The PASS Training Marketplace
California Designated UST Operator Training (ICC Preparatory Course)
California Designated UST Operator Training (ICC Preparatory Course)
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
Step Two: Find the Exam You NeedandPrepare Your Reference Materials
First, read the information for your state’s exam provided in the ICC Exam Catalog. That is where you can find the number of exam questions, the exam fee, type of exam, and the list of reference materials. Make sure to note if your exam is online or in person.
Most ICC UST operator exams are open book, which means that you may take certain documents (called reference materials) with you to use 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.
You can find the permitted reference materials in the ICC Exam Catalog or in the UST Exam References and Renewal Information. (This document can also be found in the Exam Catalog under the info section.) They typically include the federal and state UST regulations (which usually can be found on the state UST program’s website) and some publications from the EPA. The California ICC exam allows you to bring the following materials, available for download here or through a PASS ICC prep course. Publications from the Petroleum Equipment Institute (PEI must be purchased through PEI’s online store. The ICC sometimes bundles all the reference materials for sale in their online store.
- California Health and Safety Code Chapter 6.7, Underground Storage of Hazardous Substances, (2018)
- California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division 3, Chapter 16, UST Regulations, (October 2018)
- Operating and Maintaining Underground Storage Tank Systems, 2016 (EPA 510-B-00-008)
- Dollars and Sense: Financial Responsibility Requirements for USTs, July 2018 (EPA 510-K-18-001)
- PEI/RP 500-19 Inspection and Maintenance of Motor Fuel Dispensing
- PEI/RP 900 UST Inspection and Maintenance
Remember, you can only bring the approved reference materials with you into the exam if they are prepared correctly. 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. Notes in your reference materials before the exam will make it easier to find this information in the testing room. Remember, there is a time limit! Helpful information to locate ahead of time includes your state’s allowable release detection methods, financial responsibility mechanisms, recordkeeping requirements, operator retraining requirements, etc. These notes must be in ink, and all highlighting must be done before you arrive.
- 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, you can purchase your exam directly from the ICC course catalog. Once purchased, you will be able to schedule your exam through Pearson VUE. Learn more at www.pearsonvue.com/icc/cert.
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.
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). PASS’ state-specific A/B training courses are custom-tailored to meet state requirements, and are accepted by more states than any other training provider. Our courses are available on-demand, 24/7, and 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’ 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.
- Validity
- 2 years
- Final Exam
- No
- Certificate
- Yes
- Average Rating
- / 33 Reviews
- Regulated By
- California State Water Resource Control Board →
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.
