TCEQ OSSF LICENSE EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 3COMPLETE VERSIONS
GRADED A+ 2025
Adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 & revised them several times - Answer- TCEQ
Is responsible for reviewing permit applications, site evaluations, planning materials and
conducting inspections of OSSF's. - Answer- Designated Representative
Individual who holds a valid license from the TCEQ & who is compensated by another
individual to construct install alter or repair an OSSF - Answer- Installer
Individual who visits a site and conducts soil evaluations and a site survey - Answer- Site
Evaluator
OSSF licenses that require previous experience - Answer- Installer II & Maintenance Provider
These Individuals working in any capacity for an OSSF authorized agent cannot work as an
installer, Designer for a fee, or private Site Evaluator within jurisdiction of the permitting
authority - Answer- Designated Representative
Submit application, pay class and application fees, complete appropriate training course -
Answer- Pre-qualifications for an exam
New OSSF licenses are issued for - Answer- 3 year term
How many hours of the TCEQ approved continuing education course must an individual
complete in order to renew the license - Answer- 24 hours
,Site & soil evaluation conducted by Site Evaluator, select OSSF, system planned by qualified
individual, prepare and submit permit application, application and planning materials reviewed
by permitting authority, receive permit to construct, construction, system inspected at appropriate
stages, notice of approval & permit to operate issued by permitting authority - Answer- 9 steps
of permitting process
Penalties for violating the laws, rules or regulations covering OSSF - Answer- Criminal
Penalties/Injunction or civil suit/Administrative Penalties
Planning materials for an OSSF utilizing secondary treatment can be prepared by - Answer- PE
(Professional Engineer) or RS (Registered Sanitarian)
bottomless chambers that are installed in a drain field excavation with open bottom of the
chamber in direct contact with soil
- commercially avaliable plastic chamers moded into dome shape
- can be used instead of ET or LPD systems - Answer- leaching chambers
bottom of chamber must be seperated by 2 feet from a restrictive horizon
can NOT be used in absorptive drainfields in class 1a or IV soils - Answer- leaching chamber
requiements
treats wastewater by Evapotranspiration
can be used in soils which are classified as unsuitable for standard subsurface absorption systems
- Answer- Evapotranspiration bed
can NOT be in very wet areas
must have grass cover
distribution pipes are 4 ft apart and 2 feet from bed walls
build shallow beds to prevent clogging
only used in areas of the state where the annual average evaporation exceeds the annual rainfall -
Answer- ET bed system requirements
, system is lined with natural clay, synthetic, or concrete liner. Liner is required if surrounding soil
is very permeable - Answer- Lined ET Beds
used in highly permeable soils (clay), waste water is disposed of by combination of evaporation,
transpiration and absorption - Answer- Unlined ET beds
used between excavated surface and ET system in all class 1a soils where:
seasonal groundwater tables penetrate excavation
minimum of 2 feet ET systems shall only be used in areas of the state where the annual average
evaporation exceeds the annual rainfall soil doesn't exist
- liners are rubber, plastic, concrete, gunite or clay - Answer- Liners
class II soil
drain lines must be surrounded by at least 1 ft of media - Answer- backfill for ET bed system
final grade must be covered with vegetation fully capable of lots of transpiration (grasses and
evergreen bushes) - Answer- vegetation for ET beds
divided into two or more compartments connected by flow control valves - Answer- ET System
layout
column of soil that extends through rock media to the bottom of the bed - Answer- wick
designed to mimic the natural wetland treatment processes by Mother Nature. This system uses
plants and microbes to improve the wastewater quality - Answer- constructed wetlands
most common method used to disinfect wastewater before its distributed into the ground -
Answer- liquid chlorination
kills the disease-causing organisms in the wastewater - Answer- chlorine bleach
GUIDE 3COMPLETE VERSIONS
GRADED A+ 2025
Adopted the current OSSF Rules in 1997 & revised them several times - Answer- TCEQ
Is responsible for reviewing permit applications, site evaluations, planning materials and
conducting inspections of OSSF's. - Answer- Designated Representative
Individual who holds a valid license from the TCEQ & who is compensated by another
individual to construct install alter or repair an OSSF - Answer- Installer
Individual who visits a site and conducts soil evaluations and a site survey - Answer- Site
Evaluator
OSSF licenses that require previous experience - Answer- Installer II & Maintenance Provider
These Individuals working in any capacity for an OSSF authorized agent cannot work as an
installer, Designer for a fee, or private Site Evaluator within jurisdiction of the permitting
authority - Answer- Designated Representative
Submit application, pay class and application fees, complete appropriate training course -
Answer- Pre-qualifications for an exam
New OSSF licenses are issued for - Answer- 3 year term
How many hours of the TCEQ approved continuing education course must an individual
complete in order to renew the license - Answer- 24 hours
,Site & soil evaluation conducted by Site Evaluator, select OSSF, system planned by qualified
individual, prepare and submit permit application, application and planning materials reviewed
by permitting authority, receive permit to construct, construction, system inspected at appropriate
stages, notice of approval & permit to operate issued by permitting authority - Answer- 9 steps
of permitting process
Penalties for violating the laws, rules or regulations covering OSSF - Answer- Criminal
Penalties/Injunction or civil suit/Administrative Penalties
Planning materials for an OSSF utilizing secondary treatment can be prepared by - Answer- PE
(Professional Engineer) or RS (Registered Sanitarian)
bottomless chambers that are installed in a drain field excavation with open bottom of the
chamber in direct contact with soil
- commercially avaliable plastic chamers moded into dome shape
- can be used instead of ET or LPD systems - Answer- leaching chambers
bottom of chamber must be seperated by 2 feet from a restrictive horizon
can NOT be used in absorptive drainfields in class 1a or IV soils - Answer- leaching chamber
requiements
treats wastewater by Evapotranspiration
can be used in soils which are classified as unsuitable for standard subsurface absorption systems
- Answer- Evapotranspiration bed
can NOT be in very wet areas
must have grass cover
distribution pipes are 4 ft apart and 2 feet from bed walls
build shallow beds to prevent clogging
only used in areas of the state where the annual average evaporation exceeds the annual rainfall -
Answer- ET bed system requirements
, system is lined with natural clay, synthetic, or concrete liner. Liner is required if surrounding soil
is very permeable - Answer- Lined ET Beds
used in highly permeable soils (clay), waste water is disposed of by combination of evaporation,
transpiration and absorption - Answer- Unlined ET beds
used between excavated surface and ET system in all class 1a soils where:
seasonal groundwater tables penetrate excavation
minimum of 2 feet ET systems shall only be used in areas of the state where the annual average
evaporation exceeds the annual rainfall soil doesn't exist
- liners are rubber, plastic, concrete, gunite or clay - Answer- Liners
class II soil
drain lines must be surrounded by at least 1 ft of media - Answer- backfill for ET bed system
final grade must be covered with vegetation fully capable of lots of transpiration (grasses and
evergreen bushes) - Answer- vegetation for ET beds
divided into two or more compartments connected by flow control valves - Answer- ET System
layout
column of soil that extends through rock media to the bottom of the bed - Answer- wick
designed to mimic the natural wetland treatment processes by Mother Nature. This system uses
plants and microbes to improve the wastewater quality - Answer- constructed wetlands
most common method used to disinfect wastewater before its distributed into the ground -
Answer- liquid chlorination
kills the disease-causing organisms in the wastewater - Answer- chlorine bleach
