Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which certification exam must I
take?
Take the exam for the classification of
the facility where you are employed
and
for which you are required to obtain
an
Operator Certificate.
I am a newly-hired operator. . When
can I apply to take the
certification
exam?
As soon as you receive your Temporary
Certificate.
When and where is the certification
exam given?
The exams are offered each month
in
the
Baltimore–Washington–Annapolis
area and twice a year in other parts
of
Maryland.
What should I study to prepare for
the certification exam?
Contact the Board, MCET or any of
the
other organizations listed in the
“Resources” section of
"A Guide to Maryland Certification" for
suggested study materials.
Can I get an old copy of the
certification exam from which
to
study?
No. The exam questions are not
changed after each use so giving out
“old” exams would compromise the
exam
process.
If I must be employed as an operator
before I can apply for
certification,
how can I get a job as an
operator until I
am certified?
The Board doesn’t require you
to be
certified to get a job as an
operator,
however, you must apply for a
Temporary
Certificate as soon as you obtain
employment.
What is a “Temporary Certificate”?
This is a certificate issued to a
person
who is performing the duties of an
operator, but has not yet met the
requirements to obtain an Operator
Certificate. A Temporary Certificate
holder
may work only under the
direction of an
Operator or Superintendent
Certificate
holder.
What are the requirements for
obtaining a
“Temporary
Certificate”?
The applicant must be employed to
perform the duties of an operator
and
must submit an “Application for a
Temporary Certificate,” verified
by your
employer.
What are the requirements and
specific training needed to
obtain an
“Operator Certificate”?
The Board has set education,
experience and examination
requirements for each of the 23
certification
classifications. There is no
training
requirement to obtain an Operator
Certificate.
Will the Board send me a certificate
renewal application, or do I
have to
request one?
Currently the Board sends out renewal
notices about two months before your
certificate’s expiration date.
However, it is
the certificate holder’s
responsibility to
renew the certificate even if the
renewal
notice is not received. If you
haven’t
received the renewal notice by one
month
prior to the expiration date,
contact the
Board.
How do I get invited to the
superintendent’s
certification
training course?
Submit to the Board a “Superintendent
Certificate Application.” After
the Board
verifies your eligibility, you will
be invited to
the next offering of the course.
Since college education can be
substituted for part of the
experience requirement for
certification,
can other, non-college
training qualify?
Normally only “appropriate
college
work” in science or engineering
leading
to a degree is accepted for
education
substitution. However, the Board can
consider other training on a
case-by-case
basis.
What is a “Limited Certificate,” and
how can one be obtained?
Limited Certificates were issued
only to
those operators who applied to the
Board on or before July 1, 1982 and
therefore cannot now be obtained. A
Limited Certificate authorizes its
holder to
perform the duties of an Operator
Certificate holder, but restricts
the holder to
work only at a specific facility.
Is there a limit to the number of
times I can take the
certification
exam? And if I fail the
certification
exam, how soon may I test
again?
There is no limit to the number
of times
you can examine, but a separate
application must be submitted each
time.
You can be scheduled to take the
exam
again as soon as you submit another
examination application.
When I pass the certification exam,
will the Board send me my
Operator
Certificate?
No. Passing the exam is only one of the
requirements for obtaining an
Operator
Certificate. After all of the
requirements are
met, submit an “Application for an
Operator
Certificate,” which is included
with your
notice of passing the exam. |
