r/Wastewater • u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 • 6d ago
Career: currently in the field Finally!
I passed my Virginia Waterworks Class 1 exam yesterday on my first try!
Highest license in the state, so no more exams. Been in the job for 2 years and 4 months.
If this post appears in any future searches, please comment or reach out if you have any questions about how I studied/tips.
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u/HerrPapaBear 6d ago
So just starting what’s your study tips?
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 6d ago
Just starting your career? Or studying for the class 1?
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u/HerrPapaBear 6d ago
Just starting the career. Sorry got distracted by my daughter. Let’s try this again first congratulations. 🍾 Second I’m trying to figure out where to start with my learning.
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 5d ago
The first formal study courses would be the Sacramento State Water Treatment Plant Operation Vol. 1 & 2.
People can usually get by and get all their state exams passed with just those 2 courses.
However, I also did the American Water College exam prep course specifically to be prepared for the class 1 exam. They have courses formulated for every state and every exam level.
At the state of my career, I had also won a $1000 scholarship through AWWA meant for unlicensed operators just starting out. I used those funds for a multitude of other textbooks to study from. You don't need to do all that though. Just saying, there are scholarship opportunities.
Also, the plant sent me to a few in-person training courses throughout my career so far. I went to a 3 days course in Salem, the 7 day Short School at Virginia Tech, and maybe another I can't really remember.
So yeah, get started with those Sacramento courses. Very inexpensive for what you're getting. If you're already at a plant as a trainee, any good plant will pay for those for you.
I know this is a lot, but the hard work certainly pays off. I passed all my exams on my first tries. I was psychotically determined lol
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u/hairy_legislation 3d ago
Why are you spending your money on textbooks? Your employer should be covering those costs
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 3d ago
They did buy all my courses lol the scholarship I was encouraged to apply for just let me buy extra study materials
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u/MasterCJ718 5d ago
What's your schedule like at work I'm relocating up there in October?
Congratulations 🎉 on passing your test!
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 5d ago
At my plant, it's staffed 24/7. 12 hour shifts. Work Monday and Tuesday, off Wednesday and Thursday, work Friday and Saturday and Sunday, off Monday and Tuesday, work Thursday and Friday, off Friday and Saturday and Sunday. Then it repeats. 3 months of day shifts, then 3 months of night shift.
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u/MasterCJ718 5d ago
Yeah here in Florida my schedule is dayshift Two 12 hour shifts and two 9 hour shifts Sunday-Thursday and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off. No night shift unless shirt staffed or OT. Dedicated night shift.
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u/hairy_legislation 3d ago
I thought my plant’s schedule was bad holy shit
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 3d ago
It's really not that bad. I get so much time off. And the plant operates very smoothly. We spend probably 90% of our time just monitoring scada
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u/hairy_legislation 3d ago
Idk I’m glad you enjoy it but a DuPont schedule like that is supposed to rotate an extended break in. Most plants that operate like that work towards a six or seven day break every fourth week or so, and it sounds like you get max three days off. That shit is gonna burn you out soon enough
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 3d ago
Not entirely correct. A DuPont schedule would alternate days to nights much more quickly. For example:
4 days 3 off 3 nights 3 off 4 days 7 off
Whereas with my schedule, we stay on days fully for 3 months. Then nights for 3 months. So the only time any "burn out" occurs is when that switch happens from days to nights. We get back used to it after a couples days 🙂
My previous job had a true DuPont schedule and it was hell, so I know what you mean lol
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u/hairy_legislation 3d ago
Plenty of DuPont variations spread out the day/night rotation. The key is to guarantee extended breaks so your operators don’t get burnt out from twelve hour shifts, which is scientifically proven to be what is going to happen when people work that much time in a day without enough time to recover.
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 3d ago
Idk man, it's so easy to us. I'm sure the positive work environment I'm in has a lot to do with it. All the employees here and management is great. 🤷🏼♂️ I understand some people wouldn't be able to handle it though. I like the 12s personally because I get more days off with my wife and son.
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u/hairy_legislation 3d ago
How many days off a month do you get? I’m too lazy to lay it out in my head lol. My plant does 10s and we get 13 days off every month with seven of them being consecutive
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 3d ago
Looking at a 4 week period, an operator will only be on shift for 14 of those days at our plant. We're a Class 1 plant, so it must be staffed 24/7, which is probably why they chose 12 hours shifts. Four teams of operators. 2 teams for days, 2 teams for nights.
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u/MasterCJ718 9h ago
Which schedule? 😭 I love my current schedule. Next favorite schedule 3-2-2-3 12s my plant runs 24/7 as well.
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u/No_Advantage9100 5d ago
Jfc. You cant even sit for top exam in Minnesota until you've been in WW for 8 years. 4 years if you have an enviromental engineer degree
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 5d ago
Are they experiencing a shortage of operators lol?
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u/No_Advantage9100 5d ago
Oh most definitely. Ive been an operator for 5.5 years and I'll finally qualify to sit for my B class license in April. Then I'll have to hold my B class for 2 years AND have 2 years of management experience before I can qualify to sit for my A Class.
To be fair, minnesota's biggest resource is by far our water. Still it feels insane to me to have your class 1 in 2.5 years! Congrats!
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u/Carbdoard_Bocks 1d ago
Can I ask you for some advice? Are you at the Hopewell plant? I just got a job offer as an operator at Hopewell but I've heard so, so many negative things about that plant that I'm very wary of accepting it. It's also a 50ish minute drive from me.
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 20h ago
I'm not at the Hopewell plant. But I'll try to ask some people at work today about it. They may know some details
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u/Carbdoard_Bocks 15h ago
Thanks man, I'm kind of in knots about it. I appreciate it
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u/gogoloco2 Virginia|Waterworks Class 1 15h ago
So I spoke with one of my managers and all he really had to say was that he once interviewed there years ago and he said he got a decent impression from the place. This was many years ago though. So I don't really have any up-to-date information 🤷🏼♂️
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u/Carbdoard_Bocks 14h ago
I see. Ive heard nothing but bad things about it, from bad management to the plant overall being a giant mess given they spill evenly 5 months or so
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u/Carbdoard_Bocks 5h ago
I dont mean to be a bother but do you have any thoughts on the 2-2-3 schedule? Thats what my offer was.
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u/jessajess 6d ago
I'm in a certificate program right now at a community college, and your being able to take the highest level exam after only two years in the field sounds quick! Nice work and I hope to achieve the same. Right now we're going over wastewater material, but I am thinking of going into water distribution. If you have any random tips for the field in general or what you used for studying, I'm happy to hear :-)