CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist...

CSWEA Plant Maintenance CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program 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: [email protected]

Association of Boardsof Certification

WEF/ABC/CSWEA GoalWEF/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 ABC Voluntary 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 Plant Maintenance Technologist certification program for Drinking Water and Wastewater Maintenance Technicians.


Who is ABC ?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.


What Has ABC Done ?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


Industry Recognized Maintenance ProgramsIndustry 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.


Maintenance Technologist Program DevelopmentMaintenance 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)


Job AnalysisJob Analysis

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


Need-to-Know CriteriaNeed-to-Know Criteria

Identifies the subjects Maintenance Technologist needs to know to successfully carryout their job tasks.

Technician Class Level

I II III IV

Equipment Operations and Maintenance

70% 68% 58% 45%

Electrical and Instrumentation 5% 7% 10% 15%

Math 10% 10% 12% 15%

Safety and Administration 15% 15% 20% 25%


Question DevelopmentQuestion 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


Exam DevelopmentExam Development

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


CSWEACSWEA Plant Maintenance Plant Maintenance

Technologist Certification ProgramTechnologist Certification Program

Outlook for Testing/Licensing ProgramOutlook 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 BenefitsBenefits

• CSWEA Individual Members -- Skill Development and Recognition• Employers -- Staff Career Development and Retention• CSWEA -- Enhanced Training Offerings – IL, WI, MN

Costs – MinimalCosts – Minimal

• CSWEA Applicant Registration/Certification Fees – Estimated $50 per examinee


CSWEA Program Adoption StatusCSWEA 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 ProcessCertification Process• Certification Application – Voluntary Program

– Application for Technical Certification– Application Fee– Review Experience/Education– Testing Scheduled– Authorizing Certification Documents



Questions ???

Gary B. Scott, CPMM

Glenbard Wastewater Authority

Phone: 630-790-1901 x124

E-mail: [email protected]


CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist Certification Program CSWEA Plant Maintenance Technologist...

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