Get Your On-Site Designers and Inspectors License

Requirements

On-site Designer License Requirements

  • A high school diploma or equivalent.
  • At least 4 years' approved experience showing increased responsibility for the design of on-site wastewater treatment systems, including:
    • Site soil assessment
    • Hydraulics
    • Topographic delineations
    • Use of specialized treatment processes and devices
    • Microbiology
    • Construction practices
  • Up to 2 years of this experience may be from one or the other of these:
    • Completion of satisfactory college-level course work.
    • Successful participation in a board-approved internship or mentoring program.
  • At least 2 verifications of any experience must be sent directly to us from the professional engineers, licensed on-site wastewater treatment system designers, or on-site regulatory officials who have first-hand knowledge of the practical experience you gained.
  • A passing score on the On-Site Designer/Inspector Law Review
  • A passing score on the written On-site Designer License Exam.

On-site Inspector Certificate of Competency Requirements

(If you have a certificate of competency, you may perform on-site design services for local health jurisdictions, but may not practice as a licensed on-site designer.)

  • Employment at a local health jurisdiction
  • One year of practical work experience under the supervision of a certificate of competency holder
  • A written request for certification from your Local Health Director or designee
  • A passing score on the On-Site Designer/Inspector Law Review
  • A passing score on the written On-site Designer License Exam

How to Apply

What You’ll Need

  • Completed  Law Review exam.
  • Experience verifications
  • Official transcripts, if you want education to be applied toward experience
  • For Inspectors only:  Completed DOH Request for examination form

Online

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Experience Verification Options

Complete the Applicant portion of the Experience Description and Verification form for each experience you’re having verified and send it to the experience verifier. 

  • The verifier must complete their portion and return it to you in a sealed enveloped across the flap.  Don’t open the sealed envelope.  Or the verifier can email the form to engineers@brpels.wa.gov but it must come directly from the verifier’s email address.

Official transcripts must be in an envelope sealed by the college or university, or emailed direct from the school.  Have them sent to:

Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
PO Box 9025
Olympia WA 98507-9025

By Mail

On-site Designer License

  1. Complete and sign pages 1–2 of the On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems Designer Registration Application and mail them with a check or money order for the $200 fee (payable to the Department of Licensing) to:

Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
Department of Licensing
PO Box 3777
Seattle, WA 98124-3777

  1. Complete the applicant sections of the  Experience Description and Verification form, and send it to the people who are verifying your experience. They will verify your experience and send the completed form directly to us.
  2. If you want education considered toward your experience requirements, ask your school to send us an official transcript at:

Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors
PO Box 9025
Olympia, WA 98507

If you're approved to take the exam, we'll send you details about the exam date and location 2–3 weeks before the exam.

On-site Inspector Certificate of Competency

  1. Complete the On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Inspector Certificate of Competency Application and mail it with a check or money order (payable to the Department of Licensing) for your licensing fee to the address on the form.
  2. Have the director/director designee of the Health Department/Jurisdiction sign the DOH request for Examination form, and submit it with your application.
  3. Pass the take-home Law Review Exam..

If you're approved to take the exam, we'll send you details about the exam date and location 2–3 weeks before the exam.

Application Deadlines

  • Application and reschedule deadline February 24, 2023
  • Application and reschedule deadline August 25, 2023

License Exemptions

You aren't required to get an on-site designer license if you are:

  • A licensed professional engineer.
  • An employee or subordinate of a licensed designer or professional engineer working under the direct supervision of a licensed designer or professional engineer.