(1) The department shall:

(a) Reclassify a certified BTO that has twelve months or more of operating experience in a water treatment plant to a WTPO 1. To document operating experience in a water treatment plant, a BTO shall submit the following to the department for review and approval:

(i) Completed "Waterworks Operator Information" form provided by the department; and

(ii) Affidavits of employment that document water treatment plant experience.

(b) Issue a temporary operator certification to a BTO designated as a certified operator in responsible charge in WAC 246-292-020 for up to twelve months as a WTPO 1 under the following criteria:

(i) The BTO is currently operating a water treatment plant;

(ii) The BTO does not have twelve months of operating experience in a water treatment plant; and

(iii) The water treatment plant is classified as Class 1 in WAC 246-292-040 Table 1.

(2) A BTO that does not have twelve months of operating experience in a water treatment plant, and that does not meet the criteria in subsection (1)(b) of this section, shall remain a certified BTO.

(3) Within twelve months of the effective date of this chapter, a BTO may request that the department reclassify the certificate from a BTO to a WTPO-OIT by submitting the following information for department review and approval:

(a) Completed "Waterworks Operator Information" form; and

(b) Affidavits of employment that document water treatment plant experience.