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Plant Maintenance Technologist Grade 4

Plant Maintenance Grade IV Certification is designed to demonstrate competency at the program manager level. More specifically, Grade IV certification implies competence in the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the Essential Duties of a management level Plant Maintenance Technologist.

Eligibility Criteria For Taking The Test
The basic requirement is eight years of full-time work in Plant Maintenance. You may also qualify by having six years of experience and holding a Mechanical or Electrical/Instrumentation Technologist Grade III Certificate for two years, OR having six years of full-time experience and holding an Associate’s degree in a related field, OR having five years of full-time experience and holding a Bachelor’s, or higher, degree in a related field. All Grade IV candidates must also demonstrate at least one year of experience supervising the work of others.

Eligibility criteria are summarized in the table below. You may qualify by meeting either Education/Experience Combination A, B, C, or D. If you do not meet any of the combinations of experience and education, then you do not qualify for Grade IV:

Qualifying With Your Education
Holding a college degree, or its equivalent, in a field related to your vocation will reduce the number of years required for your test (see the table above). Your degree must be in a field that is related to the certificate for which you are applying. If you are uncertain if your degree is related to your vocation, you should still include your degree information in your application. The Technical Certification Program Committee will determine if your degree qualifies. If it does not, you will be accepted for the next highest grade level for which you qualify. Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees in technical fields are usually accepted. Degrees are evaluated on a case-by-case basis upon receipt of the application. College credit without a degree is not accepted unless it can be demonstrated that the credit is equivalent to a degree.

Essential Duties
Individuals certified as Grade IV Plant Maintenance Technologists are expected to possess acceptable competency when performing the tasks that are necessary for management level plant maintenance technologists. These necessary tasks are known as the Essential Duties. The certification test measures knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the Essential Duties.

1. Essential duties identified on the Test Content Specifications for Plant Maintenance Grade I, and Electrical Instrumentation Technology and Mechanical Technology Grades II, and III.
2. Initiates, plans, directs and oversees the sequence of operations for large and complex repair and construction work at wastewater treatment plants, wastewater pump stations, storm drainage stations, potable water systems, chemical handling systems and oxygen injection systems.
3. Coordinates staffing with operational activities, directs the coordination of assigned work with appropriate personnel, reviews, preliminary design and specification, and in association with appropriate staff, makes recommendations involving modifications to facilities.
4. Directs, coordinates and reviews the work plan for assigned plant facility services and activities; assigns work activities and projects, monitors work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures; and meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
5. Establishes policies and procedures for operation and maintenance of complex water and wastewater treatment equipment, chemical handling systems and oxygen injection.
6. Designs and implements training of crews in plant maintenance, construction, repair and safety principles to meet and comply with national, federal, state, and local regulations.
7. Schedules and directs computer based maintenance programs.
8. Formulates, initiates and directs the operational parameters for facilities and equipment under manager's jurisdiction during storm periods or emergencies.
9. Approves time sheets, equipment, labor changes and assigns priority of work orders for plant maintenance personnel.
10. Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities.
11. Selects, train, motivates and evaluates personnel performance; and implements discipline and termination procedures, when required.
12. Prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
13. Designs and administers safety programs.

Complexity Of Test Questions
At the Grade IV level, certificate candidates are expected to have the knowledge, skill and ability to administer, coordinate and manage complex programs described in the Essential Duties above. Grade IV candidates are also expected to be familiar with the Grade I, II, and III Plant Maintenance Technologist knowledge, skills and abilities. Examinees will have to answer multiple choice questions that test analysis, synthesis and evaluation of the subject matter. The complexity of the questions will cover the ability: to clarify and organize theories and ideas; to put together facts to form new solutions; to make managerial level judgements.

Test Content Areas
The following list is an outline of Test Content Areas. Each content area is a Knowledge, Skill, or Ability that is required to perform the Essential Duties listed above. Since all of the Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities are required to perform the Essential Duties they are all equally important in the demonstration of acceptable competency. Thus, all of the content areas listed below are approximately equally weighted on the test. Grade IV candidates will not be expected to demonstrate competency in all of the technical aspects of Plant Maintenance Grade I, and Electrical/Instrumentation and Mechanical Technologist Grade II and III. However it is expected that Grade IV candidates will be familiar enough with the Essential Duties and Test Content Areas of these lower grade level Plant Maintenance vocations to make informed management decisions.

1. Knowledge, skills and abilities identified on the Test Content Specifications for Plant Maintenance Grade I, and Electrical Instrumentation Technology and Mechanical Technology Grades II, and III.
2. The methods, materials, equipment, and chemicals used in the maintenance, repair and construction of various types of mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, and electrical/instrumentation components in wastewater treatment plants, complex pumping stations, potable water facilities, and chemical handling.
3. Safety principles and CAL-OSHA requirements involved in all aspects of plant maintenance work, equipment usage, and confined space work performed.
4. Supervisory principles and practices which include training, planning and scheduling effective use of personnel, equipment, materials, and performance evaluations.
5. Computer systems relevant to water and/or wastewater treatment facilities.
6. Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
7. Water quality control plant compliance regulations.
8. Methods and techniques of water quality compliance reporting.
9. Principles of municipal budget preparation and control.
10. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including a variety of government officials and the general public.
11. Direct operations of all mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical and instrumentation equipment used in water and/or wastewater treatment plant operations.
12. Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
13. Supervise, direct and coordinate the work of lower level staff.
14. Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.
15. Interpret and explain applicable policies and procedures.
16. Prepare clear and concise reports.
17. Plan complex jobs, including the utilization of personnel, materials, and equipment.
18. Read, interpret and explain blueprints, specifications, and maps.
19. Develop and prepare budget information.
20. Maintain facility in compliance with applicable water quality control and environmental regulations

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