Transcript INDICATORS OF QUALITY IN A LABORATORY ANALYST

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: [email protected]
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 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.
Association
of Boards
of Certification
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
What Has ABC Done ?
 Assist agencies develop valid certification exams
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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
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
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
Job 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
Association
of Boards
of Certification
Need-to-Know Criteria

Identifies the subjects Maintenance Technologist needs to
know to successfully carryout their job tasks.
Technician Class Level
I
Equipment Operations and
Maintenance
Electrical and Instrumentation
II
III
IV
70% 68% 58% 45%
5%
7% 10% 15%
Math
10% 10% 12% 15%
Safety and Administration
15% 15% 20% 25%
Association
of Boards
of Certification
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
Exam 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
Association
of Boards
of Certification
CSWEA Plant 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 $50 per examinee
Association
of Boards
of Certification
CSWEA Plant Maintenance
Technologist Certification Program
 CSWEA Program Adoption Status
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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
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Application for Technical Certification
Application Fee
Review Experience/Education
Testing Scheduled
Authorizing Certification Documents
Association
of Boards
of Certification
CSWEA Plant Maintenance
Technologist Certification Program
Questions ???
Gary B. Scott, CPMM
Glenbard Wastewater Authority
Phone: 630-790-1901 x124
E-mail: [email protected]
Association
of Boards
of Certification