Before registering for the accelerated OSTDS courses, you must submit your certification application to the state health office (see forms below).

All materials below are in Portable Document format (pdf) and are less than 10 mb in size, unless otherwise specified. 

The application process for Environmental Health Certification is managed by the Florida Department of Health Facilities Program.  For details and to apply

HSES 10-012, Update to Applicable Sections of the Environmental Health Manual 150-4 and Standardization Tools
This memo includes instructions for the correct performance and recording of site evaluations and final inspections. A signed acknowledgement of these procedures is required for all certified health department staff.

Accelerated Certification Training Schedule

Accelerated Certification Training Participation, Attendance, and Conduct Guide

Certification Course Agenda and Documents

As of January 2021, a hybrid version of the Accelerated Certification Training has been implemented, combining prerequisite Webinar Coursework hosted by FOWA with a Hands-On training component.  Agendas for the Hands-On component and a listing of the webinar series for Parts I, II, and III of the ACT is provided below

• Webinar Listing:
• For each Course (ACT/Master I, II, and III), the webinar components listed must be completed before a participant will be allowed to attend the corresponding Hands-On component.  Please see the participation guide for further details
• Training Center Hands-On Class Agenda:
  • Cohort 1:, 
    • Day 1 (ACT/Master Contractor Part I and III) – Monday
    • Day 2 (ACT/Master Contractor Part II) – Tuesday
  • Cohort 2:
    • Day 3 (ACT/Master Contractor Part II) – Wednesday 
    • Day 4 (ACT/Master Contractor Part I and III) – Thursday

 The "print version" of the below documents are intended to reduce print costs.  They are in black and white except for those documents where color is necessary to convey information.

ACT Day One: Onsite Wastewater Concepts, Materials, Regulations, and the Application Process (Master Contractor Part I)

• Part A: Basic Concepts in Wastewater Treatment | print/handout version
• Part B: Onsite Sewage Systems Methods and Materials | print/handout version
• Part C: State Regulations of Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems | print/handout version
• Part D: New Permit Applications and Site Plans | print/handout version
• Part E: Site Plan Review and Classroom Exercises | print/handout version
• Handouts, Sample Forms, and Classroom Exercises

ACT Day Two and Three:  Introduction to Florida Soils and the Site Evaluation Process  (Master Contractor Part II) (all are pdfs and open in a new window)

• Site Evaluation Requirements (12.7 mb) | print/handout version
• USDA Soil Basics (12.7 mb) | print/handout version
• Soil Components and Textures (13 mb) | print/handout version
• Soil Colors and Their Interpretation (20 mb) | print/handout version
• Seasonal High Water Table Indicators - Non-Hydric | print/handout version
• Hydric Soils Indicators (9.3 mb) | print/handout version
• Hydric Soils Indicators - Remainder (7.6 mb) | print/handout version
• Soil Profile Documentation (8.7 mb) | print/handout version
• Web Soil Survey and Soil Classification Information (6.5 mb) | print/handout version
• Conducting Soil Profiles (3.5 mb)

ACT Day Four and Five: Construction and Operating Permits, Contractor Registration and Enforcement (Master Contractor Part III)

• System Construction Permits | print/handout version
• System Construction Inspections | print/handout version
• Operating Permits | print/handout version
• System Repair Standards | print/handout version
• Existing System / Modification Standards | print/handout version
• Septic Tank Contracting and Enforcement | print/handout version

Forms and Supporting Documents

• Certification Requirements - 64E-18, FAC
• Application for Environmental Health Professional Certification
• Application Process for Environmental Health Professional Certification - HSEC 2007-05
• Acknowledgement of Receipt of Procedures for Site Evaluations and Final Inspections - HSES 10-012
• Map to Training Center
• References for the OSTDS Certification Examination
• OSTDS Certification Exam Sample Questions
• Basic Soils Training Program Manual for May 2015
• DOH Hydric Soil Indicator Sheet March 2019
• Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States A Guide for Identifying and Delineating Hydric Soils, Version 8.2, 2018
• NRCS Soil Survey Technical Note No. 2

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.Some of the PDF files are zipped to make them faster to download. You may need WinZip to decompress them prior to reading them.