Virginia (VA) Master Onsite Sewage System
Installer – Conventional Exam – Virginia DEQ /
DPOR Board for Waterworks and Wastewater
Works Operators – 2026/2027 Academic Year –
Verified Questions and Answers for Licensed
Septic Installers and Contractor
SECTION 1: LICENSING & REGULATIONS (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: Which Virginia regulation specifically governs the licensing of onsite
sewage system professionals?
A) 12VAC5-610
B) 18VAC160-40
C) 9VAC30-20
D) 21VAC10-5
Answer: B – 18VAC160-40
Rationale: 18VAC160-40 is the Virginia Administrative Code that outlines licensing
standards, renewal requirements, and CPE requirements for onsite sewage system
professionals. 12VAC5-610 covers sewage handling and disposal regulations (the
technical standards), while 18VAC160-40 governs the professional licensing program
,administered by the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite
Sewage System Professionals .
Question 2: How many Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours must a
Master Conventional installer complete every two years to maintain licensure?
A) 4 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 10 hours
Answer: D – 10 hours
Rationale: Virginia requires Master Conventional installers to complete 10 CPE contact
hours biennially. Safety subjects cannot exceed one-fourth of the total required CPE
hours. Management and supervision training is limited to a maximum of four contact
hours .
Question 3: Safety training subjects cannot count for more than what fraction of
total required CPE hours?
A) One-eighth
B) One-fourth
C) One-third
D) One-half
Answer: B – One-fourth
,Rationale: For all license classes, safety subjects cannot exceed one-fourth (25%) of the
total required CPE hours. This ensures that licensees receive a balanced continuing
education that covers technical, regulatory, and administrative topics .
Question 4: Which qualification pathway for a master conventional installer
requires the most years of full-time experience?
A) Licensed SDS contractor + 20 hours training + 1 year experience
B) Licensed SDS contractor + No training + 2 years experience
C) Interim/journeyman license + 20 hours training + 2 years experience
D) Interim/journeyman license + No training + 3 years experience
Answer: D – Interim/journeyman license + No training + 3 years experience
Rationale: Under 18VAC160-40-130, applicants can qualify through four pathways.
Pathway 4 (interim/journeyman license with no additional training) requires the most
experience at three years of full-time work. The other pathways offer a trade-off
between training hours and required experience .
Question 5: Experience used to qualify for licensure must be verified by a qualified
individual. Who is NOT eligible to verify experience?
A) An onsite soil evaluator
B) A professional engineer
C) A journeyman onsite sewage system installer
D) A master onsite sewage system installer
Answer: C – A journeyman onsite sewage system installer
, Rationale: Experience used to qualify for licensure cannot be verified by a journeyman
installer. Verification must come from a master licensee, a professional engineer, or an
onsite soil evaluator. This ensures that the verifying individual has appropriate
credentials and expertise .
Question 6: Which Virginia agency regulates onsite sewage systems?
A) Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
B) Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
C) Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
D) Virginia Department of Agriculture
Answer: B – Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
Rationale: The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) regulates onsite sewage systems
through the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610). The Board for
Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals
oversees licensing of professionals .
Question 7: What is the maximum number of CPE hours a master installer may
receive for management and supervision training?
A) 2 hours
B) 3 hours
C) 4 hours
D) 5 hours
Answer: C – 4 hours
Installer – Conventional Exam – Virginia DEQ /
DPOR Board for Waterworks and Wastewater
Works Operators – 2026/2027 Academic Year –
Verified Questions and Answers for Licensed
Septic Installers and Contractor
SECTION 1: LICENSING & REGULATIONS (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: Which Virginia regulation specifically governs the licensing of onsite
sewage system professionals?
A) 12VAC5-610
B) 18VAC160-40
C) 9VAC30-20
D) 21VAC10-5
Answer: B – 18VAC160-40
Rationale: 18VAC160-40 is the Virginia Administrative Code that outlines licensing
standards, renewal requirements, and CPE requirements for onsite sewage system
professionals. 12VAC5-610 covers sewage handling and disposal regulations (the
technical standards), while 18VAC160-40 governs the professional licensing program
,administered by the Board for Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite
Sewage System Professionals .
Question 2: How many Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours must a
Master Conventional installer complete every two years to maintain licensure?
A) 4 hours
B) 6 hours
C) 8 hours
D) 10 hours
Answer: D – 10 hours
Rationale: Virginia requires Master Conventional installers to complete 10 CPE contact
hours biennially. Safety subjects cannot exceed one-fourth of the total required CPE
hours. Management and supervision training is limited to a maximum of four contact
hours .
Question 3: Safety training subjects cannot count for more than what fraction of
total required CPE hours?
A) One-eighth
B) One-fourth
C) One-third
D) One-half
Answer: B – One-fourth
,Rationale: For all license classes, safety subjects cannot exceed one-fourth (25%) of the
total required CPE hours. This ensures that licensees receive a balanced continuing
education that covers technical, regulatory, and administrative topics .
Question 4: Which qualification pathway for a master conventional installer
requires the most years of full-time experience?
A) Licensed SDS contractor + 20 hours training + 1 year experience
B) Licensed SDS contractor + No training + 2 years experience
C) Interim/journeyman license + 20 hours training + 2 years experience
D) Interim/journeyman license + No training + 3 years experience
Answer: D – Interim/journeyman license + No training + 3 years experience
Rationale: Under 18VAC160-40-130, applicants can qualify through four pathways.
Pathway 4 (interim/journeyman license with no additional training) requires the most
experience at three years of full-time work. The other pathways offer a trade-off
between training hours and required experience .
Question 5: Experience used to qualify for licensure must be verified by a qualified
individual. Who is NOT eligible to verify experience?
A) An onsite soil evaluator
B) A professional engineer
C) A journeyman onsite sewage system installer
D) A master onsite sewage system installer
Answer: C – A journeyman onsite sewage system installer
, Rationale: Experience used to qualify for licensure cannot be verified by a journeyman
installer. Verification must come from a master licensee, a professional engineer, or an
onsite soil evaluator. This ensures that the verifying individual has appropriate
credentials and expertise .
Question 6: Which Virginia agency regulates onsite sewage systems?
A) Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
B) Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
C) Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
D) Virginia Department of Agriculture
Answer: B – Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
Rationale: The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) regulates onsite sewage systems
through the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations (12VAC5-610). The Board for
Waterworks and Wastewater Works Operators and Onsite Sewage System Professionals
oversees licensing of professionals .
Question 7: What is the maximum number of CPE hours a master installer may
receive for management and supervision training?
A) 2 hours
B) 3 hours
C) 4 hours
D) 5 hours
Answer: C – 4 hours
