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California UST System Operator Training (ICC Preparatory Course)
Purchasing Options
$100.00
Course Details
- Price
- $100.00
- Rating
- based on 18 Reviews
- Final Exam
- No
- Certificate
- No
- Retraining Requirement
- Every 2 Years
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Regulatory Details
California State Water Resource Control Board →
Course Description
In California, UST System Operators can only be certified after taking and passing the exam administered by the International Code Council (ICC) through Pearson VUE testing centers.
Getting ready for the ICC exam(s) is a three-step process
Step One: Take the PASS ICC Preparatory Course
PASS is the only training provider approved by the ICC to offer preparatory training for the ICC UST/AST operator exams. These ICC preparatory courses do not include a final exam or provide certification upon completion and is not required to take, but they will provide you with the information and guidance you need to study and prepare for the exams.
Step Two: Read the UST/AST Examination Information Bulletin and Prepare Your Reference Materials
First, you should read the UST/AST Examination Information Bulletin. You may also call the ICC at 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 5524 to request a paper copy of the Bulletin.
Pay particular attention to the information on your state’s exams. Specific exam information usually begins around page 24 in the Bulletin, and includes the number of exam questions, the exam fee, the type of exam, and the list of reference materials.
Most ICC UST/AST operator exams are open book, which means that you may take certain documents (called reference materials) with you into the exam room and refer to them during the exam. The ICC, however, has strict requirements about which reference materials you can take into the exam with you and in what format. PASS strongly recommends that you obtain your reference materials well in advance of taking the exam.
Which reference materials do I need? How do I get them?
The reference materials you need are listed in the UST/AST Examination Information Bulletin. They typically include the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) UST regulations (40 CFR §280), California's UST regulations (which usually can be found on the state UST program’s website), and one or more of the following EPA publications, any of which can be downloaded here or through a PASS ICC preparatory course.
- Operating and Maintaining Underground Storage Tank Systems (EPA 510-B-05-002)
- Straight Talk on Tanks, 2005 (EPA 510-B-05-001)
- Musts for USTs, November 2015 (EPA 510-K-95-002)
- Dollars and Sense, Financial Responsibility Requirements for USTs(EPA 510-K-95-004)
Your reference materials list may also include publications of the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI), which you must purchase through PEI’s online store. Typically, these include PEI/RP 500 Recommended Practices for Inspection of Motor Fuel Dispensing Equipment and PEI/RP 900 Recommended Practices for Inspection and Maintenance of UST Systems. You may also be able to purchase these bundled with your state’s other reference materials through the ICC’s online store.
How do I prepare my reference materials? You may take only the reference materials listed in the current UST/AST Examination Information Bulletin with you into the exam. In order to be able to take them into the exam, you should prepare them as follows.
If you do not follow these steps, the Pearson Vue test center personnel will not let you take your materials into the exam room and you will not be able to use them during the exam.
- STAPLE OR BIND YOUR MATERIALS. You may not take loose pages into the exam room, so we recommend that you print the reference materials and either staple them together or place them in a three-ring binder.
- MAKE NOTES. You may make notes in your reference materials as long as the notes are in ink and any highlighting is done before you arrive for the exam. For example, you should locate and mark in the reference materials information such as your state’s allowable release detection methods, allowable financial responsibility mechanisms, recordkeeping requirements, operator retraining requirements, etc. This will make it easier to find the information during the exam itself. PASS’ ICC preparatory courses make this easier by giving you rule citations or page numbers keyed to your reference materials.
- USE TABS. You may also use tabs to mark important sections, but these tabs must be permanently attached and not be removable without damage to the page (removable post-it type tabs, for example, would not be allowed).
Step Three: Schedule Your Exams
ICC exams are offered periodically at Pearson VUE testing centers around your state. When you are ready to take your exams, you can register online at www.pearsonvue.com/icc or by calling Pearson VUE at 1-800-275-8301.
All of PASS’ UST operator training courses meet and exceed the federal requirements for UST operator training and are offered through our in-house designed and built Learning Management System (LMS). Our courses are available on demand, 24/7and are accessible from any internet-connected computer, tablet, or phone. The student can complete an entire course in a single session or take the course in segments. The training may be stopped and restarted, allowing for maximum schedule flexibility. PASS also does not impose time restrictions on course access, so students may take as much time as they need to complete their training. PASS’ training courses are accepted by more states than any other training provider.
PASS’ UST operator training course content is divided into chapters. Each chapter utilizes a combination of text, images, and narration, providing a multi-faceted learning experience for diverse learning styles. Each chapter is followed by a quiz. If the student answers a quiz question incorrectly, the application automatically redirects the student to the correct course information. The student is then given another opportunity to answer the quiz question. This reflexive quizzing model ensures comprehension of the course material and reinforces learner retention.
7 Chapters
Operator Overview
Chapter 1
This chapter contains explicit instructions on preparing for the ICC exams. This information includes:
- Website addresses for the UST/AST Examination Information Bulletin, the ICC’s website, and the Pearson VUE website;
- Downloadable versions of the non-copyrighted exam reference materials:
- EPA, 40 CFR §280
- EPA, Operating and Maintaining Underground Storage Tank Systems, 2005 (EPA 510-B-05-002)
- EPA, Straight Talk on Tanks, 2005 (EPA 510-B-05-001)
- EPA, Dollars and Sense, Financial Responsibility Requirements for USTs, July 1995 (EPA 510-K-95-004)
- EPA, Musts for USTs, July 1995 (EPA 510-K-95-002); and
- Information on how to organize the reference materials for use during the exam.
This chapter also describes the primary responsibilities of the designated operator, the facility employee, and the training requirements for each class of operator.
System and Components
Chapter 2
This chapter seeks to raise environmental awareness as well as clearly communicate a fundamental comprehension of UST systems. Components covered include secondary containment, emergency shut-off valves, vapor recovery, tank materials, and piping materials. A download of UST terminology is available here.
Release Detection
Chapter 3
This chapter emphasizes release detection methods. Equipment testing, the analysis of test results, as well as monitoring of the UST system are addressed in this chapter. Release detection methods covered include automatic tank gauging (ATG), inventory control, secondary containment with interstitial monitoring, statistical inventory reconciliation (SIR), manual tank gauging, vacuum monitoring, soil vapor monitoring, groundwater monitoring, and tank tightness testing. Release detection methods for piping, such as electronic and manual line leak detectors, are also discussed.
Release Prevention
Chapter 4
This chapter prompts the trainee to be proactive in preventing spills and releases. It covers the system components that are designed to prevent corrosion, spills, and overfills. These include spill buckets and sumps as well as sacrificial anode and impressed current cathodic systems, overfill protection valves, overfill alarms, and ball float valves. Secondary containment as well as alarms and warnings are covered in this chapter. An EPA Correct Filling Checklist is available for download.
Installation and Record Keeping
Chapter 5
This chapter discusses required documentation and installation requirements. Topics include tank permits, registration and administrative documents, and UST installation requirements.
Responding to Emergencies
Chapter 6
The focus of this chapter is preparation for a release and initial response actions. Topics include recognizing warning signs of a leak, maintaining spill kits, knowing the location of the Emergency Stop button, and posting emergency contact information. Critical attention is given to clean-up and release reporting requirements, including sensitive receptor protection and state notification requirements.
Inspection and Closure
Chapter 7
UST testing and inspection requirements are covered in this chapter. Delivery prohibition and temporary and permanent tank closures are also addressed.