Septic Designer or Installer

Permits issued to those who demonstrate working knowledge of disposal systems.

A wastewater disposal system is required for any structure to which a water supply is connected. Sewage disposal systems, or septic systems, must be designed and installed by an individual holding a valid permit issued by the NHDES Subsurface Systems Bureau. All test pit data must be logged by or under the supervision of a permitted designer. Additionally, applications for repair or replacement of an existing septic system must be submitted and installed by a permit-holder.

NHDES will issue a permit to any person who demonstrates a sound working knowledge of the procedures and practices required in site evaluation and the ability to read approved waste disposal plans.

Designer/Installer Exams

To apply to become a permitted designer or installer, you must complete an application and pass an examination.
NHDES administers examinations two times per year, with the major testing taking place in the spring and fall. Please also review the Installer or Designer certification schedules depending on which exam you intend on taking.

Notice: The Fall 2023 exam dates are listed below.

Installers: October 24th and October 26th. Notice: The Fall 2023 Installers exam is full. There will be more testing in the spring.

Designers: October 17th and October 20th - Notice: The Fall 2023 Designers exam is full. There will be more testing in the spring.

Please mail in your application to take this exam instead of coming to the office in person. We will register people an a first come first serve basis using the postmark date of your application. Refunds cannot be issued.

NHDES administers examinations two times per year, with the major testing taking place in the spring and fall.

An installer or designer permit is issued upon successful completion of the appropriate examination. The designer's exam consists of written sections and a field exam for soil interpretation. The written and field components of the designer’s exam must be passed within a one-year time frame. Installers must pass a written examination only. The examinations are intended to ensure that designers and installers can design and install appropriate systems for a variety of site and use conditions. The Exams will cover the following topics. The best way to prepare is to apprentice with a permitted designer or installer to learn the trade.

Installers

Only the exam will be provided to the examinees. Other than a calculator, the use of all other electronics (including phones, tablets, smartwatches) is prohibited.
The exam is open book and examinees are encouraged to bring any materials that will assist them including (but not limited to):

  • Pen/pencil/eraser.
  • 1:20 scale.
  • Calculator.
  • Copy of administrative rules (bookmarked to reference key areas).
  • Scratch/scrap paper.

Required Knowledge For The Exam

The purpose of the exam is to gauge the examinee's competency in the installation of Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS) in both commercial and residential situations. The exam will test the examinee's knowledge and ability to apply New Hampshire RSA 485-A and Env-Wq 1000 in situations including:

  • Knowledge of septic system installation procedures and practices including the instrumentation used.
  • Ability to read and understand all aspects of ISDS plans (site plan, contours and details).
  • Understanding of the design intent and how it relates to surrounding grade.
  • Making acceptable field adjustments from approved plans (modifying ISDS component locations and elevations).
  • Ability to use a scale to lay out and measure objects on a plan.
  • Ability to read contours and draw contours in relation to surveyed spot elevations.
  • Familiarity with required setbacks.

Format

Examinees will have approximately three (3) hours to complete the exam. The exam is split into two parts:

  • Part 1 consists of approximately 40 multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer/fill in the blank style questions.  Examinees will be asked to answer questions pertaining to NH RSA-485-A and Env-Wq 1000 including ISDS installation procedures and requirements, and calculating changes in elevations.
     
  • Part 2 consists of approximately 30 questions that will require short answers and basic sketching. Examinees will be asked to answer questions demonstrating an understanding of site plans and details, reading and drawing contours, and creating sketches to scale based off swing-tie tables.

To pass the exam, examinees must pass both parts of the exam with a score of 80 or higher.

Designers

Only the exam will be provided to the examinees. Other than a calculator, the use of all other electronics (including phones, tablets, smartwatches) is prohibited.

The exam is open book and examinees are encouraged to bring any materials that will assist them including (but not limited to):

  • Pen/pencil/eraser.
  • 1:20 scale.
  • Calculator.
  • Copy of administrative rules (bookmarked to reference key areas).
  • Copy of precast concrete manufacturer's catalog (for reference only, cannot be attached to exam).
  • Copy of standard details (for reference only, cannot be attached to exam).
  • Scratch/scrap paper.

Required Knowledge For The Exam

The purpose of the exam is to gauge the examinee's competency in the design of Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (ISDS) in both commercial and residential situations. The exam will test the examinee's knowledge and ability to apply New Hampshire RSA 485-A and Env-Wq 1000 in situations including:

  • Ability to determine wastewater flow for a proposed design and size ISDS components accordingly.
  • Knowledge of septic system design procedures and practices.
  • Understanding the application of the 50% rule.
  • Calculating allowable sewage loading.
  • Drafting an ISDS plan to scale and the minimum elements required for a design.
  • Understanding of the design intent and how it relates to the surrounding existing grade.
  • Knowledge of required setbacks.

The best way to gain knowledge of how to design a septic system is to apprentice with a permitted designer. Knowledge of all aspects of the design process is incorporated in the exam.

Format

Examinees will have approximately seven (7) hours to complete the exam. The exam is split into two parts:

  • Part 1 is approximately 40 short-answer/fill in the blank style questions. Examinees will be asked to answer questions pertaining to NH RSA-485-A and Env-Wq 1000 including determining the design flow and ISDS component sizing of systems (including combining residential and commercial flows), calculating loading capacity of lots, determining if a design meets the 50% rule requirement and other information contained within the law and rules.
     
  • Part 2 consists of completing four (4) ISDS designs a given a plan view and design parameters. Designers need to be familiar with the EDA types detailed in Env-Wq 1000 (stone and pipe, concrete chambers, trenches, drywells), but at least one of the designs allows the use of an ITA. Examinees are expected to complete the plan view and ISDS profile by hand so that it meets the standards of an ISDS application submittal. The designs are graded on design criteria (determining ISDS flow, ISDS component sizing), design intent (EDA bed bottom, relation to existing grade), design profile (elevation of ISDS components, specifications of required materials), design plan view (location of ISDS components, setbacks, site grading, benchmarks and swing-ties). If a required item is missing from the site plan or profile, such a benchmark or spot grade, examinees are expected to create a reasonable one based off details on the plan. Attaching pre-drawn details to the exam is not allowed and will not be given credit.

To pass the exam, examinees must pass both parts of the exam with a score of 80 or higher. Examinees that successfully pass the written part of the exam will be invited to the test pit examination at a time and date to be decided.

Renewal / Continuing Education
Installer and designer permits are valid for a two-year period from January 1 to December 31 of the following year. Permits for installers and designers are renewable upon proper application, payment of a biennial fee of $80, and compliance with the continuing education requirements.

Within the two-year renewal period, permitted designers and installers must complete a minimum of six credit
hours of continuing education approved by NHDES. See the Approved Continuing Education Seminars. 

For more information about Septic Systems, see the Septic Systems webpage.

Contact

Call the Subsurface Reviewer of the Day at (603) 271-3501.