Program Spotlight: Maintenance Technologist Certification School

This Program Spotlight was originally printed in the Spring 2016 issue of NC Currents magazine.

The reality of continuously changing technology in the water and wastewater industry requires maintenance professionals to undertake an ongoing program of education and knowledge development. To meet this need, the NC AWWA-WEA Plant Operations & Maintenance (O & M) Committee annually holds two Maintenance Technologist Certification Schools that provide high quality and affordable training for maintenance mechanics in the different industries. The school sessions are followed by testing for certification.

The NC AWWA-WEA Plant Operations & Maintenance Committee consists of 90 to 100 members. While all members regularly receive all committee-related communication by email, only a portion of members are active at any given time. Usually, members become active when the committee broaches a subject that touches them directly. Many members have been involved as instructors at one point or another, helping to build capacity for this program, the most recent in the NC AWWA-WEA’s complement of schools.

“For a long time, the maintenance field was not respected as a professional career,” notes Committee Vice Chair Casey Ellis. “This program gives the field a professional accreditation. Now companies are wanting maintenance personnel with this certification.” He adds that the City of Charlotte now gives maintenance personnel a pay increase for certifying at the Maintenance Technologist Class III level.

Average attendance at the Maintenance Technologist Certification Schools depends on the classes. Typically, from 70 to 80 people attend the Class I courses, while attendance for Class II is 40 to 50, and Class III, 20-30. About a dozen people attended the first class of Class IV, which was held in 2015.

Each level has a different qualification requirement:
• Enrolling in Class I requires having a high school diploma, GED or equivalent and one year of acceptable maintenance experience. The applicant must complete the week long maintenance school to qualify for the exam.
• A maintenance professional enrolling in Class II must hold a Class I certification and have a minimum of three years acceptable maintenance experience. Completion of the Maintenance Technologist Class II course is required to qualify for the exam.
• Those enrolling in Class III must hold a Class II certification and have a minimum of five years of acceptable maintenance experience, including two years of performing Class II duties. Related education can substitute for experience but cannot exceed 50% of the stated experience.
• Finally, Class IV requires holding an active Class III certification and a minimum of seven years of acceptable maintenance experience, including one year as a supervisor with some experience in budget and personnel preparation, in presentation of staff reports, and in working with administration and safety programs.

Classes are held at the NCSU McKimmon Center in Raleigh, NC and at the Foothills Higher Education center in Morganton, NC. Holding the classes in different locations across the state makes it easier for personnel to travel to whichever one is closer. Classes are held over four days, with testing on the last day for Classes I, II and III, and during a separate, designated testing window for Class IV.

Since 2009, 1,020 maintenance professionals have taken the exams and 816 have passed (about an 80% pass rate). Along with attending the classes, participants prepare for the exam by consulting books in the reading list for each class. The registration fee includes one copy of the appropriate Needs-To-Know manual. Manuals are given to students when they arrive at the school and can also be downloaded for free in advance of the classes.

The trainers come from across the industry, from professional engineering firms to vendors of equipment. A strict policy prohibits any semblance of a sales pitch. Furthermore, all presentations are reviewed and approved before they can be delivered in class. “We are always searching for new trainers,” says Ellis. “Instructors from all different kinds of fields are welcome to volunteer their time and knowledge.”

Costs involved with attending the schools are usually borne by each participant’s employer. “Costs are between $310 and $360,” says Ellis, “depending on whether or not you are a member of the NC AWWA-WEA and if you register early.”

Annual certification renewal is included in the class fee, regardless if the participant passes or fails. Otherwise, renewing an existing certification level requires a $30 payment and six CEUs. Details, registration forms, and contact information can be found at www.ncsafewater.org by clicking ‘Maintenance Tech School’ under the ‘Schools & Cert.’ tab.