1.   Proof of Education

Taken from the January 12, 2001 Minutes.

In the matter of proof of education. Either for an operator applying for a higher classification than his voluntary certificate and for operators that were not under the voluntary program.

Board Direction – The Board decided that the burden of acceptable proof remains with the operator.

SERM advised that proof should not only be restricted to transcripts. It can be a sworn statement from a Commission of Oaths or Notary Public. The Board can also investigate.

Taken from the minutes of February 7, 2008

Motion
The proof of education document must be submitted in one of the following formats:

• High School Transcripts
• GED Transcript
• Sworn affidavit or declaration stating the last school grade completed and signed by a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public.

Carried

Taken from the minutes of August 21, 2009

Motion Passed:
Effective January 1, 2010 the board will require all applicants who completed a grade 10 to 12 education after 1971 to submit an official Transcript or GED Transcript. Applicants whose education concluded prior to grade nine OR prior to 1971, and who can not submit a transcript, are permitted to provide a signed affidavit or declaration stating their last level of education. These must be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public.

For information on obtaining a grade 10 to 12 Official Transcript log on to Sask Learning at: www.education.gov.sk.ca/transcripts or call 306-787-6086. For information on ordering a GED Transcript log on to: www.aeel.gov.sk.ca/ged/transcripts or call 306-787-5597

2.   Definition of Temporary Duties, Relief Operator and Seasonal Operator

Taken from the attached letter from Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management dated February 20, 2001.

Definition of a relief operator – “where a relief operator (not normally employed by the community) is used to replace the normal operator, the time spent on the job will be counted in the same manner as would be for the person they replace. This would be the case for holiday replacement or for week-end replacement. Therefore, for each day of employment, where the duties include operation of a facility, one day of experience will be granted.”

Full-time employees not normally assigned the duty of an operator – “where a full time employee is not normally assigned the duty of operator but is used in relief capacity, the time spent assigned as an operator will count in the same manner as that of the full time operator. Therefore, for each day or shift of employment, where the duties include operation of a facility, one day of experience will be granted.”

Taken from the minutes of February 7^th, 2008

Definition of a Seasonal Operator
An Operator who performs operator duties for a consecutive period of time for only a portion of the year during a twelve-month period. The facility may or may not be a seasonal facility that operates during a particular time.

Seasonal and Relief operators must follow the daily equation.

230 days = 1 year

The weekly and hourly equations equaling one year of experience were voided.

3.   Reciprocity Agreements

Taken from the January 12, 2001 Minutes. Amended February 9, 2001.

SERM advised that the Board is fully authorized to enter into reciprocity agreements.

SERM also directed that nothing restricts the Board from accepting operators from outside the province without a reciprocity agreement in place.

 

Reciprocity with Alberta

4.   Application Fees for Operators Placed in the Pending Database

Taken from the June 22, 2001 Minutes.

Motion
Incomplete applications will be placed in the OCB’s pending database for a one-time period of up to two years from the date the application was first reviewed by the Board. Applications that are completed during this two-year period will be considered for certification under the Regulations and Standards in effect on the completed application review date.

Carried

5.   Operators leaving to work outside the Province of Saskatchewan

Policy presented and amended at the June 22, 2001 Board Meeting. See June 22 Minutes.

Motion
To adopt the amended policy.

Carried

It will be the responsibility of the operator to inform the Board in writing of an operator’s move out of province. The Board shall receive the written advisement no later than 30 days after the move has taken place. Certified operators moving outside the Province of Saskatchewan will have their names remain in the certified database for the valid term of their certificate but will have their community listed as “Out of Province”.

Note:
In addition to the above policy the Board has decided to make a request every 3 to 4 months to the communities to confirm the status of their certified operators.

Revised:
The “Note” on this policy was removed as written in the minutes of December 5, 2003.

6.   Operators changing communities within the Province of Saskatchewan

Policy presented and amended at the June 22, 2001 Board Meeting. See June 22 Minutes.

Motion
To adopt the amended policy.

Carried

It will be the responsibility of the operator to inform the Board in writing of their move to another community. The Board shall receive the written advisement no later than 30 days after the move has taken place. Certified operators moving within the Province of Saskatchewan will have their names remain in the certified database for the valid term of their certificate and will have their community changed to reflect their current place of employment.

Note:
In addition to the above policy the Board has decided to make a request every 3 to 4 months to the communities to confirm the status of their certified operators.

Revised:
The “Note” on this policy was removed as written in the minutes of December 5, 2003.

7.   Operators retiring but holding a mandatory certificate

Policy presented and amended at the June 22, 2001 Board Meeting. See June 22 Minutes.

Motion
To adopt the amended policy.

Carried

It will be the responsibility of the operator to inform the Board in writing of their retirement. The Board shall receive the written advisement no later than 30 days after the termination of employment has taken place. Certified operators retiring within the Province of Saskatchewan will have their names remain in the certified database for the valid term of their certificate but will have their community listed as “Retired”.

Note:
In addition to the above policy the Board has decided to make a request every 3 to 4 months to the communities to confirm the status of their certified operators.

Revised:
The “Note” on this policy was removed as written in the minutes of December 5, 2003.

8.   Operators who have left their communities and have not relocated to another community

Policy was presented at the February 1 & 2, 2002 Board Meeting. See Feb 1 & 2 Minutes.

Motion
To adopt the amended policy.

Carried

Certified operators who have left their communities and have not relocated to another community shall have their communities listed as “Not Designated”.

9.   Reciprocity of Expired Alberta Certificates

Taken from the November 15, 2002 Minutes.

Motion
For operators applying for certification in Saskatchewan after allowing their Alberta certificate to lapse. Lapsed time shall be counted from date of issuance of certificate or renewal date, not expiry date. Note: Past cumulative experience is recognized.

For certificates that have expired for five years or less:

1. Application can be made for certification at previously held level(s) and area(s); and
2. Are required to supply proof of the expired certificate.

For certificates that have expired for more that five years:

1. Application can be made for certification at previously held level(s) and area(s); and
2. Are required to supply proof of the expired certificate; and
3. Must write and pass Saskatchewan certification exam(s) at previously held certified level(s) and area(s).

Carried

Policy amended as per the minutes of February 7^th, 2008

After the certification has been approved, the operator must follow SK government regulations whereby one continuing education unit (CEU) is required for renewals falling due after July 15, 2005. In the case where an operators certificate has lapsed for two consecutive renewals (four years), the operator must earn 2.0 CEU’s.

10.   Certificate Expiry Dates

Taken from the November 15, 2002 Minutes.

Motion
Certificates issued from this day forth will be issued the date of the meeting and shall have an expiry date on the 15^th of the month at the end of the term of the certificate.

Carried

11.   Renewal Validation Receipts

Taken from the November 15, 2002 Minutes.

Motion
Renewal validation receipts may be signed by any Board Member and will list the certificate number.

Carried

12.   Career Path Policy Guideline

Taken from the December 13, 2002 Minutes.

Motion
To adopt the Career Path Policy as a guideline.

Carried

Motion from the February 7^th, 2008 minutes
Policy annulled

13.   NSF Cheques

Taken from the minutes of March 5^th and 6^th, 2004

For application fees that are returned by the bank marked NSF, the applicant will be mailed a letter requesting payment be made in the form of a certified cheque or money order and to make payment of $130.00 for the application fee plus an additional $10.00 administrative fee.

Motion from the February 7^th, 2008 minutes

The administration fee on NSF cheques will be changed from $10.00 to $20.00 and the individual will be required to pay the equivalent bank fees debited to the OCB.

14.   Certification Exam Protocol

Taken from the minutes of June 18^th and 19^th, 2004

For applicants applying for a Small Water System (SWS) certificate, the applicant must write and pass with a mark of 70%, the SWS exam or both the Water Treatment 1 and Water Distribution 1 exams. Same rule applies for a Small Wastewater System (SWWS) certificate, the SWWS exam must be written or both the Wastewater Treatment 1 and Wastewater Collection 1 exams.

The protocol remains the same for any applicant requesting a level 1, 2, 3 or 4 certificate in any area. Exams must be written for each level of certification up to the desired level. For example if an operator is applying for Water Distribution level 4 he must first write and pass all the certification exams from level 1 up to level 4.

15.   Reinstatement of Expired Saskatchewan Certificates

Taken from the minutes of November 12^th and 13^th, 2004

Motion
For Operators applying for certification after allowing their certificate to lapse. Lapsed time shall be counted from date of issuance of certificate or renewal date, not expiry date. Note: Past cumulative experience is recognized.

For certificates that have expired for five years or less:

• Application can be made for certification at previously held level(s) and area(s).

For certificates that have expired for more than five years:

• Application can be made for certification at previously held level(s) and area(s).
• Must write and pass Saskatchewan certification exam(s) at previously held certified level(s) and area(s).

Carried

Taken from the minutes of June 15^th and 16^th, 2007

Motion
The board recognize certificates from other provinces and that multiple provincial certificates be accepted.

Carried

Taken from the Minutes of February 7, 2008

As per Section 68 of the Water Regulations, 2002, one Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is required for renewals falling due after July 15, 2005.

In the case where an operators certificate has lapsed for two consecutive renewal periods (four years) the operator must earn 2.0 CEU’s.

16.   Acceptability of Repeat Workshops/Courses Towards Certification Renewal

Taken from the minutes of February 2, 2007

Motion
Continuing education units (CEU’s) will be accepted on repeat workshops/courses providing the course was not repeated during a four-year period. The repeated course should skip one renewal period.

Carried

Motion from the February 7^th, 2008 meeting

A First Aid course can be repeated and used for renewal more than once, however usage of this course for renewal must also follow previous policy, whereby the course can not be used for two consecutive renewals.

17.   CEU’s Earned during the Month of a Certificates Issue and Acceptability Towards Renewal

Taken from the minutes of November 16^th and 17^th, 2007

Motion
The board will accept for renewal any approved CEU’s earned during the same month of a certificate’s expiry.

Carried

The board will accept for renewal approved CEU’s earned anytime during the first month of a certificate’s term without regard to the exact date that the workshop/course was taken and with regard to policy #16 whereby a repeat course can not be used for consecutive renewals.

Additionally, a course used to renew the previous term cannot be used again for the present renewal.

18.   Operator in Training Policy

Taken from the minutes of July 7, 8 and 9^th, 2005

Issuing Operator in Training (OIT) Certificates

1. For those operators needing to meet only experience criteria or certification:
   • Small System certificates will be issued for a 6 months only.
   • Level 1 OIT certificates will be issued for a 6 months only.
   • Level 2 (OIT) certificates will be issued for 1 ½ years only.
2. The same education substitutions written in the Operator Certification Standards, 2002 used for mandatory certification in Small System, level 1 and level 2 will also apply to applicants applying for Operator in Training certificates.
3. A level 2 OIT certificate will not be approved unless the operator has written and passed the level one certification exam for the requested area.
4. An OIT certificate will be issued to one, newly hired individual in a community. A community cannot have an operator with and OIT certificate if they already have a certified operator with a mandatory certificate.
5. When requesting a change from the OIT certificate to the mandatory certificate the application fee is not necessary. The application for mandatory certification is considered an upgrade to an existing certificate.
6. By year 2008 OIT certificates will no longer be issued or considered for certification.

Taken from the minutes of February 7^th, 2008

Point # 6 of the Operator in Training Policy annulled.

19.

20.   Canceling, Amending or Suspending a Certificate

To conform to Section 69 (2)(a) of the Water Regulation, 2002, the board determined that 45 days notice by registered mail will be given to any operator before his/her certificate can be canceled, amended or suspended.

21.   Requesting a Hearing with the OCB

Taken from the minutes of February 10^th, 2006

Any individual wishing to approach the board and discuss a topic must first provide their request in writing prior to any meeting between parties.

Motion from the minutes of February 7^th, 2008

All requests to appear before the OCB as a delegation shall be made in writing and be submitted to the administrator 2 weeks prior to the date of the meeting and must include any material that is to be discussed with the board.

21.   Duties List and Unaccepted Documentation

Motion #08/05 taken from the minutes of June 13^th and 14^th 2008

Photocopies of the Program Guide or individual job descriptions or the sample list of duties taken from the application form, will not be accepted by the Operator Certification Board as a duties list as requested in Section 2 of the certification application form. The duties must be listed as they pertain to actual job experience.