OSTP Policies and News

2012 Onsite Sewage Treatment Program Policies 

Enrolling in Classes

Workshop enrollments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats at workshops are limited, and are only reserved if your fee accompanies the enrollment form. Enrollments are not accepted over the telephone, but may be submitted online, by fax, or mail.

Once you have enrolled, a detailed confirmation will be mailed to your address. This confirmation will provide exact location and map, times and what to bring to the workshop, as well as payment information.

Certificates of Attendance

Attendance is required at all sessions of each workshop to receive a Certificate of Attendance. You no longer need to send a copy to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. OSTP will make sure you get credit for the courses you attend in-full.

Scheduling

Plan your classes accordingly. Pre-certification and continuing education courses are each offered only a few times a year throughout the state. Most locations are rotated by region, while some courses are in fixed locations each year.  

Late Enrollments

Enroll by the course deadline to avoid a mandatory $40 late fee. If you enroll late or at the door on the day of the workshop (if space allows), a $40 late fee will be automatically added to the workshop price. There will be no exceptions.

Substitutions and Transfers

Substituting another person for your enrollment fee or transferring to another workshop must be requested before the day of the workshop. A $20 substitution or transfer fee will be charged for each change to the enrollment. Substitutions or transfers must be received in writing at the OSTP office by the business day prior to the workshop.

Cancellations

You may cancel your enrollment through the last business day before the workshop. Cancellations must be in writing. A mandatory $20 cancellation fee applies. After that time, refunds are not issued.

Course Cancellation Policy

OSTP reserves the right to cancel an event if 10 people have not enrolled in a given event by the course deadline. In the rare event of a course cancellation, OSTP will issue a full refund and do its best to accommodate the educational needs of those who were enrolled.

OSTP does not cancel its courses due to inclement weather. If you cannot attend due to weather, notify our program in writing as soon as possible. OSTP cannot guarantee that additional training will be provided or available prior to your expiration date if you cancel your enrollment. Drive safely and plan ahead.

“No Shows”
 

We reserve space for paid attendees.  If you don’t cancel and do not attend, we can’t offer your space to anyone else. If you do not cancel and do not show up, you are still responsible for the enrollment payment.

2012 Program News

New Scheduling Format

Beginning this year, OSTP courses will be scheduled on a calendar-year basis to better meet your needs. Schedules are announced in October for the following calendar year.

Do you know your continuing education requirements and deadline?

Search for and use the MPCA’s SSTS Certified Individual Search tool on its web site to see how much continuing education you have taken and find out when your certification expires.  Enter “SSTS Search” in the Search Bar at the top right corner of: www.pca.state.mn.us

Visit our web page: septic.umn.edu

We strive to provide you with the resources you need to do a great job. Check out the new additions to our website that include a Soils for SSTS Professionals webpage and Resources for Advanced Designers and Inspectors. Please call OSTP Staff if you have any questions about finding resources or publications!

Seven Soils Continuing Education Courses!

All SSTS Designers and Inspectors are required to take six hours of soils-specific continuing education every three years.

OSTP has divided the state into seven distinct soils regions that share similar soils characteristics.  Attend soils CE seminars in the soils regions you work to get the most out of this requirement. Use our interactive tool to determine  the soil regions in your area and find out when we will be offering courses:  http://septic.umn.edu/professionals/soils/trainingregions

OSTP has scheduled seven opportunities for you to meet this requirement in 2012. Click here to see the 2012 offerings.

Register Now for Advanced Design/Inspection and Service Provider!

SSTS professionals conducting design work on Type IV systems and SSTS with a design flow of greater than 2500 gallons per day are required to successfully complete Advanced Design and Inspection, Parts I and II. Those that must inspect these systems must also successfully complete the Service Provider course. 

These courses will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to meet all rules and regulations pertaining to these advanced treatment and mid-sized systems. Current rule states that you must have these specialty area certifications by February 4, 2012 if you work on Type IV, LISTS or MSTS. The MPCA has reported that it will be enforcing this requirement. Be sure you carry the appropriate certification for the type of work you do!

Manual for Septic System Professionals in Minnesota

The state’s official training and certification manual produced by the University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program is available for downloading free of charge here. Print copies are periodically updated and are available for $40 at all OSTP workshops or online; search for item #08650. 

Designers: Check out the new forms on our web page:

http://septic.umn.edu/formsandsheets

All of the design forms have been updated to the new Minnesota Rules Chapters 7080-83. Instructions for how to use the forms are included online. Instruction about the use of  these new forms is available at the Design Continuing Education course. Questions about the forms should be directed to Sara Heger by email at sheger@umn.edu or dial 612-625-7243.

Installers: Do you have your pipelayer certification yet?

As of December 1, 2007, all onsite installers need to either be a licensed plumber, restricted plumber, or have a special pipelayer certification and a $25,000 Code Compliance Bond. Don’t be caught without your Pipelayer Card! Pipelayer Certification is a part of the Installer Pre-certification curriculum and is offered on the 2nd afternoon of all Installer CE courses.