Rule 11-6-3.6 - Renewal of CertificatesA. Subject to the provisions of Rule 3.5.B., certificates may be renewed without examination, however, in order to be eligible for certificate renewal, a certification renewal application should be filed prior to the expiration of the existing certificate. The application must be accompanied by the renewal fee and also proof of completing the continuing education requirements found in the below paragraph C. Additionally, an operator, if practicing, must have demonstrated competency. Certified operators who file renewal applications more than sixty (60) days after the expiration of their certificate will be required to pass the written exam in order to be eligible for certification.B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Rule 3.5.A., any wastewater facility operator who holds a restricted certificate (i.e., valid only for a particular facility and/or class of facilities) may obtain a renewal certificate with identical restrictions provided that all conditions of paragraph A. are satisfied.C. Continuing education (1) Operators must receive thirty six (36) hours of related continuing education during the three (3) year period for which their certification is valid. A minimum of eighteen (18) of this thirty six (36) hours must be satisfied by attending Department sponsored training. (2) Certified collection system operators must receive eighteen (18) hours of related continuing education during the three (3) year period that their certification is valid.(3) Operators who have been certified for three (3) consecutive three (3) year periods, must receive twenty four (24) hours of continuing education during the fourth and subsequent three (3) year periods for which their certificate is valid. A minimum of twelve (12) hours must be satisfied by attending Department sponsored training, or Association sponsored Short Courses.(4) Exceptions to the twenty four (24) hours of Department sponsored training requirement may be considered by the Department in individual cases, such as operators who possess valid Mississippi Certificates and are employed and reside outside the state of Mississippi, provided they submit proof of attendance of equivalent training.(5) Continuing education credit will be given as follows: (a) Attending one (1) day of Department sponsored training will be equivalent to six (6) hours of continuing education.(b) Attending one (1) Association sponsored week long wastewater treatment short course will be equivalent to thirty two (32) hours of Department sponsored continuing education.(c) Association sponsored wastewater continuing education short courses will be evaluated, upon request, based on technical content, and Department sponsored continuing education credit will be awarded for actual hours attended.(d) Certified Operators who serve as instructors/presenters at Association sponsored training sessions shall receive two (2) hours of continuing education for each hour of actual presentation time.(e) Attending one (1) Association monthly District meeting will be equivalent of to one (1) hour of continuing education. Association District meetings and/or training sessions held other than on a monthly basis, will be evaluated, upon request, based on technical content, and continuing education credit will be awarded for actual hours attended.(f) Association annual conferences will be evaluated, upon request, based on technical content, and Department sponsored continuing education credit will be awarded for actual hours attended.(g) Organizations that provide technical training, including, but not limited to, the Mississippi Water Environment Association and the Mississippi Rural Water Association may request Department approval of training for continuing education credit. The Department shall consider requests for Department sponsored continuing education credit for training in which the Department staff actively participate in the continuing education curriculum development, presentation and evaluation.(h) Special schools, experience, training, correspondence courses, and/or other education and/or experiences may be approved at the discretion of the Department. Miss. Code Ann. §§ 21-27-201, et seq., 49-2-1, et seq. and 49-17-1, et seq.