authorities • 45 US States, 10 Canadian Provinces, and 10 International Clients • Over 150,000 licensed Water and Wastewater Operators, Laboratory Analysts, Backflow Prevention Testers, and Biosolids Land Applicators since 1972. • 35,000 examinees take an ABC developed test per year Association of Boards of Certification

5. Industry Recognized Maintenance Programs • Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals • Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) • Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) • Certified Automation Professional (CAP) • Certified Control System Technician (CCST) • Certified Industrial Maintenance Mechanic (CIMM) • NONE of these are recognized by WEF, EPA, or IEPA for examination equivalency, or license reciprocity. • WEF expresses guarded optimisms that the State Sections of EPA will initiate licensing programs for Maintenance Technicians based on the developed ABC certification exam program, and will provide reciprocity. Association of Boards of Certification

6. Maintenance Technologist Program Development • ABC Technical Subject Matter Expert Committee guided development of the program • Committee composed of: • Maintenance Technology Experts – WEF Affiliates • Maintenance Supervisors – DOL Programs • Skilled Labor Trainers – DOL Programs • Development of Program (4 Part) • Conduct Job Analysis • Need-to-Know Criteria • Question Development • Write, Review and Validate Questions • Exams • Develop Multiple Exams From Validated Questions • Class Levels I-IV (Lowest to Highest) Association of Boards of Certification

7. Subject Matter Expert Conferences Held Identify specific job tasks Identify required knowledge and abilities Nationwide Maintenance Survey Conducted Frequency of performance Seriousness of inadequate/incorrect performance Need-to-Know Criteria Identified most critical and frequently performed tasks and all capabilities required Job Analysis Association of Boards of Certification

8. Need-to-Know Criteria • Identifies the subjects Maintenance Technologist needs to know to successfully carryout their job tasks. Technician Class Level Association of Boards of Certification

9. Question Development • Questions were solicited for exam • National outreach • Representative of job tasks • Linkage of questions to job analysis results • All questions have been validated • Verified Technical Accuracy • Confirmed References • Verified Calculations Association of Boards of Certification

10. Exam workshops -- ABC Validation and Examination Committee (V&E) Subject Matter Expert Workshops Reviewed bank of validated questions Selected appropriate questions for exam Developed multiple exams from questions ABC Maintenance Technologists exams are available NOW! For Class I and Class II exam validation testing as of January 1, 2009 For Class I and II Certification examinations in March 2009 For Class III and IV validation testing -- Spring of 2009 For Class III and IV Certification examinations – Fall 2009 Exam Development Association of Boards of Certification

11. CSWEAPlant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program • Outlook for Testing/Licensing Program • Availability on voluntary basis (CSWEA - IL) • WEF Proposes Acceptance/Adoption by EPA State Sections • Prelim discussions with IEPA – Favorable • Solicit discussions with Wisc. DNR and Minn. PCA • Benefits • CSWEA Individual Members -- Skill Development and Recognition • Employers -- Staff Career Development and Retention • CSWEA -- Enhanced Training Offerings – IL, WI, MN • Costs – Minimal • CSWEA Applicant Registration/Certification Fees • Estimated $50per examinee Association of Boards of Certification

12. CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program • CSWEA Program Adoption Status • Proposed to Exec-Com • Formal CSWEA Approval Process - December • Statement of Policies Revisions (Governance) • Certification Valuation Survey • Start in Illinois Section – Future in Minn./Wisc. • Program Education and Announcement • Winter ’08/Spring/Summer 2009 • Certification Process • Certification Application – Voluntary Program • Application for Technical Certification • Application Fee • Review Experience/Education • Testing Scheduled • Authorizing Certification Documents Association of Boards of Certification

13. CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program Questions ??? Gary B. Scott, CPMM Glenbard Wastewater Authority Phone: 630-790-1901 x124 E-mail: GSCOTT@GBWW.ORG Association of Boards of Certification