Areas of Interest
AOSE List AOSE Forms AOSE Test Dates & Study Guide Becoming an AOSE CEU Opportunities FAQS Inspection Guidance Meeting Minutes- AOSE Advisory CommitteeAn AOSE is an individual who has demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities in the practice of siting and designing onsite systems. The acronym stands for Authorized Onsite Soil Evaluator. An AOSE may be a private-sector individual or may be employed by the Department.
An AOSE submits work to the Department and certifies it to be in compliance with the Board of Health's Regulations and sufficient in scope and detail for the Department to grant an approval. After a review of this certified submission, the Department will issue an approval if the work is found to be complete and consistent with state regulations.
The Department may or may not conduct field checks to verify the AOSEs findings. The Department relies on the work of an AOSE to issue approvals and normally only conducts quality assurance reviews on a small percentage of systems. In addition to the AOSE, the Department may also accept work certified in the same manner when submitted by a Professional Engineer provided the work was done in consultation with an AOSE. When the practice of engineering is required, that work must be done by a professional engineer.
A person seeking a construction permit or a certification letter may contract with an AOSE for evaluation and design, or file a "bare" application with the Department. When a certified application package comes from an AOSE there are strict time limits for the Department to process the request.
In order to prevent even the appearance of a conflict of interest, VDH employees who are credentialed AOSEs are not permitted to provide private consulting services as an AOSE.