64E-6.019. Requirements for Registration

(1) Persons subject to registration – A person shall be subject to the requirements of this rule if he or she contracts or advertises to provide services to the public or holds himself or herself out as being capable of performing services related to any of the following activities in the onsite sewage treatment and disposal industry regulated by the department:

(a) Installation of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems,

(b) Repair of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems,

(c) Modification of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems,

(d) Maintenance of onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems,

(e) Septic tank pumping and septage disposal services, excluding companies which only provide portable toilet or temporary holding tank services,

(f) Abandonment of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system.

(2) Any person seeking registration shall apply to the department to take the registration examination on Form DH 4075, 1/97, Application for Septic Tank Contractor Registration, herein incorporated by reference. The form is available from the department.

(3) A person shall be eligible to take the registration examination if they submit necessary exhibits and fees and meet the requirements of Section 489.553(4), F.S.

(a) Under the supervision and control of a registered septic tank contractor or a plumbing contractor in Section 489.553(4)(d), F.S., is defined as an employment relationship where compensation can be documented by the regular deduction of FICA and federal withholding tax as required by law. Principal officers of a corporation or partners of a partnership providing onsite sewage contracting services shall be recognized as being under the supervision and control of the corporation’s or partnership’s qualifying registered septic tank contractor or plumbing contractor.

(b) Related work experience includes but is not limited to onsite sewage treatment and disposal system design, inspection, installation, regulation, environmental health professional certification, site evaluation, underground utility contracting and wastewater treatment plant maintenance and operation. Related work experience does not include clerical, purchasing or estimating.

(c) Out-of-state work experience on a year for year basis shall be accepted for any applicant who demonstrates that they hold a current statewide license for septic tank contracting which was issued upon satisfactory completion of an equivalent examination and required continuing education courses for renewal. For purposes of this section, an equivalent examination means that at a minimum, the following topics were tested and passed: system location and installation; site evaluation criteria; system size determinations; disposal of septage; construction standards for drainfield systems and U.S. Department of Agriculture soil textural classification system. A person employed by and under the supervision and control of such a licensed contractor shall be granted up to two years of related work experience.

(4) Completed applications for registration must be received by the department’s Onsite Sewage Program at least 21 days prior to examination. In order to be complete, the application must have all appropriate spaces filled, be signed by the applicant, be reviewed by the county health department where the applicant provides service, include a money order or sufficiently funded check in the correct amount and contain all necessary support documentation. Support documentation shall include:

(a) A list of the 25 most recent contracts by the applicant or business organization completed immediately preceding the date of filing.

(b) Signed statements from two persons not related to the applicant for whom the applicant has provided services in the onsite sewage industry, stating what services were provided.

(c) Certification from a registered septic tank contractor or plumbing contractor of the applicant’s employment dates and work responsibilities.

(d) Documentation of payment of federal withholding tax and social security as required by law. For principal corporate officers of a corporation or partners in a partnership, legal documentation of their position in the corporation or partnership may be substituted for withholding tax and social security documentation.

(e) Two recent color passport style photographs, not older than 12 months and 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 inches in size.

(5) Eligible applicants must successfully complete an examination administered by the department. Minimum passing score for the examination shall be a 75 percent correct response to all questions comprising the exam.

Rulemaking Authority 489.553(3), 489.557(1) FS. Law Implemented 489.552, 489.553 FS. History–New 10-25-88, Amended 3-17-92, 1-3-95, 5-14-96, 2-13-97, Formerly 10D-6.072, Amended 2-3-98, 4-21-02, 6-18-03, 11-26-06, 4-28-10.